Whiten clothes naturally with homemade bleach
2012
Once upon a time a certain hippie-dancer-blogger-mom was doing laundry. Nothing new. Unfortunately, this certain hippie-dancer-blogger-mom wasn’t paying attention and somehow a pair of new blue jeans got mixed up with the whites. Whoops. Look who has a pile of grayish clothes now. Yeah. That would be me. Of course, in the “old days” I would have put the items back in the washing machine with some bleach… you know, the stuff we use to whiten clothes.
No more, my friends. No more.
I hope you guys won’t hate me for ratting out another common household product. I’ve already tattled on shampoo, fabric softener, tampons, and the like. Can’t I just leave bleach alone? But the truth is even bleach, a household chemical frequently used for generations, is not a great product to have around the house. Chlorine based bleach (oxygen based bleaches don’t fall into this same category) are really bad for you, your family, your pets, and the environment!
Why? Well, consider the following:
- Bleach can often cause respiratory issues.
- It can also cause burns to the skin and even nervous system damage.
- Allergies and asthma are often irritated by bleach and can cause serious reactions in those who have problems with these conditions already.
- Beyond causing its own problems, chlorine bleach also has some really dangerous potential reactions with other chemicals and materials.
- Each year thousands of calls are made for help and of those calls about 1/4th of them are related to bleach and the household cleaners that contain them. Many of these accidents involve children and can be potentially fatal.
Yes, the simple stuff we use to whiten clothes is not safe. In fact, bleach can be deadly.
Okay, I know I’m sounding a little dooms-day here. And chances are if you use bleach you keep it in safe place and use it responsibly. That’s good. But is it enough?
Because bleach mixes so easily with so many other products that produce a wide range of toxins, we should be concerned. Many of the chemicals produced through chemical reactions with chlorine bleach are toxins that are known carcinogens. These chemicals build up in the environment. They get into the water and food supply, and increase our risk for many negative health issues. Once again we all have a part to play to keeping our world safe.
But it’s okay!
It’s easy to make your own bleach. You can disinfect your bathrooms, clean your toilets, and whiten your clothes naturally with homemade bleach.
Whiten clothes naturally with homemade bleach
Ingredients:
- 1 ½ cup 3% hydrogen peroxide
- ½ cup lemon juice
- Distilled water to fill a gallon jug
- 10 – 12 drops lemon essential oil
Instructions:
1. Mix all ingredients together in gallon jug. Gently shake to combine.
2. Use one cup of homemade bleach in your washing cycle to whiten clothes.
As you can see it definitely brightened my whites. What about all those icky used-to-be-white-but-now-are-gray clothes? Well, they aren’t sparkingly white, but they do look better. I plan on giving them the homemade bleach treatment a few more times.
So, how do you whiten clothes in your home?
References:
http://www.howtodothings.com/home-garden/how-to-understand-why-bleach-is-bad
http://www.infobarrel.com/Why_You_Should_Stop_Using_Bleach
http://www.mothering.com/community/t/948308/educate-me-why-is-bleach-so-bad
http://www.kitchenstewardship.com/2009/09/14/food-for-thought-why-is-bleach-bad-for-me/
This post is part of Monday Mania, Natural Living Monday, Sunday School, Make Your Own Monday, Frugal Days Sustainable Ways, Living Green Tuesday, Fat Tuesday, Real Food Wednesday,Healthy 2Day Wednesday, Creative Juice Thursday, Clever Chicks, Simply Natural Saturdays, The Mommy Club, Small Footprint Friday, and Sweet Sharing Monday.
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This is wonderful! I’m always looking for cheaper ways to do things. I am wondering though… is the peroxide the ONLY active ingredient? I mean, can I just add hydrogen peroxide to my homemade detergent? And is it safe for colors?
Hi Mindy! The lemon is actual a very active part in the brightening process. In fact, I first started just using the lemon juice, but my sadly-turned-gray clothes needed a little more boost… hence the hydrogen peroxide. You can always just start with one and see how it goes and then add the other if needed.
From my research this *should* be safe for colors as well. But I would try it on a test shirt or something first, just to be safe.
Good luck!
I’m wondering if I could use this to clean my white tile grout!
I use this anywhere I would typically use bleach. Go for it!
I’d be careful about using it on grout if there’s lemon juice in it because the acid in the lemon could eat away at the grout. It would probably be better to just use a mix of H2O2 with baking soda if there is an area of grout that needs a bit of whitening.
I agree. Great tip, Shannon!
I used baking soda, warm water, and a scrub brush to clean my white tile grout. It turned out so bright and clean looking…my mom and my husband both couldn’t believe that was all I used.
I know! Sometimes I’m amazed at how we’ve let the chemical industry make us believe we need harsh chemicals to get things clean.
Is it okay to use another essential oil such as maybe lavender or is there something in the lemon essential oil that helps with the whitening process? Thanks for this recipe. I can’t hardly tolerate when my Mom uses Clorox Clean-Up to clean with when I’m at her house. It really affects my lungs. I have been using just straight white vinegar as my bleach in my washer.
Hi Lisa! I think you’d be fine to add other essential oils. The lemon helps with the whitening process, but you’ll get that anyway if you are using real lemon juice. Lavender would be great to add to laundry… nice calming scent.
I know that lemon juice and salt lift rust from clothing when allowed to dry on fabric.
Thus I think you may need the lemon, but you certainly could mix other complimentary oils if you liked, I should think.
Where do you find the essential oils? I have had no luck at Wal-Mart, etc.
I can find some at my health food store, otherwise online is always a good source: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0069SQFSI/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0069SQFSI&linkCode=as2&tag=than01-20
Be careful which oils you use – some, like cinnamon for example, can and will stain!
This is awesome! Thank you!
Thanks, Monica! Hope you like it.
Do you really need to use distilled water?
I personally think distilled is best, just to avoid things that might interfere with the other ingredients. For example, I have really hard water and that can be problematic when trying to clean.
With that said, I think it will probably work fine with normal water.
Good luck!
our irons used to tell us to only use distilled water because back in the day, it was tap or distilled, those were our only options. but now, i’ve heard it’s okay to use any type of bottled water, or RO type in the irons, so i would imagine something like “spring water, or drinking water” can be used. just thinking though, haven’t tried it yet.
That’s my guess, too.
What about adding course sea salt or epson salt to help soften the water? This is how I soften my washing machine water anyway, but for other cleaning uses…might be helpful.
That should help soften the water, for sure.
How much sea salt do you put in your wash? I have really hard water and would like to try this.
Does this also work as a disinfectant which is another use for bleach? I am a massage therapist and need to be sure my sheets are disinfected as well as clean.
Yes, the hydrogen peroxide will disinfect.
If you’re looking for a good natural disinfectant…in a spray bottle, 2C filtered water, 1/2tsp dish soap, 2tbsp vinegar, 20drops tea tree oil. Shake it up! Tea tree oil is a natural disinfectant, anti-fungal…google it to see everything it can do!
I’m going to start making my own bleach with this recipe! Thank you so much for posting!
Question: when using this bleach for cleaning, what it the bleach to water ratio?
Since there’s already lots of water in the recipe, I’d use it “as is” and dilute it as feels necessary.
I have a quick question. I am highly allergic to peroxide do you think this would be a problem or will it rinse out while washing?
Great question, Julie. I honestly don’t know. To be safe, I’d add a cup of lemon juice to my washing cycle and skip the peroxide altogether. And I’d stick with a vinegar base cleaner.
Be safe!
How long will this keep if I premade a gallon?
It should be good for at least several months.
Hydrogen peroxide deteriorates over time, and when exposed to air or light. That’s why it comes in a dark bottle. Mix enough for a week, but don’t mix a gallon and expect it to work as well after a couple months or even at the end of the week, I’d say, as it did the first day.
If the peroxide isnt in a dark colored bottle it will only remain active for about 30 min. So I don’t believe that you can store this, it would be need to be made on the spot, or all put together except for necessary peroxide to be added as used.
Great point, Nikki! Storing in a dark bottle is important if you want to pre-make it. Thanks!
Hi,
Has anyone tried using this to whiten their teeth?
Thanks!
Hi Victoria,
I’ve actually seen some teeth whitening stuff using hydrogen peroxide to white teeth on Pinterest. Although, I can’t say whether or not it’s safe. I’d do my research before putting it in my mouth, but it may be an option.
On the teeth whitening… The best thing I have ever seen – organic banana peels (the inside) will whiten teeth instantly. It’s amazing.
That is so cool! I have to try this. Thanks, Ben!
thanks Ben!
My dentist just told me today that I could use hydrogen peroxide on my teeth!
Cool!
As far as the teeth whitening with peroxide, I did my homework and they say to use 1/2 and half each of peroxide and water. The drug store kind is ok but do not swallow it. You can get safe to swallow peroxide from a health food store, NOT from the grocery or medical isles/stores. If you are concerned about the little bit you may swallow should it happen, I would suggest purchasing from a health food store.Pricier, but safer. I use reg. peroxide on my teeth and hair (blond) and it keeps teeth white, and red tones out of my blond hair after dying it.
Great tip, Sandra. Thank you!
Hydrogen peroxide is safe to rinse in the mouth but do not swallow it.
My mother used peroxide to whiten her teeth and it severely burned her whole mouth.. You may want to dilute it a good bit.
Thanks for the heads up. If people want to try and use the peroxide in their mouth I would strongly suggest starting with a very diluted wash and SLOWLY work up. As your story points out, every body is so different.
oops, yes I forgot that aspect. put a small amount into a bit of water, one to one. use immediately. However, mixing it with baking soda to brush teeth is ok without diluting if all I’ve read is true.
Did you use fresh squeezed lemons or bottled lemon juice?
Fresh squeezed is definitely best.
In a pinch you could try using 100% lemon juice from a bottle… but I’d double check the ingredient list. Even some bottle lemon juice that say 100% juice have some added stuff. Can’t say if it will work as well, but it might do the trick.
What a great tip! I just wore a white shirt yesterday and all day I was like, “Could this shirt get any more dull?” Seriously it practically looked grey…ugh. So I’m excited to try this and bring some new life into my white shirts and tank tops…minus all the toxic traditional bleach! ( :
Yay! I hope it helps!
Great recipe! I cant wait to try it.
I would love it if you would share it on my new blog hop Natural Living Monday. http://www.naturallivingmamma.com/2012/09/23/natural-living-monday-3/
Thanks so much!
darn, i like the smell of bleach LOL- no i do!
but with the rising cost of every thing i like the alternative version a lot! lemons i like to smell more yet!
you asked about whitening … i recall as child my mother and all the neighborhood would lay white things that needed to get whiter on the grass in the sun, after washing and would often times re-wet the items; funny, i never thought of it til now.
and yes, peroxide is safe to use as rinse or brushing teeth! even if accidentally swallowed – unless you drink it – should be safe! and is even recommended with gum issues;
It’s true! I’ve put baby items out in the sun to get rid of some “brown stains” and it totally cleared it up. Again, nature is amazing!
Oh, I can’t wait to try this!! I make my own laundry soap and have yet to find a cheap, non toxic and effective way to make my whites stay white… but instead of using distilled water, can I use soft water if I have a water softening system in my home?
That would probably be okay, although distilled water is your best bet. I just bought a gallon jug and then I had a jug for the bleach, too. It’s cheap.
Thank you for your submission on Nourishing Treasures’ Make Your Own! Monday link-up.
Check back tomorrow when the new link-up is running to see if you were one of the top 3 featured posts!
Something that I didn’t see here was not only is this great for whitening clothes it is also good for people that have septic systems. As far as the dark bottle goes I think if you have one of the old bleach bottles washed out completelty and I mean a very good cleaning job that should work.
WalMart used to sell a bleach free bleach which was peroxide base and I used it when I had a septic tank. Will save this recipe and will be making some now for use even tho I no longer have septic tank.
Thank you!
Awesome, Kitty! Thanks for the tip! I didn’t think to use an old bleach bottle, but it makes sense. And, yes, this would be good for septic tanks. Thank you!
Thank you for linking this post up at the Clever Chicks Blog Hop! I hope we see you back again next week!
Cheers,
Kathy
I’m definitely gonna try this. Saw you through Clever Chicks Blog Hop.
I never thought of the environmental and safety reasons not to use bleach – but I HAVE noticed that the last couple of years bleach doesn’t whiten as well as it used to. I think they must have changed something. I’m excited to see if this does a better job!
Thanks! Hope it works for you.
Am visiting from Clever Chicks blog hop…wow, you have a lot of great info on your blog. Am now following and can’t wait to read what’s next.
Thanks! Looks like you have quite the beautiful blog yourself.
I just started making my own laundry products so this post was particularly interesting. I hope I can persuade you to come link up to my Blog Fest: http://fresh-eggs-daily.blogspot.com/2012/09/farm-girl-friday-blog-fest-2.html
I am concerned that the essential oils will stain my clothes.
Hi Donna,
The few drops that go into the entire mixture should be fine. I haven’t had any problems. But if you are concerned you can definitely leave the essential oil out. It’s just there for an extra “boost.” The lemon juice will do the trick without it.
This is Great! I have been hoping for a replacement to that awful yucky stuff! Does this seem to work with hard water? We have awful water that turns everything dingy – rusty. I will definitely be making it to use in my home! Thank you!
I have pretty hard water and it seems to help… but every water “situation” is different so I can’t say for sure. Hopefully it will work for you, though! Thanks for stopping by.
This is awesome!! Can’t wait to try it in my bathroom. We are currently renting and our apartment is old and has mold in some areas. I wash it with 50/50 water bleach solution. Can I use this instead? I hate having to get everyone out of the house while it dries and the smell goes away and it’s getting cold now so I can’t really keep the windows open. Thanks!
Yes! You could definitely use this. Just be sure to put the mixture in a non-clear bottle (like an old bleach bottle) so that the hydrogen peroxide stays active.
Bleach is not the best product for cleaning mold. It is highly caustic and it actually doesn’t kill mold. Undiluted white vinegar works much better. It kills mold, bacteria, germs, and also disinfects. Tea tree oil would be even better – mix three teaspoons to about three cups of water in a spray bottle.
I boil really dingy whites with slivers of hand soap. It brightens them up beautifully. It works on my kid’s socks!
Great tip, Silvia! Love it!
Thank you for the tips! I also make my own laundry soap and this is a great addition to our laundry system. I have something to ponder, though…sometimes I have a need for bleach to kill mold and/or mildew. I just got a jumper for our little one and it was left outside. The stuffed animals on it are mildewy. I think I may just throw them out but am curious if this would kill the mildew. Sometimes I get it on the girls’ clothes if they are left in the laundry pile too long when wet. Then I have to throw them out for rags. Any suggestions?
As long as you keep the homemade bleach in a non-clear container it should act as a disinfectant.
Last week I made homemade laundry degtergent with my sister and her grandkids! I’m hooked; not sure about sis though. But she sure did devour this article. LOL
Now I have to find out if anyone knows of a homemade “Woolite” substitute. So, I figure this is the best place to start. Any recipes or ideas?
We also make our own homemade detergent. Love it. So much cheaper.
Not sure about the woolite substitute. Let me doing a little investigating. What exactly do you like about it that you’re hoping to get from a natural recipe?
check out this lady she does pintrest and her own blog she’s always making homemade stuff, especially DIY cleaning products I believe she just recently posted homemade woolite
One Good Thing by Jillee
I am definitely going to try this! I will feel a lot better about using bleach on my clothes. I would only use a little bit because it smells nasty and I just don’t like using it. Pinned.
Awesome! Thank, Tulip.
Can this be used with a septic tank? Normal bleach is a no no because it eats bacteria and enzymes needed to maintain a healthy septic.
I believe it can. If you look at some of the previous comments it was mentioned that it is safe.
Found you via Frugally Sustainable’s blog hop and had to stop by…LOVE this bleach alternative!! We use peroxide instead of bleach and things don’t seem to get as white as they could. This sounds like a great option to try!
Can’t wait to come back for more posts…Hope you have a lovely week!!
Michele xoxo
The Homesteading Cottage
Thanks, Michele!
Hi,
This sounds great! Can’t wait to try it. If feels so empowering to go to the store and not have to buy something because I can make it myself. Especially when I run out.
I understand the lemon juice helps the whitening but can i not use the essential oil?
Hi Narita,
Yes, you can definitely skip the essential oil. The lemon juice (especially if its freshly squeezed) and hydrogen peroxide will work great together.
Thanks for stopping by!
can I use concentrated lemon juice? love your site!!
You can try it. It may not work as well… I’d be sure to look at the ingredient list and make sure it really is just lemon juice listed. Fresh squeezed will give you more “bang for your buck,” however.
Saw your post last week and have been using it. GREAT tip. I will let you know that instead of juicing the lemon I cut up the whole lemon and put it along with the water in the vitamix and pureed. I put it through a fine strainer before mixing in the jug. No need for the EO at that point.
Awesome, Kelly! I LOVE this idea. Thanks for sharing!
I toss a handful of baking soda in with the clothes as I load the dirty clothes. Then, I put vinegar in the softener tray.
(and a basic laundry soap in the soap dispenser)
Chemistry: acid + base = a cleaner load.
I love it! Thanks for the tip.
This is a great recipe! I’ve been buying a non-chlorine eco bleach thingy but I always prefer to know what exactly is in my cleaners. I’ll definitely be buying some hydrogen peroxide on my next trip to the market!
I would love it if you shared this on my new link-up, Waste Not Want Not Wednesdays
http://www.poorandglutenfree.blogspot.com/2012/10/waste-not-want-not-wednesday-1.html
Thanks, Danielle! I will check it out.
So do i fill that gallon of water full?? Then add the other ingredients?
I’d fill it most of the way, add the remaining ingredients, and then fill it the rest of the way with water.
Thank you for this post. I have been ditching all my chemical cleansers lately, which means my bleach is gone..gladly. But my whites aren’t so white and I keep meaning to look for a bleach/whitening alternative. Sounds like I may have found it with your post. I have ‘repinned’ your post, and, if I blog about this new discovery (and I likely will) I will be sure to give credit where it is due and link to your post. Thanks!
Thanks so much, GlutenFree Mom!
I was wondering if you can use filtered water instead of distilled water?
That should be fine.
These tips are so wonderful to know and pass on. I am teaching my children all these things for a safer enviorment and healthier earth to live in.
Thanks, Dolly! Your kids are lucky to have you.
Thank you!I get physically ill with respiratory issues for days (costochondritis) when cleaning with bleach! thank you. ty! and TY!
I have read that bleach just takes the color out of whatever it is applied to, such as mold, and does not actually kill it. I also read on another web site containing natural laundry whitening suggestions that adding peroxide and lemon juice to your washer will eat holes in the clothes. What is your take on this? I recently made my own homemade laundry detergent, but my white sheets need some extra help.
I don’t use my homemade bleach every load, but I haven’t had any issues with it eating my clothes.
Is this safe to use in hE machines?
Oh man, great question. Not entirely sure… but I can’t imagine it harming them.
Hey I have a question, is this also safe for the more delicate clothes? I have this beautiful floral dress with white lace details, but sadly it now has ugly gray details… I’d love to whiten it, but should I use the whole recipe or just the lemon juice?
That’s a good question. I haven’t actually tried it on lace (only because I don’t have anything with it on) so I can’t say for sure. My gut instinct is that it would probably be okay, but I really don’t know for sure.
Hi there,
So glad to find your website. So am I correct as I read the comments? I can use just plain lemon juice if I don’t have lemon essential oil?
Yep.
i put my white clothes in the sun, it helps a lot, especially clothes that got “dirty” from diapers (if you know what i mean)…
Yes, the sun is amazing at that!
Wonderful and practical information. I’ve been using this for many years. I would also like to mention that Hydrogen Peroxide is rendered useless when exposed to light, that’s why it comes in those brown plastic bottles, so be sure to always keep it in a dark container and away from light.
Yes, thank you.
I’m going to try this on my son’s cloth diapers in the winter when they can’t be left in the sun to “bleach”!