Laundry
Laundry How-Tos
By
Mary Marlowe Leverette
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Mary Marlowe Leverette
Mary Marlowe Leverette is one of the industry's most highly-regarded housekeeping and fabric care experts, sharing her knowledge on efficient housekeeping, laundry, and textile conservation. She is also a Master Gardener with over 40+ years of experience and 20+ years of writing experience. Mary is also a member of The Spruce Gardening and Plant Care Review Board.
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Updated on 07/01/22
Reviewed by
Rhea Mehta
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Reviewed byRhea Mehta
Rhea Mehta, PhD, is an award-winning toxicologist who has worked to empower people to lead healthier lives, starting in their homes, for over a decade. Rhea holds a PhD in Toxicology, with over 15 scientific publications, and a certificate in integrative health coaching.
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Fact checked by
Nandini Balial
Fact checked byNandini Balial
Nandini Balial is a writer and copy editor who specializes in lifestyle, food, mental health, immigration, film/TV, literature, politics, and feminism. She has worked in a variety of fields, including television, film, book-selling, and publishing; she also spent over two years as a TaskRabbit maid, housekeeper, and personal assistant.
Learn more about The Spruce'sEditorial Process
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The same bottle of hydrogen peroxide in your first-aid cabinet can be used throughout the house and in the laundry room to whiten whites, brighten colors, remove stains and odors, and clean and disinfect your washer. Learn how and where to use it during your laundry routine.
What Is Hydrogen Peroxide?
Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is an oxidizing agent used as laundry bleach. The best choice for laundry is the 3%solution sold in drug stores as a first-aid disinfectant. It is safe to use on all washable, dye-stable fabrics. Just like other oxygen-based bleaches, hydrogen peroxide breaks down safely into water and oxygen and is a more environmentally friendly bleach than chlorine bleach (sodium hypochlorite).
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Hydrogen Peroxide Precautions in the Laundry
Never mix hydrogen peroxide with household ammonia, chlorine bleach,or vinegar in a closed container. Dangerous gases can form.
You're also wasting money if you use hydrogen peroxide and chlorine bleach in the same wash load. Combining the two won't double the whitenessof dingy laundry. The sodium hypochlorite of the chlorine bleach is a much more potent oxidant and will immediately break down the hydrogen peroxide into just plain water. So opt for one or the other in each load.
Also, note that hydrogen peroxide is highly light-sensitive, which is why it is sold in dark containers. It will lose its cleaning ability if transferred to aclear container; instead, add a spray nozzle directly to the dark bottle to easily spot-clean stains. It is most effective when freshly opened but will still provide cleaning and disinfecting qualities for about six months. Eventually, the hydrogen and oxygen molecules will revert into a bottle of plain water. An unopened bottle of hydrogen peroxide has a shelf life of around one year.
Tip
If you're not sure how old your bottle is or whether you'll get the best results for your cleaning efforts, first test the hydrogen peroxide before using it. Pour a little into a glass cup. If it fizzes, you're ready to go. No fizz? Buy a new bottle.
01 of 05
Whiten Dingy Whites
White clothes become dull and yellowed over time due to exposure to body soil, dye transfer from other fabrics, and residue from excess laundry detergent and fabric softener that getstrapped in the fabric fibers.
Because most commercial oxygen-based bleaches are composed of ingredients that break down into hydrogen peroxide along with some brightening additives, you can use 3% hydrogen peroxide instead.
Simply add 1 cup of hydrogen peroxide to the washer drum before adding the water and clothes. The hydrogen peroxide can also be placed in the automatic bleach dispenser of the washer where it will be dispersed into the wash cycle.
Furthermore, hydrogen peroxide is also quiteeffective in removing yellow underarm stains from white clothes when combined with baking soda and water.
02 of 05
Remove Stains From Clothes
Hydrogen peroxide is a very effective stain remover for protein- and plant-based stains. And it works well in treating blood, mildew, fruit and vegetable, and dye-transfer stains.
Even though it is a very mild form of bleach, it is best to test hydrogen peroxide on colored clothes in an inconspicuous spot (e.g., the hem or inside seam) to make sure the colors don't fade.Just dip a cotton swab in the hydrogen peroxide, and rub it on the fabric. If color transfers to the swab, don't proceed.
To treat stains, pour or spray a small amount of hydrogen peroxide on the stain. Allow it to soak into the fabric for about 10 minutes before washing the garment as usual.
If you're unsure how to treat a specific stain, try The Spot Check below to find how.
03 of 05
Clean and Disinfect a Clothes Washer
High-efficiency front-load washers are notorious for developing smelly odors, especially in high-humidity areas. The odor comes from mold and mildew growth on detergent and fabric softener residue left inside the washer drum and onrubber door seals due to overdosing.
When your washer needs a cleaning, add 2 cups of hydrogen peroxide to the empty washer drum. Then, run a hot water wash cycle to make your washer smell fresh and clean. A monthly cleaning will usually prevent a stinky repeat.
04 of 05
Brighten Colored Clothes
Colored clothes can become dull from body soil and detergent residue trapped in the fibers. You can brighten them with the mild bleaching action of hydrogen peroxide. But remember, never pour full-strength hydrogen peroxide directly onto colored fabrics unless you have tested them first for colorfastness.
The easiest way to use hydrogen peroxide to brighten colored fabrics is to pour 1 cup into the bleach dispenser. It will be added during the wash cycle when there is plenty of water to dilute it. If you don't have a dispenser, dilute 1 cup of 3% hydrogen peroxide with 2 cups of water, and add that to the empty washer drum. Then, load your colored clothes, and wash as usual.
Continue to 5 of 5 below
05 of 05
Remove Odors From Clothes and Towels
Smelly towels? Stinky tennis shoes? Grab the hydrogen peroxide.
Simply mix 1/2cup of hydrogen peroxide with enough water to completely submerge the smelly items. Allow themto soak for at least 15 minutes, though 30 minutes is better. Then, wash as usual.
For an entire washer load of musty towels or foul-smelling athletic gear, add 1 cup of hydrogen peroxide. Give the fabric time to soak (up to an hour). Then add detergent and wash with hot water.
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Hydrogen Peroxide vs. Bleach
Hydrogen peroxide and chlorine bleach remove stains and whiten, brighten, and disinfect fabrics. Chlorine bleach is a lot stronger than hydrogen peroxide and is too harsh to use on spandex, wool, silk, mohair, leather, and rubber. You can safely use chlorine bleach on cotton, polyester, nylon, acrylic, and rayon, but always check the clothing’s care label to see if it can be bleached. To whiten and sanitize clothes, add chlorine bleach to the bleach dispenser, or dilute in cold water and wait 5 minutes before adding it to the washing machine, and use the hot water cycle.
You can use hydrogen peroxide to bleach most fabrics as long as the garment is colorfast. Oxygen bleach is the most gentle bleaching agent—it removes stains and brightens laundry, and it’s safe to use on almost all types of washable white or colored fabrics, but it doesn’t have the same disinfecting or sanitizing properties as hydrogen peroxide or chlorine bleach.
Other Uses for Hydrogen Peroxide
Beyond laundry, hydrogen peroxide can help you disinfect, sanitize, deodorize, and clean around your home. Here are just a few examples of how to use this versatile household ingredient:
- Disinfect kitchen sponges, cutting boards, toothbrushes and mouthguards, beauty and manicure tools, garden tools, and kids' and pets' toys.
- Deodorize feet with a bacteria-killing foot soak.
- Wipe away soap scum from bathroom and kitchen surfaces.
- Get tough stains, like grass, coffee, blood, and wine, out of carpet and clothes.
- Remove stains from marble.
- Lighten and remove mildew from grout.
- Kill mold from washing machines, humidifiers, and walls.
- Sanitize your fridge and toilet.
FAQ
How long should you soak stained clothes in hydrogen peroxide?
If you’re spot-treating a stain, allow the hydrogen peroxide to sit for 10 minutes. If you’re submerging clothes in a solution of hydrogen peroxide and water to deodorize smelly laundry, soak for 15 to 30 minutes before machine washing.
Is it OK to mix baking soda and hydrogen peroxide?
You can mix baking soda and hydrogen peroxide safely, which partners effectively to disinfect, deodorize, and remove stains. You can make a paste of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide to clean mildewy and stained grout, baked-on crud from baking sheets, and armpit stains.
How do you make Dawn and hydrogen peroxide stain remover?
You can make a DIY stain remover by mixing 1 part liquid dishwashing liquid with a degreaser, like Dawn, and 2 parts hydrogen peroxide. To make the recipe, use a funnel to pour 1 cup of hydrogen peroxide and ½ cup of Dawn into a dark-colored glass or plastic spray bottle. The dark-colored spray bottle will protect light-sensitive hydrogen peroxide from expiring. To use, spray on stains (test for colorfastness first), work into the fabric, and allow to sit for 5 to 10 minutes before washing the garment.
When should you not use hydrogen peroxide in laundry?
Hydrogen peroxide can stain fabric that is not dye-stable. Always test colored clothes to see if they are colorfast in an inconspicuous spot before using.
