Bleach is a very inexpensive and effective disinfectant and clothes lightener. This material is also very useful for peeling and cleaning wood. However, bleach is also a highly corrosive compound, so it can damage fabrics, carpets, and even hard surfaces like stainless steel. To prevent damage to your belongings, you must neutralize the effects of the bleach.
Since the term "liquid bleach" doesn't necessarily mean chlorine bleach, it's important to know in advance what bleach you're using; because the way to neutralize it will be different. Once you know what bleach to neutralize, choose an appropriate method from the options below.
Step
Method 1 of 2: Neutralizing the Bleach Liquid on Fabric
Step 1. Purchase a neutralizing agent
There are quite a few inexpensive options for neutralizing the chlorine bleach (which is usually sold in the Bayclin brand) which is often used to wash, decorate, or change the color of clothes. This kind of bleach also contains caustic soda, or sodium hydroxide, which serves to stabilize the hypochlorite. Baking soda is very difficult to completely remove from clothing, and will slowly damage cotton fabrics. To completely neutralize the remaining chlorine bleaching effect, caustic soda and hypochlorite must be neutralized as well. If you use bleach to decorate cotton, denim, or other natural fabrics, you can try one of these options:
- Bisulfite/metabisulfite is a very inexpensive option. It is sold under the Anti-Chlor brand, and you only need to use a small amount to neutralize the bleach. You can buy bisulfite from a coloring agent or you can buy Camden Tablets (which contain the same compound) from a company that provides raw materials for fermented drinks.
- Thiosulfate, which is sold under the brand name Bleach Stop, can usually be purchased at your local photography supply store, as this compound is commonly used for printing photos. This option is more expensive but weaker than bisulfite, so it must be used in larger quantities.
- Hydrogen peroxide is the most readily available neutralizing agent; You can buy them at pharmacies and convenience stores. This option is fairly inexpensive, and is suitable for use by people with asthma, who may be sensitive to other compounds containing sulfur. Choose a 3% hydrogen peroxide solution.
Step 2. Measure the amount of neutralizing agent you will use
The amount of neutralizing agent needed is determined by the type you choose.
- Anti-Chlor: use 1 teaspoon for every 1 liter of water.
- Bleach Stop: use 30 grams for every about 3.8 liters of water.
- Hydrogen peroxide: use 1 part hydrogen peroxide to 10 parts water.
- Vitamin C/ascorbic acid: Ascorbic acid can neutralize both hypochlorite and caustic soda. You can buy this substance at most grocery stores or pharmacies under its common name, vitamin C. Of course, buy the cheapest vitamin C you can find, then grind the tablets into a powder to dissolve in your rinse water. You may not be able to determine the exact amount of ascorbic acid, because you also cannot determine exactly how much hypochlorite and sodium hydroxide you will neutralize. Use plenty of it, and clean off any excess bleach using the chemical reaction of vitamin C. Even if you leave this neutralizing agent on your clothes, it will smell fresher than sulfite or thiosulfate.
Step 3. Soak your clothes in bleach
Following the instructions on the bottle, use bleach to get the color you want.
Step 4. Rinse the clothes
Before using a neutralizer, rinse your clothes in warm water to remove the bleach.
Fill your bucket or sink with rinse water “before” soaking clothes in bleach. That way, you can make sure to clean the bleach off your clothes as soon as possible, so the color doesn't fade too much
Step 5. Soak the bleached garment in a neutralizing agent
Soak your clothes in a neutralizing agent that has been dissolved in an appropriate amount of warm water. Depending on the size of your clothes, use a bucket or sink. Using a washing machine for soaking may not be a cost-effective option for you.
- Whatever neutralizing agent you use, the amount is determined by the amount of bleach remaining on the bleached fabric, not the amount of water that dissolved it.
- Your clothes should be submerged in the neutralizing liquid for about 10 minutes.
Step 6. Wash and rinse
Wash clothes after soaking in neutralizing liquid using laundry detergent, then rinse thoroughly.
Method 2 of 2: Neutralizing Bleach on Wood
Step 1. Determine what neutralizing agent you need
Different types of wood bleaching require different types of bleach. Different types of bleach eventually require different types of neutralizing agents.
- If you're using lye peroxide--which is commonly used to lighten wood--you'll need to neutralize it with white vinegar. These neutralizers are very cheap and you can find them at your local convenience store.
- If the bleaching was done using oxalic acid, which is good for removing stains like iron, you will need to use baking soda as a neutralizing agent. Like white vinegar, baking soda is also fairly inexpensive, and can be found easily at most convenience stores.
- Chlorine bleach used in wood only needs to be rinsed a few times with distilled water.
Step 2. Blanch the wood
Use bleach to remove stains from pieces of wood, or to lighten the color, by allowing the bleach to sit for the recommended amount of time.
Step 3. Rinse the wood
Once you have successfully removed the stain or lightened the wood to your liking, rinse the wood several times with distilled water before using a neutralizer.
This rinse may be sufficient to neutralize the effects of chlorine bleach
Step 4. Mix your neutralizing ingredients
If you are using vinegar to neutralize peroxide bleach, mix one part vinegar with one part water. To neutralize oxalic acid, mix two tablespoons of baking soda with 250 ml of hot water.
Step 5. Apply neutralizing liquid to the wood
Use a sponge or rag to apply the neutralizer to the bleached wood and allow it to dry.
Tips
- Avoid using chlorine bleach on synthetic fibers (eg, polyester, nylon, spandex): the damage caused by bleach to such fabrics is irreversible.
- Always read the labels on your clothes--these labels provide information on whether bleach is appropriate for your garment.
- If you spill bleach on your carpet, your chances of neutralizing it will depend on the type of carpet fabric. Some fabrics, such as olefin, will not be affected by bleach, so any spilled bleach on it won't change the color, so you don't have to neutralize it. However, if your carpet is made of a material that is affected by bleach, you will need to use one of the neutralizing agents listed above. It's just that, if the color of your carpet has faded, neutralizing the bleach will not return the color to its original color, so you should contact a professional carpet repair service.
- When you put bleach in the washing machine, the rinse water after washing is generally able to neutralize the bleach. However, bleach is still corrosive and can damage your clothes if used regularly.
Warning
- Many bleach neutralizers are non-toxic, but you should still make sure to follow the instructions for use and store them in a place that is hard for your children or pets to reach.
- Never use vinegar to neutralize chlorine bleach. This also applies to all acidic solutions. Mixtures of chlorine bleach and acidic compounds can cause a dangerous chemical reaction.
- If you are using several types of bleach on wood because they are not getting the results you want after the first try, be sure to neutralize any bleach before using any other bleach. Otherwise, the remaining bleach will mix with the other bleach and give off noxious fumes.
