Bleach is one of the most used and common laundry cleaning products. It makes clothes bright and crisp, making them look clean and new after every wash. However, bleach isn’t an eco-friendly cleaner. Whether used for laundry, routine house cleaning or expert
end of lease cleaning Melbourne, bleach is toxic and harms the environment.
Furthermore, it releases volatile organic compounds which are major causes for asthma, allergic rhinitis, and other chronic respiratory diseases. These organic compounds also act as carcinogens, neurotoxins, and endocrine-disruptors. Therefore, limiting the use of bleach for laundry and other household tasks is essential for a healthier home.
Replace them with natural alternatives to get the same results but without exposure to chemicals and
harmful carcinogens. Don’t know how to start?
Here is your complete guide outlining 7 all-natural homemade laundry bleach alternatives you must use. Have a look.
1. Brighten and Freshen Laundry with Baking Soda
Baking soda is sodium bicarbonate a compound which can naturally brighten and refresh fabrics. To get the best results, add baking soda in the detergent before washing a load of laundry and follow the standard laundry process.
For stubborn stains, make a paste of baking soda and water to apply on the dirty area. Let it work for 1-15 minutes then scrub gently with a brush before washing with detergent and water.
2. Expose Laundry to Sunlight
Direct exposure to sunlight can lighten fabric stains especially ones caused due to food or drinks spills. It also brightens white clothes, towels, covers, and other fabrics.
Remove bad smells and synthetic odours from new fabrics with exposure to sunlight. While using this method, just keep the following things in mind.
Avoid exposing coloured clothes to sunlight as it will fade the tint. This method is best for white or light-coloured clothes. If you must expose coloured clothes to sunlight, turn them inside out.
To get the best results, keep fabrics outside when the sun is the brightest which is usually at noon.
3. Revive Laundry with Distlled White Vinegar
Whether you want to revive old clothes or brighten whites, adding distilled white vinegar can remove stains and act like bleach. Add a cup of vinegar to the detergent dispenser before each rinse to add shine to laundry and make everything smell fresh. This step also prevents dark coloured fabrics from becoming dull.
If you have old socks, handkerchiefs, sheets or other clothes, soak them in a solution of vinegar and water overnight to eliminate dullness.
Using distilled white vinegar is not only great for sanitising laundry, it also removes residues and cleans the washing machine. Thus, you can sanitise the appliance without using commercial cleaners with
volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
4. Sanitise Laundry with Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is one of the best alternatives to bleach as it whites, brightens and sanitises. It is an antiseptic solution that can bleach fabrics without threatening their structural integrity like bleach. Just avoid using the solution on coloured clothing as it will lead to decolouration.
To use hydrogen peroxide as bleach, pour a cup of 3% solution to the bleach container in the washing machine along with the laundry detergent.
Since hydrogen peroxide is a natural cleaner and sanitiser, it is perfect for
house cleaning and sanitising household areas during budget end of lease cleaning Melbourne as well.
5. Soak Laundry in Salt & Water Solution before Washing
Salt is one of the best stain removers for fabrics and also add shine to cloths. It is also great for removing grease and grime from household surfaces making it excellent for sanitise cabinets, countertops and other areas during regular house cleaning or cheap end of lease cleaning Melbourne.
Here are different ways you can use it to brighten laundry instead of bleach.
Apply salt directly to stains and grime and let it dwell for 10 minutes before washing laundry as usual.
Soak clothes, towels, pillow covers, bedsheets and other fabrics in a salt and water solution for 20 minutes before washing to remove stains and sanitise the fabrics.
You can also keep new clothes crisp and prevent colour bleeding by soaking the clothes in salt and water solution before washing with a gentle detergent.
6. Apply Lemon Juice to Stains
Lemons have citric acid which acts a bleaching agent and works great when you want to use a natural alternative to bleach. It is a perfect stain remover and whitener that also leaves fabrics and surfaces smelling lemony fresh.
To use lemon juice, use it directly on stains and let it dry before doing laundry like you usually do. To increase efficacy of lemon juice, you can combine it with salt and
make a natural cleaning solution that actually works. This combination not only works great for cleaning laundry but also for sanitising household areas during budget end of lease cleaning Melbourne.
Wrapping Up
Bleach is a readily-available product excellent for cleaning and sanitising laundry and other household surfaces. However, it is toxic, bad for the environment and hazardous for human health. Therefore, use the alternatives shared above to replace store-bought bleach with all-natural and homemade products.
