Comparison of Chlorine Bleach & Non-Chlorine Bleach
The majority of U.S. households have chlorine bleach, mainly for laundry whitening and sometimes as a disinfecting cleaner. Non-chlorine bleach doesn't disinfect, but it safely removes stains from colored laundry, unlike regular bleach. Does this Spark an idea?
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History
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The Clorox Company first promoted its sodium hypochlorite solution to whiten laundry about 1916. In the late 1960s, the company introduced a non-chlorine bleach that is safe for washing colors.
Considerations
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Non-chlorine bleach is also called color-safe bleach. Homemakers have used chlorine bleach for almost 100 years, but it is a disaster on colored clothes. Non-chlorine bleach safely removes stains and adds optical brighteners to make color clothes look good after many washings.
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Features
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Chlorine bleach contains sodium chemical compounds that should never be mixed with other household cleaners. Hydrogen peroxide, the active ingredient in non-chlorine bleach, is gentle and safe to use on any laundry.
Disinfecting
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Chlorine bleach is registered with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as a disinfectant. However, non-chlorine bleach is not a disinfectant.
Fact
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The EPA classifies chlorine bleach as a anti-microbial pesticide and fungicide.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Sherrie Thai Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of John Lambert Pearson
