How To Guide: Oxygen Bleach Powder for Fabrics

Perhaps you’ve spotted our oxygen bleach powder in the shop, or perhaps you didn’t even know we stock it!

What is our Oxygen Bleach?

The sole ingredient is sodium percarbonate, a natural oxidiser utilised as an option instead of traditional bleach (sodium hypochlorite). It works equally as well but it’s harmless in the water system, won’t eat away at natural fibres and is of course vegan and cruelty free. Here’s a little guide on how you can use it to easily remove stains and brighten whites.

Completely biodegradable in the water system, sodium percarbonate is an oxygen-based bleach agent that works by releasing oxygen once exposed to water. This release of oxygen lifts stains, dirt, grime, and germs off whatever you’re cleaning. When dissolved in water, sodium percarbonate breaks down into hydrogen peroxide and sodium carbonate, which makes cleaning, bleaching, freshening, and stain removal possible with completely harmless results. As recommended by Nancy Birtwhistle for all kinds of natural cleaning recipes.

Method 1: Soaking

This is my favourite and most effective way to use the oxygen bleach powder. I wait until I’ve got a few items which are dull looking and stained.

Run the sink one third/half full of hot water.
Add two tablespoons of the powder and stir a little to dissolve.
Add your items of clothing straight away and poke with a spoon to get them nicely submerged. Turning them and a little more stirring will ensure everything is properly saturated.
I then leave for a few hours, or even better, overnight.
As the water cools it will open up the fibres in the clothing even more, which will help any stains to lift.
Give the items a quick squeeze (no need to rinse) and add to the washing machine for your usual cycle.
Once the wash cycle is done, try hanging to dry in bright sunlight. This will help remove any residual stains.

Method 2: Spot-Cleaning

You may find our stain remover soap bar more effective for this, but I’ve had success with the powder too.

Mix one teaspoon of stain remover with hot water
Wet the affected area
Pour on the mixture
Leave for an hour
Wash as normal

Method 3: In the Wash

Simply add 1-2 table spoons to any wash with a minimum temp of 40 degrees to help brighten whites and remove light stains.

We hope you found this guide helpful, if you have any questions just let us know! You can find the full range of our zero waste cleaning products for click and collect or UK delivery here.