How to Add Bleach to a Wash Cycle

Maintain sparkling white clothes by adding bleach during the wash cycle.

Chlorine bleach helps remove stains from laundry and keeps whites sparkling white rather than turning a dingy gray color over time. Check the care labels of the garments to be bleached to verify it is safe to use bleach on such fabrics. Typically, bleach is safe to use on white dish towels, sheets, socks, towels and t-shirts. If your washing machine does not have a bleach dispenser, add it directly in the machine. To yield the cleanest, whitest garments, add it directly to the load of laundry during the washing cycle.

Things You'll Need

• Laundry detergent

Instructions

1. Fill the washer with water and add your regular laundry detergent using an appropriate amount, per detergent label, based on the load size and how soiled the fabrics are.

2. Submerge your clothes and other washables to be bleached in the washer. Do not overfill the washer.

3. Close the lid and turn on the washer. Set a timer for four to five minutes to give the detergent time to clean the load of laundry by itself.

4. Open the lid of the washer. The agitating or spinning will stop. Measure the bleach using an appropriate amount as listed on the bleach's label -- about 1/2 to 3/4 cup -- and pour it carefully in the water evenly around the machine. Do not pour the bleach directly on your washables.

5. Close the lid and the let the machine finish washing the clothes.

References

• Clorox: How to Use Bleach
• Clorox: Adding Bleach to a Wash Cycle
• The College at Brockport: Kenmore Washing Machine Manual
• New Mexico State University; Getting Clothes Clean; Susan Wright; April 2006