Bleaches and Compounds

Bleaches are compounds that are used to clean, whiten and brighten fabrics and help remove the stubborn stains. Bleaches have proved to be highly effective and useful in converting the soils into colorless, soluble particles, which can be removed and carried away by detergents in the wash water. Bleaches can be used for different cleansing applications, including - laundry, dishwash cleaning and in household cleaning products.

Types of Bleaches
The bleaches can be broadly categorized into two types, that include -

• Chlorine bleach
• Oxygen bleach

Bleaches	Used for whitening, brightening and removing stains in clothes and fabrics, dishes and household products
Types	Primary Function	Example
Chlorine Bleach	Along with whitening, brightening and removing stains, it also works as an disinfectant	Sodium Hypochlorite
Oxygen Bleach	Oxygen bleach can be combined with bleach activators in some products for improved performance in lower temperatures.	Sodium Perborate Sodium Percarbonate

A brief description of the two types of bleaches is given below -

Chlorine Bleach
Chlorine bleach comes in liquid as well as powder forms with the powder form being more popular. This type of bleach has found to be safe for all types of fibers excluding spandex, wool, silk, and specialty fibers like mohair, angora, and cashmere.

Liquid chlorine bleaches are more popular than powder bleaches due to their properties such as they are less expensive and kill germs too. Most of the liquid bleaches contain approximately 5% active ingredient and you can select the products that provides the best results for your specific needs.

Applications:
Chlorine bleaches can be used on -

• Dish towels
• Bath towels
• Sheets
• Color-fast prints
• Pillowcases
• Tablecloths
• White socks
• T-shirts and undershirts

Chlorine Bleach Usage Instructions
For heavy load washing machines, you can use up to 1 cup of liquid chlorine bleach and is the machine is extra large, use 1-1/4 cup of bleach. For front loading machines, you should not use more than 1/2 cup liquid bleach. For hand washing, do not take more than 1 tablespoon of bleach for each gallon of water.

Mix the bleach with lots of water before mixing it with detergent wash water or otherwise it can make holes in the fabrics. Rinse clothes properly to remove the bleach, as if it stays in them it may weaken the clothes.

Chlorine bleaches may damage or discolor some special fabrics or finishes, so carefully read the labels on clothes and bleach containers before using the bleach.

Oxygen Bleach
Oxygen bleaches are light and milder than chlorine bleaches and most are combined with a brightener and water conditioner. Oxygen bleaches come in dry as well as liquid forms and are usually labeled as "safe for all types of fabrics" or "all fabric bleach". Oxygen bleaches are preventive ones and can be used on a regular basis. These bleaches can be safely used on all types of clothes and fabrics that require bleaching and are safe for all fabrics, finishes and colored fabrics.

Oxygen Bleach Usage Instructions
Oxygen bleaches can be used to with maximum benefit by properly following the given instructions -

• Add oxygen bleach to the wash water
• Use hot water as most oxygen bleaches work best in them
• Carefully follow the directions and instructions given on package
• Rinse the clothes well
• For superior results, use oxygen bleach every time you wash your clothes

Bleach products Buying Tips
While buying bleach products, it is important to know what is your specific need so that you can buy a best product. Carefully read the instructions, whether the bleach is safe for all types of fabrics and finishes or not. Never buy a chlorine bleach for usage on silk, wool, spandex stretch fabrics, blends of these fibers, or fabrics with certain dyes and finishes, as the chlorine bleach may damage them. Oxygen bleaches are usually safe for all kind of fabrics and so it does not require special care and attention. It is important to heck clothes labels and hang-tags to know if they can be safely bleached.