Methods may include circulating a breaker fluid into a wellbore, the breaker fluid containing: a base fluid, a peroxide source, and a catalyst. In another aspect, methods may include drilling a wellbore with a drilling fluid containing a catalyst, and circulating a breaker fluid into a wellbore, the breaker fluid containing a base fluid, and a peroxide source. In yet another aspect, methods may include treating a contaminated fluid with a treatment fluid containing a base fluid, a peroxide source, and a catalyst.