Chlorine Bleach has a bad rap. And we get it, it’s scary. We don’t sell Chlorine Bleach for a few reasons, one being that due to its highly corrosive nature, it’s considered a Dangerous Good. There’s no question however, that it works (sometimes a little too well) and is a last line of defence that you need to know about, to recover your clothes.
As always, the dosage determines the poison. So if you’re going to use chlorine bleach you’ll want to know exactly how.
Today, we’re going to conquer all of your bleach related fears with our tried-and-tested tips. So without further ado, here’s how to bleach your clothes like a pro.
Chlorine Bleach
This is the type of bleach that hospitals and public pools use to kill bacteria… the strong stuff. Often sold on the supermarket shelves under the brand ‘White King’, if that rings any bells.
How does it work? By breaking down chemical bonds in a process called oxidation. When used in the laundry, it eliminates the molecule’s ability to absorb light, which effectively makes the whole garment appear white.
There’s no doubt, it’s a strong chemical. But the important thing is you know how to use it properly.
How to Remove Mould Using Chlorine Bleach.
If you’re dealing with mould, chlorine bleach is one of the best things to use to properly kill those invisible spores, and make sure they never return.
Safety first: Remember to wear gloves and cover your clothes (to ensure you don’t bleach anything you're not meant to).
Step 1: When using chlorine bleach you’ll want to start with a light concentration and work your way up. For coloured clothes I would use 3ml per litre of water. For soaking white clothes you can use up to 40ml per litre.
Step 2: For timing your best bet is to soak in increments. Checking to see if the mould disappeared around every 30 minutes. When you can’t see any mould left, you’re good to pull the item out.
Step 3: Rinse off the bleach before putting the item in the washing machine.
Step 4: Wash as usual. If you want to be extra thorough, wash on the hottest water temperature permitted by the care label.
Step 5: Double check all mould and stains are gone (heat sets stains). If everything's all gone, pop in the sun to dry.
You can also watch us explain how to use chlorine bleach to treat mould here.
Oxygen Bleach
The safer cousin of chlorine bleach, which is why it’s our go-to.
Why is this? It still oxidises the molecules in stains to stop them from absorbing light, but it doesn’t have the same range. It will brighten colours, lift stains with gusto, however it will leave the fibres of your fabric alone (if used correctly) and won’t penetrate the dyes that colour your clothes. Because of this it’s considered colour-safe.
It’s also natural and biodegradable, another reason why it’s our stain removal bestie.
The only down side is that oxygen bleach doesn’t have the ability to remove things like mould or colour run. That’s when you’ll need chlorine bleach.
Our Four Golden Rules for Using Oxygen Bleach on Your Clothes.
Both our Powder Booster and our Food and Drink Stain Remover contain oxygen bleach. Our philosophy behind this was to make it as simple as possible to bleach your clothes, whilst still being environmentally friendly.
No damage, no harm, and no more bleach nightmares.
While you can find specific instructions for both our Powder Booster and our Food and Drink Stain Remover on their product pages, there are some key rules to remember when using bleach in your laundry.
- Make sure to check the care label. The most common email we receive regarding bleach-gone-wrong, is usually because either the fabric isn’t suitable for bleach or the dye hasn’t been colour safe. If either of these are the case they’ll be a ‘do not bleach’ tag hiding somewhere.
- Always spot test if you’re unsure. Find a discreet patch and pop a bit of Stain Remover or Powder Booster on. Wait 30 minutes, and then you’ll know if you’re going to have an issue or not. Look for any colour and texture changes.
- Never leave for longer than 30 minutes if spot treating. Bleach will work effectively on a fresh stain within a 15 minute time frame. There’s no need to leave it lingering if you’re just looking to remove a stain.
- Never leave for longer than 2 hours if soaking colours. If you’ve got discolouration, i.e. on sheets, white t-shirts etc, and you don’t mind if the bleach starts to fade out the colour of your items (i.e. it's white or faded anyway) you can even go for longer. It’ll keep looking for things to oxidise for up to 5-6 hours, so use that time if you want to.
And there you have it, everything you need to know about safely using bleach to clean your clothes. Now you can go ahead and enjoy your newly acquired life skill.