Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 4: Bleach your clothes in the washing machine
• Method 2 of 4: Bleach your clothes in a hand wash
• Method 3 of 4: Bleach stains
• Method 4 of 4: Bleach your clothes with a colourfast product
• Tips
• Warnings

White clothes tend to get dingy after a while and turn an ugly gray color, even if you wash your clothes regularly. By bleaching your white garments, you can ensure that they retain or regain their radiant white color. Below you can find out how to quickly bleach your clothes in the wash with bleach.

To step

Method 1 of 4: Bleach your clothes in the washing machine

1. Sort your clothes by color. Only bleached completely white garments and linens. Only choose items of clothing that are safe for you in the washing machine hot water. Choose one of the alternative methods below if it is a delicate garment (such as a lace dress) or if there is a chance that the garment will shrink (such as a cotton shirt).
2. Measure out the bleach. For a regular load of laundry, you need 180 ml of bleach.
3. Pour the bleach into the washing machine. Pour the bleach into the hot water after you added detergent before you put your clothes in the washing machine.
   • If your washing machine has one, put the 180 ml bleach in the correct detergent container. Look in the manual in which compartment you should put the bleach. You can also put the bleach in a plastic wax ball.
   • If your washing machine does not have a bleach compartment, you can pour it directly into the water after the wash cycle has started but before you put your clothes in it. For best results, let the wash cycle run for a few minutes before putting in your clothes. As a result, the bleach is well distributed throughout the water. However, this method is only suitable for top loaders.
4. Put your clothes in the washing machine. Chlorine bleach works best in hot water, so don't forget to set the washing machine to the highest temperature possible.

Method 2 of 4: Bleach your clothes in a hand wash

1. Sort your clothes by color. Set aside all delicate white garments that should not be machine washed or washed in very hot water. Check the care labels if you are unsure.
2. If necessary, wash your clothes by hand first with regular detergent. This way you remove dirt particles and stains from the garments before bleaching them. Wash your clothes in a sink, washbasin, or washtub that is suitable for bleaching.
3. Prepare a bleach mixture in a separate bucket. Use 1 part bleach to 30 parts water. This means that you need about 120 ml of bleach to 4 liters of water. Make sure the water is the right temperature so that you don't wash the clothes too hot. Keep in mind that bleach works better in warmer water.
4. Add the bleach and water mixture to the garments. Let the items soak for at least 15 minutes.
5. Rinse the garments thoroughly and let them dry.

Method 3 of 4: Bleach stains

1. Check what kind of stain it is. You cannot remove all types of stains with bleach. For example, bleach works to remove stains caused by coffee, juice and grass, but it cannot remove oil and grease stains.
2. Place a clean cloth or a paper towel on your work area. Place the stained fabric on top.
3. Prepare a bleach mixture. Use 1 part bleach to 30 parts water. If you don't need a lot, you could use 1 tablespoon of bleach to 30 tablespoons of water, or 15 ml of bleach to 250 ml of water.
4. Wet a clean white cloth with the mixture. Blot the back of the stain with the cloth. Make light strokes towards the center so that the stain does not enlarge. The stain should now settle into the fabric underneath.
5. Keep dabbing the area until the stain is removed. Blot the excess bleach from the fabric with a dry piece of the cloth.
6. Wash the garment according to the instructions on the care label. Before putting the garment in the dryer or washing machine, make sure that the stain has been completely removed, as heat can permanently set the stain into the fabric.

Method 4 of 4: Bleach your clothes with a colourfast product

1. Find out which items of clothing you want to bleach with colourfast bleach. For example, you could bleach white garments with colored stripes or patterns and colored garments. Do not add completely white garments so that the colored garments do not stain.
2. Choose an alternative to bleach. Most colorfast bleaches are oxygen bleaches that work just like a hydrogen peroxide solution. These agents are available as a liquid and as a powder.
3. Wash the garments according to the instructions on the care label. Put the correct amount of oxygen bleach in the washing machine. You do not have to dilute these bleaches with water first. Like chlorine bleach, they work best in hot water.

Tips

• Chlorine bleach only lasts for a limited time. Bleach that is older than 6 months will start to work less well. Also keep the bleach in a dark place. Exposing the bleach to light will quickly reduce its effectiveness.
• Bleaching your clothes regularly will weaken the fibers. Only show them when it is really necessary.
• If you are unsure whether it is safe to bleach a garment, test the bleach on an invisible spot first (you can see if you can bleach a garment on the care label). Place a drop of the diluted bleach in an invisible area, such as on the inside of a seam. Wait 5 minutes, then rinse the area with water and let the fabric air dry. If the color does not fade, the garment can be bleached safely.
• You can also put 150 grams of baking soda in the washing machine instead of oxygen bleach. However, this does not always work well.
• To remove stains, there are various types of whitening pens available that allow you to easily apply a ready-to-use mixture.
• If you spill bleach, clean it up. Of course you don't want your red boxer shorts to turn pink.

Warnings

• Mix bleach not with ammonia. This creates corrosive fumes that can be fatal if you inhale them.
• Always keep bleach out of the reach of children. Follow all safety instructions on the packaging.
• Never pour bleach on your clothes.
• Use chlorine bleach only in a well-ventilated area.
• If you hand wash your clothes and use chlorine bleach, wear gloves to protect your skin.
• Do not use bleach on wool, silk, mohair, spandex, and leather garments.
• Be careful when pouring liquid bleach into anything as the bleach can splash and bleach other surfaces.