Bleaching clothes without chlorine and lightening garments in an alternative way to traditional bleaches is possible, for them we will show you what are the most ecological ways you can find to lighten clothes without damaging them and that they are in a natural way.
There are many reasons that justify completely eradicating commercial bleaches, such as chlorine, which is definitely not environmentally friendly and healthier. Every year thousands of accidents are related to the use of household cleaners and bleaching products such as chlorine. Many of these accidents involve children and can be life threatening.
Using chemicals to bleach clothes can cause:
- Respiratory problems.
- Skin burns and even nervous system damage.
- Allergies and asthma often happen from contact with bleaching chemicals and can cause severe reactions in those who have problems with these conditions already.
- Chlorine bleaching also has some very dangerous potential reactions if mixed with other chemicals and materials.
How to bleach clothes?
Fortunately, there are alternative ways to bleach clothes without chlorine such as white vinegar, baking soda, lemon and others. They brighten a lot from our bedding, socks, and other fabrics, these alternatives leave it bright and luminous, and you probably already have the ingredients at home.
White vinegar for bleaching clothes without chlorine
Vinegar bleaches, refreshes and softens fabrics. Add 1/2 to 1 cup of distilled white vinegar along with your natural powdered laundry detergent . Don’t worry about the vinegar smell will dissipate after drying. Vinegar can also be sprayed on spot stains and neck and armpit stains.
Lemon juice brightens clothes
Lemon juice brightens and refreshes tissues. Add 1/4 to 1/2 cup of lemon juice along with your regular laundry detergent. For a pre-soak, fill a large pot with water and a sliced lemon. Bring to a boil, turn off the heat and add the clothes. Let it soak for an hour and then wash as usual.
Castile soap
Castile soap is made from olive oil with techniques that date back more than several centuries of Spanish history. Its effectiveness is combined with natural ingredients which makes it an attractive whitening alternative. Many soaps are made from chemical detergents, but castile soap is completely biodegradable and safe to use around pets and family.
Most people dilute castile soap with water and use it to clean bathrooms, dishes, and kitchen utensils. It makes a great laundry detergent when combined with white vinegar, baking soda, and borax. Some have also used castile soap as a shampoo for people and pets, as a floor cleaning solution, toothpaste, and carpet cleaner. You can also combine a tablespoon of castile soap with several cups of water in a spray bottle and safely clean the bacteria.
Whitening clothes with baking soda
Baking soda bleaches, disinfects, refreshes and softens the tissues. Add 1/2 cup of baking soda along with your natural powdered laundry detergent. For specific stains, make a paste of baking soda and water and apply directly to the fabric.
Borax whitening
Borax is a mixture of mineral and salt and has become a useful component in various applications. It is commonly used as a detergent, in cosmetics, as a fire retardant, and even as an antifungal agent.
It is commonly mixed with detergent to give it a strong cleaning boost, but it can also serve as a disinfectant. Its gritty properties make it an ideal ingredient for scrubbing and cleaning dirty surfaces. When mixed with castile soap and water it becomes a great way to scrub sinks and bathrooms, and to bleach clothes.
Tea tree oil
This bleaching alternative, also known as melaleuca oil, is a natural essential oil with a wide variety of uses. It has been used in cosmetics to treat acne, infection, and dandruff. As a bleach alternative, tea tree oil is a great smelling way to disinfect and clean virtually any area of your home including clothing.
By mixing a few drops with hot water in a spray bottle, you will have a great tool for cleaning floors, countertops and appliances with a smell similar to pine.
Hydrogen peroxide to rinse clothes
Hydrogen peroxide (hydrogen peroxide -3%) is a chlorine-free bleaching and disinfectant agent. Add 1/2 cup of hydrogen peroxide along with your regular laundry detergent.
Solar energy for whitening clothes
No, this does not mean that you should buy solar panels to use them to whiten clothes, simply take advantage of the power of the sun’s rays. If you want to bleach your clothes, you can easily hang them outside to dry where the sun’s rays can hit it directly. Ultraviolet light gives a subtle whitening effect to white clothes. It’s worth keeping in mind that it could cause colored clothing to fade in color. You can also place an object outside on a sunny day and the sun’s rays will help disinfect it.
