When washing clothes, many shy away from bleach in fear of strong smells and damaged clothes. Read on for tips and tricks on how to get the maximum benefit from every wash!
When using laundry detergent alone, stains, body soil, dead skin and odours are often left behind.Bleach works by breaking the chemical bonds that keep soils and stains attached to fabrics, leaving your fabrics cleaner and whiter.
To tackle tough stains and get the most out of every load, consult the laundry checklist below:
Things to remember before you wash
- Separate loads according to colour: whites, lights and darks.
- Check the garment label for laundering instructions.
- To avoid wear on clothes, turn them inside out when putting them in the washer.
- Don't over-pack the washer.
- Use the recommended amount of product.
Tackle tough stains
- Act fast.
- Blot liquids with a white cloth (to ensure fabric dyes don't bleed onto the item). When blotting liquids, work from the outside in so you don't spread the stain.
- If the stain has a greasy or oily component, don't run water over it. Try rubbing some liquid dishwashing or laundry detergent into the stain from the back. Wait one to three minutes and then rinse away with warm water.
- Scoop solids, with a dull-edged knife before blotting.
- Sprinkle an oily stain with cornstarch. Wait ten minutes and then scrape it off.
- Dab stains (don't rub!) with cool water, which will lighten stains or solve them altogether.
Bleachability test
Unsure of whether garments can be washed with bleach? Perform a bleachability test.
- Mix two teaspoons of Ultra Javex® Bleach by Clorox in 60 mL (1/4 cup) water.
- Apply a drop of the solution on a hidden area of your garment such as an inside seam.
- Wait one minute then blot; no colour change means it is safe to use bleach on the item.
Whiten whites
To keep whites looking crisp and fresh follow the steps outlined below:
- For the best results choose the warmest water recommended on the fabric care label.
- Start the washer and add the recommended amount of detergent and 180 mL (¾ cup) of Ultra Javex® Bleach by Clorox; let the water run for a few minutes before adding clothes.
Give colours a boost
To brighten coloured clothes follow the steps below:
- Wash garments in the warmest water recommended on the fabric care label.
- Start the washer and add the recommended amount of detergent and Javex2® Stain Fighter & Colour Booster by Clorox liquid to the load; let the water run for a few minutes before adding clothes.
Always read and follow precautions and usage directions before using cleaning products. Always store cleaning products out of reach of children. For more information visit www.clorox.ca.
