What Is Oxygen Bleach? How to Use This Versatile Cleaner

This alternative to chlorine bleach has plenty of uses around the home, especially in the laundry room.

You’re likely familiar with cleaning with bleach, but you might not know there is actually a gentler, less pungent form of bleach. Oxygen bleach is a laundry and household cleaning product made famous in the early 2000s by OxiClean pitchman Billy Mays, and can be used for a wide variety of linens and surfaces. But what is oxygen bleach, and what are the best uses for it in the laundry room and around the home? We’re breaking down everything you need to know about this versatile cleaning agent.

Oxygen bleach is different from chlorine bleach—though the two are easily confused because of their similar names and functions. While chemically different, both household cleaning agents can be used in laundry as well as for deep cleaning jobs, but oxygen bleach is a gentler, more versatile product. Learn more about how oxygen bleach can be used in laundry and for household cleaning jobs.

Related: How to Tell If Clothes Are Safe to Bleach

What Is Oxygen Bleach?

Oxygen bleach is also called color-safe bleach, non-chlorine bleach, or oxygenated bleach. Its active ingredient is typically hydrogen peroxide, although some formulas contain sodium percarbonate or sodium perborate. Oxygen bleach can safely be used in laundry and on many hard and soft household surfaces, including upholstered furniture, carpets, rugs, and grout.

It is a less corrosive, more environmentally friendly alternative to chlorine bleach that is easier on fabrics. Oxygen bleach also doesn’t have the strong odor we associate with chlorine bleach, making it more pleasant to work with.

Oxygen bleach does not have the same disinfecting properties as chlorine bleach, so it won’t be effective at disinfecting laundry or household surfaces. Oxygen bleach is most commonly found in powder form, but it is also available as a liquid or in pre-measured packs for use in washing machines.

What to Use Oxygen Bleach For

Oxygen bleach has a lot of uses around the home, and can be particularly helpful when it comes to laundry. Some of the most effective uses for oxygen bleach include:

Stain removal: Oxygen bleach can be used to remove stains from fabrics, including clothing, upholstery, carpets, rugs, bedding, and mattresses. It can be used to pretreat washable fabrics before laundering, or in concert with an upholstery brush or carpet cleaning machine on non-washable items like furniture or mattresses.

Brightening whites: Oxygen bleach is one of the best products for whitening whites. It works more slowly than chlorine bleach, and it is significantly gentler, making it safer for fabrics, including and especially delicate fabrics or fabrics that otherwise call for special handling.

Deep cleaning fabrics: Fabrics that are dingy or yellowed from age or product buildup, or that have deeply set-in stains, can be restored using oxygen bleach. The best method for using oxygen bleach to deep clean fabrics is to use it as a soaking agent.

Cleaning grout: Oxygen bleach is a highly effective grout cleaner and, unlike many other grout cleaning agents that contain chlorine bleach or other harsh chemicals, it does not have a noxious odor. This makes it safer and less unpleasant to work with.

Related: What Is Laundry Bluing? This Vintage Method Is Key to Brighter Whites

When Not to Use Oxygen Bleach

While oxygen bleach is a gentle and versatile product, there are some times you’ll want to skip it. When it comes to laundry, oxygen bleach should not be used on silk, wool, or leather, including items with leather trim. Additionally, avoid the use of oxygen bleach on items with wooden buttons.

Oxygen bleach does not have the same disinfecting properties as chlorine bleach or laundry sanitizers, nor is it the most effective product to use to eliminate odors—though it does have some odor-neutralizing properties. Oxygen bleach should not be mixed with other chemicals, including chlorine bleach, ammonia, and other household cleaners.

Related: 8 Common Laundry Mistakes That Can Damage Clothes

How to Use Oxygen Bleach as a Soaking Agent

Oxygen bleach is a highly effective soaking agent that can revive dingy or yellowed whites, remove deeply set-in stains, and eliminate soil and product buildup that lend fabrics a dull, dirty appearance. It is particularly effective at deep cleaning items that might not be washed regularly, like baseball caps, canvas sneakers, or bedding, including comforters, mattress pads, and pillows.

1. Mix an oxygen bleach solution: To activate oxygen bleach, dissolve the correct dose in water using the packaging instructions as a guideline. Oxygen bleach works best when dissolved in hot water, which activates it; to use oxygen bleach to soak items that call for cold water only, start by dissolving the powder in hot water and allow the solution to cool before use. Alternately, use a liquid oxygen bleach formula when cold water soaking is called for. Do not mix oxygen bleach with boiling water.

2. Submerge items in solution: Submerge the item in the oxygen bleach solution and use your hands to gently swirl it around so that the solution penetrates the fibers. Then, allow it to soak. Because oxygen bleach works slowly, when using it as a soaking agent it is best to allow time for it to work, typically, an hour up to overnight. Using a wash basin or large bucket for soaking items in oxygen bleach solution is recommended for times when you cannot give up the use of your sink or tub for an hourslong soaking session. If you have a top load washer, you can presoak items in the drum before starting the wash cycle.

3. Rinse and/or launder items: After soaking, machine washable items can be laundered as usual; items that cannot go in the washer should be rinsed well after soaking and allowed to air dry. When using oxygen bleach as a soaking agent, avoid using more than the job calls for; powdered laundry products can leave a chalky white residue on fabrics if they are not fully rinsed, and using more oxygen bleach than is necessary will make it difficult to entirely flush out.

Related: Laundry Stripping Is a Grossly Satisfying Way to Clean Linens

How to Use Oxygen Bleach as an In-wash Laundry Booster

Before using oxygen bleach as a laundry booster in the washing machine, consult the directions on the package for usage guidelines and dosing instructions. Oxygen bleach should be used in addition to regular laundry detergent; it is not a replacement for detergent. Avoid overusing oxygen bleach to prevent chalky residue deposits.

Powdered oxygen bleach, oxygen bleach packs, or liquid oxygen bleach should be added directly to the drum of both front and top load washing machines rather than putting in dispensers or compartments.

Related: 9 Things to Clean with Laundry Detergent (Besides Just Clothes)

How to Use Oxygen Bleach as a Cleaning Agent

Oxygen bleach has many uses as a household cleaning agent. Before using oxygen bleach for cleaning, consult the packaging instructions and manufacturer’s guidelines for use, since there are certain surfaces, like painted wood, that oxygen bleach can damage. These are some of the ways oxygen bleach stands out when it comes to cleaning around the home.

Deep Clean Grout

To use oxygen bleach to clean and brighten dingy and dirty grout, start by dissolving it in hot water, following the dosing guidelines on the package. Carefully pour the solution on tile flooring, and use a scrub brush to spread it in a thin layer, working from the back corner of the room to the door. Then, allow the solution to sit, undisturbed, for at least 30 minutes, and longer if possible; the longer the oxygen bleach is allowed to work, the more effective it is. 

To use oxygen bleach on grouted walls, put the solution into a spray bottle to apply it evenly and then allow it to work for 30 minutes or longer, if possible.

After allowing the oxygen bleach solution to penetrate the grout, wipe and rinse the solution away using a microfiber cloth or flat mop. As the grout dries, you will see a noticeable difference in its color (when still wet, it may not look clean and bright white, but your patience will be rewarded!)

Break Down Soap Scum Buildup on Bathtubs and Sinks 

Oxygen bleach is especially effective at breaking down biobased buildup, and it is an excellent soap scum remover. Use it to clean bathtubs and sinks by filling them with hot water and the correct dose of oxygen bleach, and allowing the solution to have contact with those spaces for at least 30 minutes. Then, drain the solution and scrub the tub or sink with a nonabrasive sponge or microfiber cloth.

Clean Glass Shower Doors

To use oxygen bleach to clean glass shower doors, pour a premade powder oxygen bleach solution or liquid oxygen bleach into a spray bottle for easy application. Spray the glass shower door liberally, allow the solution at least 30 minutes to penetrate and break down buildup, then wipe clean with a microfiber cloth, paper towels, or a squeegee.

Loosen Drains

After soaking items in the bathtub or sink, or using oxygen bleach to deep clean those spaces, you may notice that your drains are running faster—that’s because oxygen bleach can help to loosen clogged drains. In fact, you can get two, and sometimes even three, chores out of the way in one go with oxygen bleach by filling a tub or sink with the solution to soak clothes, which will also clean the basin, and then draining the solution, which will loosen any buildup causing water to move slowly through the pipes.

Restore Stained Dutch Ovens

One of the best ways to restore the stained interior of a Dutch oven is to fill the pot with hot water and the correct dose of oxygen bleach as recommended by the manufacturer. Allow the solution to sit in the Dutch oven for 30 minutes. Then, dump out the solution and wash the Dutch oven well with hot soapy water and a nonabrasive sponge or dishcloth. If there is still residual staining, repeat the process.

Deep Clean Outdoor Surfaces 

Oxygen bleach is an excellent choice for cleaning outdoor surfaces, including concrete, brick, pavers, travertine, composite decking, and unfinished wood. Painted and stained wood should not be cleaned with oxygen bleach.

To use oxygen bleach for outdoor cleaning, start by sweeping or rinsing the surface with a hose to loosen dirt and debris. Make an oxygen bleach solution with hot water, following the package instructions. Apply the solution to the surface with a brush, and allow it to sit for 30 minutes. Then, scrub the surface with a brush and rinse well with cool water. Avoid using oxygen bleach on very hot days, or in direct sunlight, to prevent the solution from drying on the surface, which can result in chalky deposits or streaks.

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