There are many laundry cleaning solutions available. However, many people rely on bleach because it is a trusted, multipurpose product. Since it is an intense chemical, it’s essential to understand how to use it to avoid damaging fabrics. The guide below explains how to integrate bleach into your laundry routine.

Do:

Assess the fabric.

Bleach doesn’t clean all types of fabric. In fact, it can eat away at delicate fibers like wool and mohair. Similarly, bleach is not leather-friendly and can harm spandex, making it yellow as if it’s old. Therefore, check first before beginning your load.

Place it in the correct compartment.

Many washing machines feature a special drawer or compartment labeled “bleach.” Always add the chemical to this area, so the appliance adds the bleach into the wash cycle once the tub is full of water.

Typically, this won’t happen until five minutes or so after the machine starts filling, providing the best cleaning power thanks to adequate dilution. Combining the bleach directly with the clothing will likely dye or dissolve the fabrics instead of sanitizing and disinfecting them.

Don’t: 

Forget to read the tag.

Many clothing tags specify you should only use non-chlorine bleach. Taking this step will ensure the item's colors stay the same after washing. If you fail to heed this advice, you may find your reds have turned pink and your navy blues are much lighter than before.

Ignore its shelf life.

Since bleach is a potentially harmful chemical, assess the container to learn the expiration date and replace the item once it reaches that point. This is usually every six months. After that, it will lose potency from air and light exposure.

If you’re looking for a clean, affordable place to do your washing, head to City Laundry in Lancaster County, NE. The coin-operated machines are efficient and handle everything from a few towels to a duvet and sheets. Call the Lincoln-area laundromat at (402) 483-2113 or visit them online to learn about their heavy load commercial washers and bulk cleaning solutions.