Is oxygenated bleach better than regular bleach?

Author: Dr. Germaine O'Reilly  |  Last update: Wednesday, March 26, 2025

Since oxygen bleach is made from sodium carbonate and hydrogen peroxide rather than stronger chemicals, it works a bit slower than chlorine. However, it's also a lot less corrosive, avoids damaging fibers, and doesn't harm the environment.

Is oxygen bleach as effective as bleach?

Oxygen bleach isn't as effective as chlorine bleach for whitening your clothes or removing stains, in the same way rubbing alcohol isn't as effective as acetone for removing nail polish — but it's a whole lot better for you and for the environment.

What are the disadvantages of oxygen bleach?

  • General: Causes serious eye damage. Inhalation: Prolonged exposure may cause irritation. ...
  • Skin Contact: Prolonged exposure may cause skin irritation. Eye Contact: Causes serious eye damage. ...
  • Ingestion: Ingestion may cause adverse effects.

Does OxiClean whiten better than bleach?

OxiClean did a good job bleaching out stains, and it's economical to use. The top strip is the control, and the bottom strip shows stains after they were washed with detergent and OxiClean. Chlorine bleach came in last place, cleaning 63% of stains.

Does OxiClean sanitize as well as bleach?

Using OxiClean Laundry & Home Sanitizer in your laundry routine is easy and efficient. It helps remove tough stains and disinfects your clothes, making it a great bleach alternative.

Chlorine Bleach VS Oxygen Bleach (What's the Difference?)

What bleach is best for laundry?

‍Oxygen Bleach makes things much easier! It is suitable for all types of fabrics, doesn't destroy them, and it prevents the environmental impact of Chlorine Pollution. ‍On top of being better for your laundry and linens, Oxygen Bleach is much more environmentally friendly when compared to its Chlorine counterpart.

What is better, Clorox 2 or OxiClean?

Clorox 2 tends to shine with set-in stains and beats OxiClean in certain situations. A lot of people have had success getting rid of old stains completely with Clorox 2, while OxiClean might just fade them instead of wiping them out entirely.

Is oxygen bleach safe for colored clothes?

Oxygen bleach can help whiten whites, brighten colors, and works with items that say “Do Not Use Chlorine Bleach.” Plus, it's safe to use on all colored and patterned items!

Why is OxiClean so effective in cleaning?

The OxiClean™ formulation is a combination of ingredients, the key ingredient being sodium percarbonate, sodium carbonate, surfactants and polymer. Combined, these ingredients work together to remove the toughest stains. OxiClean™ does this by: Breaking down stains.

Does oxygen bleach weaken fabric?

While oxygen bleach is safe on most fabrics, it can ruin silk, wool, or any garment with leather trim or wooden buttons.

What not to mix with bleach?

Bleach and ammonia produce a toxic gas called chloramine that can cause chest pain and shortness of breath. Ammonia can be found in some glass and window cleaners, dish detergents, drain cleaners, and urine (use caution when cleaning litter boxes and diaper pails). Bleach and rubbing alcohol create chloroform.

What is the main ingredient in oxygen bleach?

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.

Is oxygen bleach just hydrogen peroxide?

Oxygen bleach is sodium percarbonate, an environmentally friendly cleaning agent that combines sodium carbonate with hydrogen peroxide.

Will vinegar whiten laundry?

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.

Can you use OxiClean on black clothes?

Will OxiClean™ Versatile Stain Remover fade my colored clothing? OxiClean™ Versatile Stain Remover is color safe.

When should you not use OxiClean?

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.

Is bleach or OxiClean better for whites?

What is an Alternative to Chlorine Bleach When Cleaning White Clothes? 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!

How to get dingy whites white again?

Refill sink (or bucket) with hot water and add about 2 tablespoons of white vinegar. Add clothes and allow to soak for about 15 minutes. Drain water and rinse whites in warm water.

Is hydrogen peroxide better than bleach for white clothes?

Hydrogen peroxide is another effective alternative to bleach for whitening clothes. Hydrogen peroxide works by breaking down the chemical bonds of stains, which makes them easier to remove from your clothes. It is particularly useful for removing tough stains like coffee, tea, and blood.

Is borax an oxygen bleach?

Borax is a strong cleaning agent, but it is not oxygen bleach. It can be used for both cleaning and whitening laundry.

Will OxiClean ruin colored clothes?

OxiClean™ is free of chlorine and preservatives, so it's safe on colors and gentle on your clothing – without sacrificing performance or leaving chemical residues. Many detergents break down the fibers and dyes in laundry as they clean, causing severe fading overtime.

Is there a better cleaner than bleach?

Yes, bleach alternatives like baking soda, vinegar, and hydrogen peroxide are safer for septic systems than chlorine bleach, as they break down more easily and do not disturb the bacterial balance.

Why do my clothes have bleach stains when I don't use bleach?

It's unlikely that either the detergent or Clorox 2® is the reason for your problem. Instead, it sounds like when you use Clorox® Disinfecting Bleach it is somehow carrying over from one load to the next. The most likely cause is the liquid bleach dispenser on your clothes washer.

What is better than OxiClean?

Your best bet, though, is to buy pure sodium percarbonate (which you can easily find on Amazon for less than $20). Not only does sodium percarbonate not contain any unnecessary additives as do some store-bought products, but Richardson says it's also much stronger than true OxiClean (which means you need less of it).

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