# What is bleach alternative? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 10, 2007, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-bleach-alternative/422280 "2007-10-10T23:34:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![paulmartin1951](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8491ac/32.png) [@paulmartin1951](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/paulmartin1951)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2007, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-bleach-alternative/422280/1 "2007-10-10T23:34:31Z")
I know that bleach you buy is “chlorine bleach” (sodium hypochlorite) or “oxygen bleach” (hydrogen peroxide). If you dump a bit of this in the wash, it’ll clean you whitest whites and, I assume, kill whatever is lurking on your underwear. But here’s my question: What is “bleach alternative” that you find in certain products, like Tide with Bleach Alternative? Is it a chemical? Does it kill and whiten in the same way as the chemical stuff? I visited the Tide website, but they refuse to explain what it is. Wikipedia has nothing? What the heck is this stuff? ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2007, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-bleach-alternative/422280/2 "2007-10-10T23:39:04Z")
I have always assumed that “bleach alternative” was oxygen-based bleach, an alternative to chlorine-based. Now I’m curious, too. ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2007, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-bleach-alternative/422280/3 "2007-10-10T23:46:10Z")
The most common bleach alternative is [sodium percarbonate](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodium_percarbonate), a compound of sodium carbonate and hydrogen peroxide also known as oxygen bleach. ---
**Author:** ![scm1001](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c4cdca/32.png) [@scm1001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scm1001)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2007, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-bleach-alternative/422280/4 "2007-10-11T00:50:21Z")
yep sodium percarbonate [http://www.greenhome.com/products/housekeeping/all\_purpose\_cleaners/106441/](http://www.greenhome.com/products/housekeeping/all_purpose_cleaners/106441/) ---
**Author:** ![paulmartin1951](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8491ac/32.png) [@paulmartin1951](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/paulmartin1951)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2007, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-bleach-alternative/422280/5 "2007-10-12T03:08:49Z")
Does sodium percarbonate kill bacteria and other such nasties? Can I wash my undies and my t-shirts in the same wash if I use this stuff? ---
**Author:** ![scm1001](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c4cdca/32.png) [@scm1001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scm1001)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2007, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-bleach-alternative/422280/6 "2007-10-12T03:35:32Z")
[QUOTE=paulmartin1951] Does sodium percarbonate kill bacteria and other such nasties? Can I wash my undies and my t-shirts in the same wash if I use this stuff? [/QUOTE] well its your own germs so they wont do you any harm. I certainly wont be sharing your tub though. ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2007, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-bleach-alternative/422280/7 "2007-10-12T04:22:43Z")
Almost any laundry detergent plus an hour in the dryer will kill most bacteria. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2007, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-bleach-alternative/422280/8 "2007-10-12T04:37:47Z")
Most of my underwear is pink and blue. **Walloon** , I’m glad I don’t need to invest in bleach (yeah, yeah, or bleach for colors) to clean my underoos. ---
**Author:** ![absoul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bc8723/32.png) [@absoul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/absoul)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2007, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-bleach-alternative/422280/9 "2007-10-12T04:39:47Z")
I use el cheapo pine oil for colored fabrics that need to be disinfected. It words great for doggy blankets and pillows and such. Don’t use the scented pine-sol though. Get the off brand that has at least 80% pine oil. Here’s a good site with some info at the bottom about eliminating germs in laundry- > **[Publications- Clothing | New Mexico State University - BE BOLD. Shape the...](https://pubs.nmsu.edu/_c/)** > > Clothing publications cover topics related to clothing, including clothing construction and sewing, personal appearance, clothing and fabric selection, and care of textiles and clothes ---
**Author:** ![yaio\_cafe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/e274bd/32.png) [@yaio\_cafe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yaio_cafe)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2007, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-bleach-alternative/422280/10 "2007-10-20T21:29:23Z")
A mild acidic solution can help as well. [http://counties.cce.cornell.edu/yates/8030.htm](http://counties.cce.cornell.edu/yates/8030.htm) Here is further discussion I’ve seen: [Vinegar - tasty condiment or household disinfectant? - bacteria bleach cleaner | Ask MetaFilter](http://ask.metafilter.com/36216/Vinegar-tasty-condiment-or-household-disinfectant) And discussion from a few scientific types: [http://www.newton.dep.anl.gov/askasci/mole00/mole00100.htm](http://www.newton.dep.anl.gov/askasci/mole00/mole00100.htm) vinegar with peroxide: [Super Disinfectant Spray Using Peroxide & Vinegar - Share The Wealth](http://www.newmediaexplorer.org/chris/2006/04/05/super_disinfectant_spray_using_peroxide_vinegar.htm)