White baby undershirt being soaked in a mixture of water and oxygen bleach. White baby undershirt being soaked in a mixture of water and oxygen bleach.

Choosing the Right Type of Bleach: Oxygen Bleach vs. Chlorine Bleach

Did you know there are different types of bleach to help remove stains? Learn about chlorine vs. non-chlorine (oxygen) bleach, plus which type is color-safe and biodegradable.


What is Oxygen Bleach or Non-Chlorine Bleach?

There are 3 types of oxygen bleach, or non-chlorine bleach: Hydrogen Peroxide, Sodium Percarbonate and Sodium Perborate. Oxygen bleach can help lift dirt and stains from fabrics before washing.

It’s easy to miss small stains before you’ve already thrown your dirty laundry into the wash. But once those clothes have been dried, those stains may set on your clothes and prove difficult to remove. But removing set-in stains is a whole lot easier with oxygen bleach!

You can use oxygen bleach to pretreat stains, soak white items to help brighten or add to the washing machine to help boost the stain-fighting power of your favorite detergent. Chlorine-free (or oxygen) bleach is color-safe and gentle on fabrics when used as directed.

What Formats Do Oxygen Bleach Products Come In?

Oxygen bleach can come in multiple formats, including liquid, powders, and paks. Many forms of non-chlorine bleach are added directly to the washing machine.

You can also soak laundry items in oxygen bleach powder and liquid formats before adding them to the washing machine to help remove stains. Additionally, you can mix a solution of oxygen bleach powder, like OxiClean™ Versatile Stain Remover, to blot out stains on carpets or water-washable upholstery.

Folded pile of colored and white clothing after being cleaned with oxygen bleach. Folded pile of colored and white clothing after being cleaned with oxygen bleach.

What Are the Benefits of Oxygen Bleach?

Aside from its capabilities to clean around the home and a variety of formats, oxygen bleach has the following additional benefits:

  • Safe to use on all colored or patterned clothing.
  • Safe for septic tanks.
  • Works in all water temperatures when used as directed.

If one of your laundry items says “Do Not Use Chlorine Bleach,” you can pivot to using non-chlorine or oxygen bleach powder on these items instead! As always, follow the directions on the packaging and on your garment’s care label.

What is Chlorine Bleach?

Chlorine bleach most commonly comes in liquid format and consists of sodium hypochlorite diluted with water. It is a powerful form of bleach that can help clean stains and can be used as a disinfectant for those products registered as an antimicrobial pesticide with the EPA.

However, improper use of chlorine bleach can lead to discoloration and fading in your items. Moreover, chlorine bleach has a strong odor that some may feel is less appealing.

Always check fabric care labels before using chlorine bleach and follow label directions. Incorrect use of chlorine bleach can result in permanent damage to your laundry items. Do not pour chlorine bleach directly on your clothes.

Woman with scrub brush cleans the inside of a toilet bowl with chlorine bleach Woman with scrub brush cleans the inside of a toilet bowl with chlorine bleach

What Are the Benefits of Chlorine Bleach?

Chlorine bleach has been around since your grandmother’s grandmother. Why? Consider some of these benefits:

  • Powerful whitening agent.
  • Can be used as a disinfectant to help kill bacteria, fungi and viruses when used as directed and registered as an antimicrobial pesticide with the EPA.
  • Typically inexpensive and readily available at local supermarkets and discount stores.

While chlorine bleach works in all water temperatures, it works best in hot or warm water.

Is OxiClean™ Oxygen Bleach?

OxiClean™ is a brand of cleaning products for different uses in the laundry room and around the home, and some of those products do contain oxygen bleach.

OxiClean™ products like Versatile Stain Remover harness the power of oxygen to remove tough stains with a water-activated formula that helps remove grime and dirt from your clothes, carpet, and other surfaces in your home. This process, called oxidization, alters the chemical property of color in the molecule and makes stains easier to remove.

What Can You Use Oxygen Bleach For?

Oxygen bleach can help whiten whites, brighten colors, and works with items that say “Do Not Use Chlorine Bleach.” Plus, it’s safe to use on all colored and patterned items!

You can use oxygen bleach all around the home, and OxiClean™ has the solutions you need to help you get rid of the toughest stains:

So, what are you waiting for? Grab OxiClean™ products with oxygen bleach and get your whole house clean when you use the products as directed.

OxiClean™ Helps You Clean Your Home and Check Your Sustainability Goals

Helping you live a more sustainable lifestyle is important to OxiClean™. Give new life to old favorites with OxiClean™ products containing oxygen bleach!

OxiClean™ products can help extend the life of your clothes so you can keep them in the rotation and reduce the waste you might otherwise pile up by throwing them away.

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