These six alternatives will not replace chlorine bleach as a disinfectant to kill bacteria but will help keep your white clothes looking good and are easier on the environment. For laundry that must be disinfected, there are other choices like pine oil and phenolic disinfectants to replace chlorine bleach. To whiten and brighten clothes, add 1 cup of hydrogen peroxide to each washer load of laundry. It can be safely used on a load of whites or colored clothes. The hydrogen peroxide should be placed in the automatic bleach dispenser of the washer or added as the washer is filling with water, so it is dispersed evenly before clothes are added. Do not pour hydrogen peroxide directly on dry colored fabrics because it can cause spotting by removing color. Even if you still feel the need to use chlorine bleach, you can use less by adding baking soda to the wash load. It also helps chlorine bleach clean more effectively. Oxygen bleach works a bit more slowly than chlorine bleach, and you will get the best results if you allow the clothing to soak for at least two hours or overnight in the water/oxygen bleach solution before washing as usual. Follow the package directions for how much oxygen bleach to use per gallon of water. Powdered oxygen bleach is activated by adding it to water. Powdered formulas are more stable and produce better results than pre-mixed liquid oxygen bleaches which lose effectiveness over time once the container is opened. Oxygen bleach brand names include OxiClean, Nellie’s All Natural Oxygen Brightener, and OxoBrite. Let the clothes sit overnight and then wash your clothes as usual following the correct water temperature for the fabrics. Any vinegar odor will disappear, and the environment will appreciate your efforts. The ultra-violet rays whiten, fade stains, and disinfect fabrics while they dry. Remember, however, the same rays can fade colored fabrics.
