When to Add Bleach
Latest Posts
Categories
Most Popular
Watch Videos
Q: Is it better to put the bleach in the water with the detergent prior to loading the clothes, or is it better to put the bleach in the designated dispenser?
A: Generally, if your machine has a bleach dispenser, it is a good idea to use it. On some models, the dispenser automatically delays the addition of bleach, which is our “for best results” addition method. Dispensers that do not delay addition, conveniently add the bleach in a method that avoids direct contact with the laundry load before water is added. If your dispenser delays addition, I would recommend using it, and the user’s guide for your washer should indicate how the dispenser works. The delay is beneficial at helping a good detergent work better for two main reasons:
- It allows time for enzymes in the detergent to get to work breaking up enzyme-sensitive stains.
- It allows time for fluorescent whitening agents (FWA’s) in the detergent to deposit onto the fabric. These are colorless dyes that absorb non-visible light and reflect it in the visible (usually blue) spectrum.
That said, there is a potential problem with bleach dispensers: some designs limit the amount of bleach that can be added. This prevents consumers from adjusting the amount of bleach they use to accommodate an extra large or heavily soiled load. In that case, it is better to skip the dispenser and add the appropriate amount of bleach directly with the detergent as the washer is filling, before the laundry load is added. You can also wash two smaller loads if you have an HE washer that “locks” during the cycle, making it difficult to safely add bleach without using the dispenser.
Readers: how do you add your bleach?
Posted to by Dr. Laundry 2
There are no blog entries
Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Contact Us
All trademarks are the property of their respective owners. All Rights Reserved.
Tweet This
Email to a Friend
Comments (2)
Marcia Richburg's comment is:
24 May
How to remove lipstick stains from carpet.
Dr. Laundry's comment is:
24 May
Stains on carpet are a huge problem because if you don’t completely remove whatever you use to treat the stain, the treated area will end up a dirt magnet, so be sure you are very thorough with your clean up. They are also harder to deal with because you can’t work from the back of the fabric the way you can with garments, but with careful attention, you should be successful. Begin by gently scraping away the excess stain if you can (just don’t push it into the fabric at the same time). Lipstick stains have both oily and color components—work on the oily components first. Dampen a (preferably white) wash cloth with warm water and then apply a few drops of liquid dishwashing detergent to the wash cloth. Gently apply this to the stain—it will begin dissolving the oil. Don’t force it in or rub it in—you need to avoid pushing the stain into the carpet fibers as you work on it. With a second dry wash cloth, blot the treated stain as you go. Continue to repeat this while rotating the washcloths so you always are using a clean section. This avoids reapplying the stain! Once you are no longer absorbing any lipstick off the carpet, pre-treat the remaining stained area with Clorox2® Laundry Stain Remover spray, or a carpet stain remover spray. After you apply the spray, wait 5 minutes (for Clorox2® spray—otherwise follow manufacturer’s instructions) and then flush the stained area thoroughly with water—use more clean white wash cloths or larger white towels to blot up the water as you go. When you are finished, wash all the white washcloths in hot water using detergent + ¾ cup Clorox® Regular-Bleach. Hopefully this will work for you, but depending on how severe the stain is, it might be better to call in a professional carpet cleaner who can use a solvent to address the lipstick and an extraction cleaner to efficiently flush the stain from the carpet. If your carpet has not been recently cleaned or the stain is in a high traffic area, you could end up with a noticeable clean spot, making it a good idea to clean the entire room as well. Good luck!
The views, opinions, depicted results and experiences expressed in user-submitted-comments are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of The Clorox Company and may not be representative or typical of the product under actual conditions of use as directed. User comments are not edited for accuracy or safety.
Post a New Comment
You must be logged in to post a comment.
RSS feed for comments on this page | RSS feed for all comments