The Spruce
Chlorine bleach is a mainstay in most laundry rooms.
We use it towhiten clothes,remove stains, anddisinfect laundry.
First, mix one teaspoon of bleach with two teaspoons of warm water.
The Spruce
Find an inconspicuous spot on the garment like an inside seam or interior pocket of the same fabric.
Use a cotton swab dipped in the bleach and water solution to dab the fabric.
Allow the spot to dry completely before moving forward.
The Spruce / Letícia Almeida
It is notcolorfast or dye-fast.
This is particularly important for clothes made ofpolyester, nylon, or any man-made fibers.
Chlorine bleach can actually cause white polyester to turn yellow.
The Spruce / Letícia Almeida
The bleach eats away the outer coating of the threads and reveals the inner core that is yellow.
The biggest problem comes if you mix chlorine bleach and household ammonia.
The two form a toxic reaction of chloramine vapors and liquid hydrazine.
The Spruce / Letícia Almeida
Both cause respiratory problems and can cause death.
It can cause weakening of fibers, eat holes in the fabric, and cause extensive color removal.
Begin filling the drum with more water before adding the dirty laundry.
The Spruce / Letícia Almeida
This automatically dilutes the bleach to protect your fabrics.
Adding chlorine bleach at the beginning of the wash cycle can actually hinder the effectiveness of the detergent.
Automatic bleach dispensers in washers will add the bleach to the wash cycle at the correct time.
It can be used in warm and cold water but you may not see the results you expect.
Tip #6: Keep It Fresh
Chlorine bleach is both light- and temperature-sensitive.
That’s why liquid chlorine bleach is always sold in an opaque bottle to prevent exposure to light.
Whether the bottle is opened or not, it will lose potency within six to 12 months after purchase.
It will not “go bad” and cause excessive harm.
It just won’t be as effective at disinfecting and cleaning.
Household laundry chlorine bleach is a 5.25% solution of sodium hypochlorite and water.
If that odor remains in the fabric after washing, the garment or linen is not completely clean.
Clorox is, perhaps, the most recognizable brand of chlorine bleach.
However, most retailers carry a house brand.
Not all chlorine bleach formulas are that strong; so read the labels.
Morin, Ashkan, Guldner, Gregory T.Chlorine Gas Toxicity.StatPearls [Internet], 2020
