How to Use Bleach in Laundry the Right Way
Doing laundry involves more than just throwing clothes in the washer—it requires the right tools, including bleach, to keep your clothes fresh and stain-free. According to experts like Mary Gagliardi, Clorox’s in-house scientist and cleaning expert, bleach can enhance cleaning performance, whiten clothes, and brighten fabrics. If you’re new to using bleach, it may seem intimidating, but once you know the basics, it’s a straightforward process. Here’s a guide to using bleach effectively and safely in your laundry routine.
Types of Bleach
Not all bleach is the same. It’s important to know the differences between chlorine and non-chlorine bleach to avoid damaging your clothes.
- Chlorine Bleach: Also known as regular or household bleach, chlorine bleach is primarily used to whiten and remove stains from white fabrics. Its active ingredient is usually sodium hypochlorite. Be careful—chlorine bleach can remove color, so it should only be used on white fabrics.
- Non-Chlorine Bleach: Often called oxygen bleach, peroxide bleach, or color-safe bleach, non-chlorine bleach is gentler and can be used on both white and colored clothes. The active ingredients may include hydrogen peroxide or sodium percarbonate, and it’s safe for a wider range of fabrics.
How Much Bleach to Use
Follow the instructions on bleach products for safe and effective use. However, you may adjust the amount depending on your washer type, load size, soil level, and water quality.
For instance, in a standard washer, use ½ cup of chlorine bleach for lightly soiled small loads, and up to 2/3 cup for heavily soiled large loads. For high-efficiency washers with a bleach dispenser, simply fill the dispenser to the max fill line.
How to Dilute Bleach
Always dilute chlorine bleach before using it. Washing machines with bleach dispensers automatically handle this, but if your washer doesn’t have a dispenser, add bleach with the detergent as the washer fills with water. Alternatively, you can dilute the bleach in a quart of water and add it to the washer five minutes after the load begins agitating.
How to Use Bleach Without a Dispenser
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