Bleach, Please!

by Marissa Zumbo, January 2022

Bleach can be an incredibly helpful tool to sanitize your clothes or keep them nice and bright. Through oxidation, bleach changes the dirt or stains on garments into soluble particles that can then be removed by your laundry detergent. But did you know there are different kinds of bleach and methods you should use depending on the situation?

Three most common types of bleach:

  • Chlorine bleach (AKA sodium hypochlorite) 

    • i.e. Household Bleach, Clorox, Pure Bright

  • Oxygen bleach (AKA sodium percarbonate)

    • i.e. All Fabric Bleach, OxiClean, Clorox 2

  • Hydrogen peroxide (3 percent solution)

How to Use Chlorine Bleach

Nothing works better on eliminating stains and other discoloration on white clothes like chlorine bleach. It comes in both a liquid and dry version, but the dry version tends to be more effective. Since it sanitizes, it’s also useful for removing stains and odors – but don’t use this bleach on brightly colored or patterned clothes.

Rules:

  • Both liquid and powder versions must be diluted with water for safe use on fabrics. Never use bleach at full strength to treat anything. Either add the bleach to the washer dispenser or into the tumbler water before adding the clothes.

  • Test the fabric for colorfastness first by using a mixture of 1 teaspoon bleach with 2 teaspoons of warm water.

  • To pretreat stains before machine washing with bleach, use a ratio of ¼ cup bleach to 1 gallon of water, and soak the entire garment for up to 5 minutes before putting in the wash.

  • Don't use chlorine bleach on: silk, spandex, rubber, wool blends, acetate, polypropylene foam, or any other fabrics with “no bleaching” on their care labels.

  • If the bottle of liquid chlorine bleach has been open for more than six months, it will be less effective and should be replaced. Over time, it loses its potency due to light and air exposure. Even if it hasn’t been open after one year from the manufacturing date, bleach should also be replaced.

How to Use Oxygen Bleach

Oxygen bleach, often called colorfast bleach or all-fabric bleach, is safe for – you guessed it – most colors and fabrics! Oxygen bleach may work slower than chlorine bleach, and have no disinfecting qualities, but it is still great to brighten clothes and remove stains.

Rules:

  • Oxygen bleach also comes in liquid and powder forms, but the powder form is usually more effective. Like any other bleach, it must be diluted in water to be used on fabrics. Either add the bleach to the washer dispenser or into the tumbler water before adding the clothes.

  • To create a great stain-removal solution, mix powder oxygen bleach with warm water. After the powder has dissolved, add cold water, submerge the entire garment in the water, and let it soak – for at least several hours if not overnight. Then wash in a machine.

  • Do not use oxygen bleach on fabrics such as silk, wool, or leather, as it can damage the materials.

  • Liquid oxygen bleach is a solution of water and hydrogen peroxide. If opened, the liquid oxygen bleach will break down quickly because of exposure to the elements. The liquid version has about a six month shelf life, if not less, but powder oxygen bleach can last for several years.

How to Use Hydrogen Peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide is that liquid in the ugly brown bottle under your sink that you may use to clean minor wounds. You might also notice that it’s an ingredient in many toothpastes, but it’s also useful in the laundry room. Because most oxygen-based bleaches are made of ingredients that break down into hydrogen peroxide, you could just use 3% hydrogen peroxide in its place.

Rules:

  • Even though it’s considered a mild bleach, use caution when putting it directly on fabrics. It’s best to either add the bleach to the washer dispenser or into the tumbler water before adding the clothes.

  • Test the fabric for colorfastness on colored clothes before washing or soaking in a hydrogen peroxide solution. Dip a cotton swab in the hydrogen peroxide and rub gently it on an inconspicuous part of the fabric. If color leaks onto the swab, don't continue.

  • You can use the hydrogen peroxide outside of the wash as a spot stain remover. Just dab on or spray a small amount of it onto the stain, allow it to soak in for about ten minutes, and then wash the item as usual.

  • It’s considered safe to use on all washable, dye-stable fabrics, but make sure to read the care label first.

  • Never mix hydrogen peroxide with ammonia, vinegar, or chlorine bleach – especially not in a closed container. This will cause the release of dangerous gases.

Look out for these symbols on your clothes care labels:

We’ve only scratched the surface in terms of the specifics to washing with each of these solutions, but we hope we demystified some aspects of doing laundry with bleach. And remember, always use caution with chemical solutions like bleach and hydrogen peroxide. It’s good to use gloves and limit contact with skin. Thanks for sticking around for our bleach safety speech :)

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Sources Cited for Article:

https://www.thespruce.com/how-to-use-bleach-on-clothes-2146334#:~:text=Chlorine%20bleach%20should%20never%20be,detergent%20as%20you%20would%20normally.

https://speedqueen.com/tips-for-using-bleach-in-the-laundry/

https://www.clorox.com/learn/how-to-use-bleach-in-laundry/