How to Disinfect and Bleach Laundry Naturally Without Using Chlorine Bleach
White Clothing
To keep your white clothing looking its whitest without using chlorine bleach, you can try one of the following options.
The first option is to use hydrogen peroxide. For this method, use a 3% hydrogen peroxide solution. 3% is the standard solution sold at many drugstores and retailers. To check if yours is 3%, read the label. Anything stronger than 3% is dangerous to use in your household.
Pour ½ cup of your hydrogen peroxide in the bleach cup/section of your washing machine. If your washing machine does not have this section, allow the washer to fill to the load level before placing the clothing in the washer and pour the hydrogen peroxide directly into the water. Allow the washer to agitate a few times before placing the clothing in. This distributes the peroxide.
Peroxide, like bleach, can damage certain dyes and fabrics. Test a small inconspicuous area on your garments first, just like bleach. Peroxide is also a disinfecting agent, so if you need something that also gets rid of germs, this works well. It also removes stains, such as those found in cloth diapers and it also removes blood and grass stains.
Another option for white clothing is vinegar and baking soda. If you have very tough stains, you may prefer the peroxide, but for normal dirt and food stains, the vinegar and peroxide method works well.
To use this method, you can pour 1 cup of vinegar and ¼ cup of baking soda right on top of the clothing in the washer once the washer has started. These are natural items, so they are not likely to damage the fabric, unless it is extremely thin.
The reason this works is because vinegar is acidic and is a disinfectant. The acidic properties of the vinegar cause it to "eat" away at the stains. When the baking soda is added, it creates a bubbling action, which pulls the stains away as the vinegar is "eating" them. Baking soda also has a rough texture, which also scrubs the clothing while it is pulling away. The baking soda is also a natural softener, so you won't have to use fabric softener when using this method.
Darker Clothing
Darker clothing seems harder to disinfect, due to the fact that it cannot be bleached. There are color-safe bleaches. However, they are more expensive than traditional bleaching products, not to mention the fact that commercial color-safe bleach is a chemical.
For darker clothing, simply use the vinegar/baking soda method mentioned above. A bonus to it is that it helps darker colors retain their natural look and stay soft as well.
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Published by Lyn Lomasi - Featured Contributor in Lifestyle
Lyn's the Community Advocate at Yahoo! Contributor Network. Contact her with community issues & ideas. She's been contributing since 2007 and previously acted as a Community Guide. Read her tips for success... View profile
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55 Comments
Post a Commentfrom jgal "warning: Mixing chlorine bleach with vinegar releases chlorine gas which is EXTREMELY TOXIC. Vinegar is virtually useless as a disinfectant."
Um, no. Mixing chlorine bleach and AMMONIA will create a toxic gas. NOT vinegar and chlorine bleach. In fact, numerous studies have shown that adding a small amount of vinegar to a diluted bleach solution drastically increases the anti-bacterial killing power of the cholorine because it helps neutralize the ph balance. For, me, I'd never use bleach because it is so harmful to make. But I also know that mixing it with vinegar does not create chlorine gas.
warning:
Mixing chlorine bleach with vinegar releases chlorine gas which is EXTREMELY TOXIC. Vinegar is virtually useless as a disinfectant.
Thank u for the information about uses of hydrogen peroxide.I would like to know whether it react and clean oil stains on linen
Thanks for the info. Here's some studies that show vinegar just as effective at removing microbial agents as bleach. The first study shows the effectiveness in comparison to bleach, - effectiveness is the same. The second shows that adding vinegar to bleach makes bleach more effective. http://www.purdue.edu/envirosoft/housewaste/src/research.htm, http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2006-02/asfm-vik021306.php
There are studies indicating that baking soda and vinegar are ineffective disinfectants:
http://archives.cnn.com/2000/NATURE/01/31/disinfectants.enn/
and even Clorox says that color safe bleach (hydrogen peroxide) is not an effective disinfectant:
http://www.drlaundryblog.com/?cat=9&paged=2
Great article. I don't use bleach because of the fact that it's production causes the formation of cancer-causing dioxin. I don't want to contribute to dioxin being in the environment and causing people to get cancer. Thanks for the alternatives.
Some websites recommend using one cup of hydrogen peroxide. Is there any substantial benefit/ damage from using the additional amount?
Hi. It can be used alone. Laundry soap isn't needed. Don't use vinegar and peroxide together, though. You'll have to choose one. You can use either with the baking soda. Both do a good job. With the peroxide, be sure it's only on white clothes or clothes that will not be affected by bleach spots.
Hi, I have a question about using peroxide, vinegar and baking soda for my laundry. Can this be used alone or does it need to be added to laundry detergent to properly clean my clothes?
Thanks Lisa. I use them for many things as well.