9 Natural Bleach Alternatives For A Squeaky Clean Home : For the past 100 years, bleach has been one of the most widely used cleaning supplies in homes. Bleach does, however, have certain negative effects on the environment and human health. Whether you want to sanitise surfaces, get rid of stains, or brighten teeth, these natural bleach substitutes can be the solution to a cleaner, healthier house.
9 Natural Bleach Alternatives For A Squeaky Clean Home
What is Bleach?
A common chemical used in homes as a whitener and disinfectant is bleach. Sodium hypochlorite, also referred to as “liquid bleach,” is the most popular kind of bleach used in homes. Sodium hypochlorite is a strong-smelling, transparent liquid with a hint of yellow. Because applying it at full strength can cause it to “eat away” at some materials, it is usually diluted with water.
How Does Bleach Work?
Bleach’s oxidative and antibacterial qualities give it the ability to disinfect and erase stains.
The primary component of bleach, sodium hypochlorite, is a potent oxidizer. Transferring oxygen molecules causes material to change chemically. Numerous stains and pollutants are removed by this oxidation procedure. It either obscures them or gets rid of them entirely.
A wide variety of microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi, can be effectively killed using bleach. It oxidises essential enzymes or portions of their cells, impairing their structure and functionality. Water and surfaces are disinfected by this process, making them safe to use and drink.
Pigments that discolour surfaces and fabrics can also be broken down by the oxidative properties of bleach. Bleach laundry chemicals eliminate stains and whiten clothes for this reason.
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1. Branch Basics Natural Cleaner
Branch Basics makes eco-friendly, non-toxic cleaning solutions. Love their all-purpose cleaning concentrate. It makes cleaning solutions for numerous surfaces and applications when diluted.
Oxygen Boost is a wonderful bleach alternative. It whitens and brightens clothes like bleach when added to laundry. It can also pre-treat harder stains. It also works on bathroom tile and grout. Branch Basics are explained here.
2. Free Home Natural Cleaner
OxyBoost bleach is available at Truly Free Home. It bleaches without toxicity or fabric damage and is fragrance-free. Over 200 Central American children receive education, food, clothes, and shelter from this organisation. Use wellnessmama to save on Oxyboost stain remover.
3. Hydrogen Peroxide
H2O2 is another bleach option. It now has a sprayer on the bottle. The standard hydrogen peroxide concentration is 3%. Most drugstores, box stores, and supermarkets carry it.
Directly apply and let set for a few minutes to eliminate stains. Then wash normally. 1 cup of 3% hydrogen peroxide in the bleach dispenser whitens clothes and other objects. It can be added directly to the drum with detergent. Continue laundry as usual.
Hydrogen peroxide disinfects counters, cutting boards, toilet bowls, and shower tiles. Diluted sprays effective for carpet stains. Use it with open windows or appropriate ventilation.
4. DIY Oxiclean
Use hydrogen peroxide and washing soda to make DIY Oxiclean. Mixing the two chemicals with hot water in a spray bottle is simple. Mixing the two substances makes sodium percarbonate. Greener than chlorine bleach, DIY Oxiclean deep cleans stubborn stains.
I spray spots before washing. After treating the spots, discard any leftover mixture in the washing machine with laundry detergent since it doesn’t stay long. Get the recipe and learn more here.
5. White Vinegar
Cleaning with white vinegar is flexible. Mineral deposits, stains, and odours can be removed. It has modest antimicrobial effects.
Mix equal parts white vinegar and water in a spray bottle for general cleaning. Cleans countertops, glass, and bathroom fixtures. Undiluted vinegar disinfects and deodorises kitchen cutting boards and worktops. Wait a few minutes before wiping.
In the laundry room, it softens fabric naturally and works well with hard water. Add distilled white vinegar to the final rinse cycle of white or coloured textiles to clean and soften.
6. Baking Soda
Baking soda cleans and deodorises well. It dissolves stains from sinks, surfaces, and fabric.
Make a paste with a little water to erase stains. Apply it to discoloured areas before laundering. Half a cup of baking soda in the wash cycle brightens whites, softens textiles, and neutralises odours.
Sprinkle baking soda on sinks, stovetops, and bathroom tiles to clean. Scrub lightly to remove filth and stains. It works without chemicals due to its gentle abrasion.
7. Borax
Borax can replace bleach for cleaning. Stir half a cup of powdered borax into a gallon of warm water to dissolve for laundry. For stains, create a paste with a little water and apply to fabric before washing. For brighter whites, add borax to your laundry cycle.
Clean, disinfect, and deodorise surfaces with borax and water in a spray bottle. I use a natural borax powder without surfactants or detergents, but Mule Team Borax is also high-quality.
8. Lemon juice
Citric acid in lemon juice bleaches naturally. Very effective for whitening laundry, removing stains, and cleaning surfaces.
Before cleaning, add lemon juice directly on the stain and let it sit for a few minutes. Lemon juice brightens white and light-colored clothes and removes stains. Mix it with water and add to the wash cycle.
For home cleaning, mix ¼ cup lemon juice with water in a spray bottle. Clean and disinfect kitchen countertops, cutting boards and bathroom fixtures. Lemon juice also smells fresh!
9. Sunlight
Solar light may naturally whiten and cleanse surfaces. UV light naturally bleaches, disinfects, and deodorises textiles. First clean or soak the objects, then dry them in direct sunlight for a few hours. Nothing beats pure sunshine on a clothesline for cleaning!
Sunlight disinfects, however it’s less effective than commercial disinfectants for highly infectious diseases or large stains. Sunlight can fade coloured materials, so be careful.