When should you not use bleach in laundry?

Author: Aron Witting  |  Last update: Thursday, July 10, 2025

Before you begin, always check care labels to confirm fiber content before washing; avoid bleaching wool, silk, mohair, leather, spandex and non-fast colors. Also, test for colorfastness to ensure the fabric doesn't become discolored.

When not to use bleach in laundry?

Using Bleach to Remove Stains on White Clothes

Factors such as the fabric's fiber content (including silk, wool, mohair and spandex), finishes (such as the flame-retardant finish on children's nightclothes) and certain trims will affect the item's suitability for bleach.

Will bleach in the wash ruin clothes?

Bleach is safe for many fabrics, however, it should never be used on colored ones, as bleach is a strong oxidizer and it may fade the colors. Pure bleach can destroy the fabric fibers, so always dilute liquid chlorine bleach before adding it to the washer. Never pour it directly on the clothes.

Can I use bleach on colored clothes?

Most coloured clothing can only be bleached with non-chlorine bleach. Can you bleach colored clothes? There's a simple test you can perform that will give you the answer to this question. Apply a small amount of bleach (one drop) to a small, inconspicuous area of your clothing.

What clothes are not affected by bleach?

Bleach-safe fabrics include whites and colors that are colorfast. Keep in mind that certain fabrics like silk and wool should never be bleached (it will be indicated on the garment care tag). Once you're ready to begin, set your wash cycle for your chosen garment's temperature and add an extra rinse cycle to the end.

Why NOT To Use Bleach

Will bleach damage my washing machine?

Bleach can be used inside your washing machine for cleaning it as well as working well as a washing machine disinfectant. The most important thing to remember is that you must run at least one empty cycle after cleaning, to remove all remaining bleach and help prevent bleaching next time you do a load of laundry.

Can I use bleach on colored towels?

Nonchlorine (oxygen) bleach is generally good for colored washables, but it will not disinfect, and overbleaching with any kind of bleach may weaken the fibers and make towels less absorbent. Instead, wash them in the hottest water that's indicated safe for colored towels.

Does vinegar sanitize laundry?

White Vinegar

To use vinegar to disinfect your laundry, try adding 1 cup to the rinse cycle. Not only can it kill germs and bacteria, but it's also a great natural deodorizer. White vinegar can be used on colors and whites, keeping clothes bright, and works as an effective fabric softener, too.

Will bleach ruin white clothes with color?

When you have colored logos or embroidery on a white shirt, there's a good chance you can safely launder the shirt with bleach. First you need to confirm the shirt is made of bleach-safe fabric, then you can check a hidden part of the embroidery thread for colorfastness to bleach.

What fabrics are bleach resistant?

Solution dyed fibers, including acrylic, nylon, polyethylene, and polypropylene, and high-energy polyester exhibit strong colorfastness when exposed to bleach. Polyurethane-based fabrics can also be treated with a finish that enables them to withstand both bleach and high concentrations of rubbing alcohol.

Can I use bleach and laundry detergent together?

You can add bleach to every load of bleach-safe laundry along with your regular detergent to clean, whiten, remove stains and sanitize your clothes. Detergent alone is not enough.

Do I need to run an empty load after using bleach?

After you run a clean-out cycle or wash a load of clothing with bleach, it should be safe to follow with a regular load. As long as your washing machine is functioning properly there shouldn't be any bleach residue inside, so any non-bleachable items you wash next should be unaffected.

Is there an alternative to bleach?

Hydrogen Peroxide: A milder cousin of chlorine bleach, hydrogen peroxide offers disinfecting properties and is effective at whitening without the risk of yellowing fabrics over time. Oxygen-Based Bleach: This color-safe alternative is great for brightening colors and whites alike.

Do you wash whites in hot or cold water?

When to Use Hot Water – For whites, typically dirty clothes and diapers, use hot water (130°F or above). Hot water is best to remove germs and heavy soil. However, hot water can shrink, fade and damage some fabrics, so be sure to read your clothing labels before selecting the hot option.

What clothes do not bleach?

MYTH: If a garment label says don't use bleach, do not bleach it. TRUTH: It's a shame but a lot of manufacturers will actually under-label items to minimize any legal liability. We know almost all cotton whites and most synthetic whites are safe to wash in liquid bleach.

How bad is bleach for clothes?

Gagliardi says to never use bleach when washing spandex, wool, silk, mohair or leather; regardless of their color, bleach will ruin them. Always check clothing labels. As for colored fabrics, some are colorfast to bleach; it depends on what dye was used to color the fabric and how it was applied.

Is OxiClean a bleach?

OxiClean™ Odor Blasters™ Versatile Odor & Stain Remover is a chlorine-free bleach with odor-removing properties. It does double duty against tough odors, such as sweaty and musty gym towels, as well as stains in laundry and all around the house.

How to get white stripes white again?

Cleaning advice we've tested

We added half a cup of distilled white vinegar to the washing machine drum with a white load. We washed as normal using detergent and following the care label instructions. It's not only simple, it also won't bleach anything with colour in it.

Where to put bleach in a washing machine?

Instead, liquid chlorine bleach should be added to your washer's bleach dispenser, which automatically dilutes the bleach with water the machine adds to the drum. If your washer doesn't have a bleach dispenser, add it to the wash water as the washer fills, before you add clothing.

What happens if you use vinegar and laundry detergent together?

Adding vinegar directly to the wash with your laundry detergent may compromise its cleaning performance. Laundry detergents are formulated for specific pH levels, which may be disrupted by the acidity of vinegar, leading to less effective cleaning. It's best to avoid mixing them to ensure optimal results.

What is the best disinfectant for laundry?

How to disinfect clothing
  • Wash in hot water. Here's a fact that will probably not surprise you: When it comes to disinfecting, hot water works much better than cold. ...
  • Use bleach. First of all, when using bleach, use chlorine bleach. ...
  • Use phenolic disinfectants. ...
  • White vinegar. ...
  • Hydrogen peroxide. ...
  • Essential oils.

Is distilled vinegar the same as white vinegar?

White vinegar, also known as distilled vinegar or spirit vinegar, is made by fermenting grain alcohol (ethanol) which then turns into acetic acid. Water is then added to the vinegar, so white vinegar is made of five to ten percent acetic acid and ninety to ninety-five percent water.

Should you wash towels in hot or cold water?

Towels should be washed in the warmest water appropriate for the fabric according to the care label. Generally, warm or hot water is recommended for washing towels. Use a cycle specifically for towels or a normal/regular cycle.

Can I put a little bleach in my colored laundry?

When you are buying bleach, be sure to look for non-chlorine bleach that is safe to use on colored clothes. These types of bleach are also called color-safe bleach or oxygen bleach. Avoid using chlorine bleach for colored clothing, since it lifts color from fabric and causes fading and white stains on your clothes.

Why did bleach turn my white towels yellow?

Bleach has a lot of superpowers, one of which is yellowing (even with white fabrics). “One of the reasons bleach turns some fabrics yellow is because it breaks down dyes, leaving behind yellow compounds,” Ledoux says.

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