Oxygen bleach is a natural, plant derivative product called sodium percarbonate. It's made from sodium carbonate, sometimes called soda ash, and good old hydrogen peroxide. Once this product is exposed to water, it releases oxygen, lifting out stains and dirt, resulting in a more effective and safer bleach.
What is Oxygen Bleach or Non-Chlorine Bleach? There are 3 types of oxygen bleach, or non-chlorine bleach: Hydrogen Peroxide, Sodium Percarbonate and Sodium Perborate. Oxygen bleach can help lift dirt and stains from fabrics before washing.
Oxiclean is essentially hydrogen peroxide. It bleaches stains in the same way that peroxide does -- when you dissolve the Oxiclean crystals (sodium percarbonate) in water you make a solution of sodium carbonate (washing soda) and hydrogen peroxide.
Both chlorine and oxygen bleaches can remove stains and disinfect surfaces. But there are limits on how and where you can use them. Q: Where is it safe to use bleach, and where isn't it?
Borax is a strong cleaning agent, but it is not oxygen bleach. It can be used for both cleaning and whitening laundry.
Laundry: Laundry Pre-Soak: To Disinfect Laundry by Presoaking: To kill bacteria, fungi and viruses (Influenza A in Standard: Fill scoop to the top once (134.7 g) before adding laundry.
Sodium Percarbonate, also called Oxygen Bleach or "Solid Hydrogen Peroxide," is powder commonly used as a safe and popular household staple for laundry and cleaning. It is the active ingredient in many commercial laundry powders and laundry booster products.
Oxygen bleach, being hypoallergenic and free of harsh chemicals, is far less likely to trigger skin problems, allergies and irritation in the way that chlorine bleach does.
Powdered oxygen bleach has a shelf life of several years. Over time and exposure to air, the active chemicals in powdered oxygen bleach will revert to environmentally friendly natural soda ash after the oxygen is released.
OxiClean cannot be used on wool, silk, leather or anything else that cannot be washed with water. It also is not recommended on rust and other metallic stains because of the oxidation process. I had persistent carpet stains on my staircase.
Borax is a naturally occurring mineral typically used for brightening and whitening laundry. "Though both are widely used in cleaning or laundry, washing soda is more of a heavy-duty cleaner and laundry savior while borax is more multi-purpose," says Kathy Cohoon, director of franchise operations of Two Maids.
Add ½ cup of baking soda to your washer. Add detergent, like ARM & HAMMER™ Plus OxiClean™ Odor Blasters. Run the wash cycle. Add another ½ cup of baking soda in the rinse cycle.
In a study testing the effects of various mold-killers, hydrogen peroxide was found to be moderately effective at killing mold on nonporous surfaces, albeit less potently than bleach.
Don't mix OxiClean with vinegar.
Mixing OxiClean and vinegar is not safe. OxiClean breaks down into hydrogen peroxide, which forms peracetic acid when combined with vinegar.
For dark items that people don't necessarily want to be “brighter” you can also use Clorox 2® for Colors Stain Remover and Laundry Additive since the low level of oxygen bleach in the formula is safe for most washable fabrics.
Vinegar whitens, freshens, and softens fabrics. Add 1/2 to 1 cup of distilled white vinegar along with your regular laundry detergent. Don't worry about the vinegar scent- it will dissipate after drying. Vinegar may also be sprayed on spot stains and collar and underarm stains.
The bleaching power of chlorine bleach is much stronger than oxygen bleach (commonly known as hydrogen peroxide) and can damage many fibres such as cotton and wool very quickly. Hydrogen peroxide is not as strong and can be less damaging to fibres. Both kill most bacteria. Both are used to brighten whites in laundry.
Oxygen Bleach
It's also called non-chlorine bleach, with the active ingredient being sodium percarbonate. This composition makes oxygen bleach safer for more kinds of fabrics. In fact, its other common names include colour-safe bleach and all-fabric bleach.
OxiClean™ White Revive™ Laundry Whitener & Stain Remover is a non-chlorine bleach alternative. It has oxygen bleach and is color safe, so you can use it on white items that might have stripes, logos or other forms of coloration!
Will OxiClean™ Versatile Stain Remover fade my colored clothing? OxiClean™ Versatile Stain Remover is color safe.
You will need to wash your socks, tights, towels etc either on a hot wash of 60 degrees, or by adding a laundry disinfectant such as Dettol Laundry Disinfectant, to your wash. This will help to kill off any fungal spores that have transferred from your feet.
Don't use OxiClean on wool, silk, or other off-limits fabrics. OxiClean's manufacturer suggests that it should not be used on the following fabrics: wool, wool blends, silk, silk blends, leather, or on fabrics labeled dry clean only.
It disinfects, whitens and fights mould and mildew. It also kills ants. Many DIY cleaning recipes featured borax as an eco-friendlier option to petroleum-based ingredients found in conventional cleaning products.