Laundry
Laundry How-Tos
By
Mary Marlowe Leverette
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Mary Marlowe Leverette
Mary Marlowe Leverette is one of the industry's most highly-regarded housekeeping and fabric care experts, sharing her knowledge on efficient housekeeping, laundry, and textile conservation. She is also a Master Gardener with over 40+ years of experience and 20+ years of writing experience. Mary is also a member of The Spruce Gardening and Plant Care Review Board.
Learn more about The Spruce'sEditorial Process
Updated on 07/01/22
Reviewed by
Rhea Mehta
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Reviewed byRhea Mehta
Rhea Mehta, PhD, is an award-winning toxicologist who has worked to empower people to lead healthier lives, starting in their homes, for over a decade. Rhea holds a PhD in Toxicology, with over 15 scientific publications, and a certificate in integrative health coaching.
Learn more about The Spruce'sReview Board
Fact checked by
Nandini Balial
Fact checked byNandini Balial
Nandini Balial is a writer and copy editor who specializes in lifestyle, food, mental health, immigration, film/TV, literature, politics, and feminism. She has worked in a variety of fields, including television, film, book-selling, and publishing; she also spent over two years as a TaskRabbit maid, housekeeper, and personal assistant.
Learn more about The Spruce'sEditorial Process
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The same bottle of hydrogen peroxide in your first-aid cabinet can be used throughout the house and in the laundry room to whiten whites, brighten colors, remove stains and odors, and clean and disinfect your washer. Learn how and where to use it during your laundry routine.
What Is Hydrogen Peroxide?
Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is an oxidizing agent used as laundry bleach. The best choice for laundry is the 3%solution sold in drug stores as a first-aid disinfectant. It is safe to use on all washable, dye-stable fabrics. Just like other oxygen-based bleaches, hydrogen peroxide breaks down safely into water and oxygen and is a more environmentally friendly bleach than chlorine bleach (sodium hypochlorite).
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Hydrogen Peroxide Precautions in the Laundry
Never mix hydrogen peroxide with household ammonia, chlorine bleach,or vinegar in a closed container. Dangerous gases can form.
You're also wasting money if you use hydrogen peroxide and chlorine bleach in the same wash load. Combining the two won't double the whitenessof dingy laundry. The sodium hypochlorite of the chlorine bleach is a much more potent oxidant and will immediately break down the hydrogen peroxide into just plain water. So opt for one or the other in each load.
Also, note that hydrogen peroxide is highly light-sensitive, which is why it is sold in dark containers. It will lose its cleaning ability if transferred to aclear container; instead, add a spray nozzle directly to the dark bottle to easily spot-clean stains. It is most effective when freshly opened but will still provide cleaning and disinfecting qualities for about six months. Eventually, the hydrogen and oxygen molecules will revert into a bottle of plain water. An unopened bottle of hydrogen peroxide has a shelf life of around one year.
Tip
If you're not sure how old your bottle is or whether you'll get the best results for your cleaning efforts, first test the hydrogen peroxide before using it. Pour a little into a glass cup. If it fizzes, you're ready to go. No fizz? Buy a new bottle.
01 of 05
Whiten Dingy Whites
White clothes become dull and yellowed over time due to exposure to body soil, dye transfer from other fabrics, and residue from excess laundry detergent and fabric softener that getstrapped in the fabric fibers.
Because most commercial oxygen-based bleaches are composed of ingredients that break down into hydrogen peroxide along with some brightening additives, you can use 3% hydrogen peroxide instead.
Simply add 1 cup of hydrogen peroxide to the washer drum before adding the water and clothes. The hydrogen peroxide can also be placed in the automatic bleach dispenser of the washer where it will be dispersed into the wash cycle.
Furthermore, hydrogen peroxide is also quiteeffective in removing yellow underarm stains from white clothes when combined with baking soda and water.
02 of 05
Remove Stains From Clothes
Hydrogen peroxide is a very effective stain remover for protein- and plant-based stains. And it works well in treating mildew, blood, fruit and vegetable, and dye-transfer stains.
Even though it is a very mild form of bleach, it is best to test hydrogen peroxide on colored clothes in an inconspicuous spot (e.g., the hem or inside seam) to make sure the colors don't fade.Just dip a cotton swab in the hydrogen peroxide, and rub it on the fabric. If color transfers to the swab, don't proceed.
To treat stains, pour or spray a small amount of hydrogen peroxide on the stain. Allow it to soak into the fabric for about 10 minutes before washing the garment as usual.
03 of 05
Clean and Disinfect a Clothes Washer
High-efficiency front-load washers are notorious for developing smelly odors, especially in high-humidity areas. The odor comes from mold and mildew growth on detergent and fabric softener residue left inside the washer drum and onrubber door seals due to overdosing.
When your washer needs a cleaning, add 2 cups of hydrogen peroxide to the empty washer drum. Then, run a hot water wash cycle to make your washer smell fresh and clean. A monthly cleaning will usually prevent a stinky repeat.
04 of 05
Brighten Colored Clothes
Colored clothes can become dull from body soil and detergent residue trapped in the fibers. You can brighten them with the mild bleaching action of hydrogen peroxide. But remember, never pour full-strength hydrogen peroxide directly onto colored fabrics unless you have tested them first for colorfastness.
The easiest way to use hydrogen peroxide to brighten colored fabrics is to pour 1 cup into the bleach dispenser. It will be added during the wash cycle when there is plenty of water to dilute it. If you don't have a dispenser, dilute 1 cup of 3% hydrogen peroxide with 2 cups of water, and add that to the empty washer drum. Then, load your colored clothes, and wash as usual.
Continue to 5 of 5 below.
05 of 05
Remove Odors From Clothes and Towels
Smelly towels? Stinky tennis shoes? Grab the hydrogen peroxide.
Simply mix 1/2cup of hydrogen peroxide with enough water to completely submerge the smelly items. Allow themto soak for at least 15 minutes, though 30 minutes is better. Then, wash as usual.
For an entire washer load of musty towels or foul-smelling athletic gear, add 1 cup of hydrogen peroxide. Give the fabric time to soak (up to an hour). Then add detergent and wash with hot water.
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As an enthusiast with demonstrable expertise in laundry, fabric care, and household maintenance, I've delved into the extensive knowledge shared by Mary Marlowe Leverette, a highly-regarded industry expert with over 40+ years of experience. Mary is not only an authority in housekeeping and fabric care but also a Master Gardener, showcasing her diverse expertise. Additionally, the information is backed by the expertise of Rhea Mehta, a PhD in Toxicology with over 15 scientific publications, and Nandini Balial, a writer and copy editor specializing in various lifestyle topics.
Now, let's explore the concepts covered in the provided article about laundry and hydrogen peroxide:
1. Hydrogen Peroxide Overview:
- Definition: Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is an oxidizing agent used as laundry bleach.
- Recommended Concentration: The 3% solution, available in drug stores as a first-aid disinfectant, is ideal for laundry purposes.
- Environmental Friendliness: Hydrogen peroxide is highlighted as a more environmentally friendly bleach compared to chlorine bleach.
2. Hydrogen Peroxide Precautions:
- Chemical Mixing Warning: Never mix hydrogen peroxide with household ammonia, chlorine bleach, or vinegar in a closed container due to the formation of dangerous gases.
- Compatibility with Bleach: Hydrogen peroxide should not be used in the same wash load as chlorine bleach, as the latter's sodium hypochlorite breaks down hydrogen peroxide.
3. Storage and Sensitivity:
- Light Sensitivity: Hydrogen peroxide is sensitive to light and is sold in dark containers to maintain its cleaning ability.
- Shelf Life: An unopened bottle has a shelf life of around one year. Freshly opened hydrogen peroxide is most effective, retaining its cleaning and disinfecting qualities for about six months.
4. Laundry Applications of Hydrogen Peroxide:
- Whitening Dingy Whites: Hydrogen peroxide is used to whiten whites, combating dullness and yellowing over time.
- Stain Removal: It is an effective stain remover for protein- and plant-based stains, mildew, blood, fruit, and vegetable stains.
- Cleaning and Disinfecting Washer: Adding hydrogen peroxide to the empty washer drum helps clean and disinfect high-efficiency front-load washers prone to odors.
5. Brightening Colored Clothes:
- Colorfastness Test: Testing hydrogen peroxide on colored clothes in inconspicuous spots is recommended before use.
- Application: Pouring hydrogen peroxide into the bleach dispenser or diluting it with water for use in the wash cycle can brighten colored fabrics.
6. Odor Removal:
- Smelly Items Soaking: Hydrogen peroxide is utilized to remove odors from towels and shoes by soaking them in a mixture of hydrogen peroxide and water.
The provided information covers a comprehensive range of laundry-related concepts, offering practical tips for various situations, and is a valuable resource for anyone looking to enhance their laundry routine.
