Chlorine Bleaches-All The Same Or Different?

[dirtybuck]

I've been using Clorox for the last few years and I'm satisfied with the results.

However, the monthly budget is getting a bit tighter, so I'm trying to cut back on my spending. Even though Clorox isn't really all that much more, I'd still like to save a few cents here and there if possible.

Most of you seem to do much more laundry than myself, so I'm curious in knowing. With the generic less expensive bleaches, which ones are equal to Clorox and which are the ones I should avoid?

 

[launderess]

For Whitening Purposes

Generic chlorine bleaches probably are just as good as Clorox. However if you are seeking something to be used for disinfecting around the home look for the EPA Reg number on the label. Not all versions of even Clorox have this and many store or other brands do not as well. If it lacks this then the strength of product is not great enough for disinfection/sanitation.

Should add as a disclaimer one does not use LCB for laundry or other purposes for that matter. So one's advice is meant to be in general.

Since LCB is verboten in the Miele one hasn't bothered. Also never could stand the smell of chlorine wafting from dishwasher when detergents such as Cascade were laden with the stuff. Was that happy when enzyme based detergents for automatic dishwashers came along.

[this post was last edited: 4/19/2013-15:03]

 

[iheartmaytag]

My mother swears there is a difference. She claims, and I will agree on the logic, that for moping floors etc, the cheap stuff is ok, for laundry, Clorox, Purex are filtered with less impurities and and thus far don't leave as much residue behind. She claims that "off brands" yellow the clothes. I actually have had very good results with the cheap-o Walmart brand.


I have no scientific evidence to this, my Mama says.
You know me I'm a chlorine addict, so if it smells bleachy, I'm happy.

 

[norgeway]

I dont know ...

How true this is, but a friend who is a Dentist told me that Clorox is used in root canals by many dentists and is the only bleach pure enough for medical use, I dont know about that, but to my mind it is leagues ahead of the off brands.

 

[Ultramatic]

There are differences...

 

 

<span style="font-size: medium;">Look for the active ingredient of chlorine bleach, sodium hypochlorite. Clorox contains 5.25%, bargain brands tend to have a lower percentage, but not always. If I remember correctly, Pathmark bleach contains the same amount as Clorox, but at a lower price. So look at the label and good luck!  </span>[COLOR=#444444; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 22px] [/COLOR]

 

[maytagbear]

Hans--

I don't know if it was Clorox brand, but my dentist does use a chlorinated product for root canals. Chlorine tastes as nasty as it smells. (There was one episode of poor aim, but was rapidly corrected.)

I've been using Target's Up and Up brand bleach. I use it more for cleaning than laundry, but have been quite pleased with it. I do read the label to make sure that what I buy is a registered disinfectant, or what's the point? For general cleaning, I currently use the lavender Method spray. (Winner in a spray cleaner test by Cook's Illustrated about two years ago.)

Lawrence/Maytagbear

 

[laundromat]

Clorox Splashless

I'm not sure what they've done to the original formula to improve but ever since I did the laundry,I noticed the cheaper brands of bleach my family would buy were more coarse and ate the fabric dry rotting the clothes.When we bought our Lady Kenmore Combination, I would do the wash and always bought Clorox and Dash or All.Everything was measured and dispensed properly and every load came ot perfect.Once I left on my own,Ive sworn by it. When the new Splashless Clorox came out, I had coupons and tried it.It really does well in whitening whites and removing hard stains.I pour it in my toilets, mop water,and put it in a plastic spray bottle for the tires on the cars and rust stains my navy belt hook leaves on my white shorts.They are now celebrating their one hundred year anniversary! 

 

[jerrod6]

Agree with Laundress. Not all versions of Clorox will disinfect. You can go to their web site and see which ones are listed as a disinfectant. I think there is only one version. I do know that the splashless bleach is not one of them.

I think all versions contain the claim of brightening and whitening, but you need to look for the word disinfect for the version that will accomplish that.

Personally I haven't used chlorine bleach in my white laundry for the past 10 years and haven't suffered any for it and my mother and grandmother would never use it in their laundry so I guess I don't understand the attachment to it.

 

[yogitunes]

only Regular Clorox is the real deal of pure and used for disinfectant.....check their website for a generalization, and holds true for most bleaches....whats great is they have a formula to make water potable should you encounter a disaster and need fresh drinking water....good thing to keep on hand, just in case...there's a lot of info on the website too, this can be used in small kiddie pools to keep them clean as a big pool, as long as there is 4 parts per million (PPM) your good to go...

Clorox regular is 5.25% sodium hypochlorite(sp?)....Normally 1 cup is for a regular load...
Ultra's are 6.25%.....at this formula, 3/4 cup is used for a regular load....

just check the label for any bleach you are going to purchase, they should have one or the other concentration.....or anything in between

the scented bleaches are less powerful than the regulars....

and anything with less than 2% does not have to be put on the label.....in this case, who knows what your getting, could be all water and a teaspoon of Sodium/Hypo....best to stay away, you would be wasting your money...

I get the Tandil Bleach from ALDI, it's at 6.0%....I buy it by the case, and it works fine for everything from clothing, to toilets and showers, dog pens, and general cleaning....usually around $1.09 for a bottle of 96oz.....their liquid detergent, orange bottle/blue cap, I swear is TIDE, the color, texture, and scent....just like regular TIDE, and cleans just as good...$6.99 for 64 loads...try it....they offer a full refund if you don't like it

 

[jerrod6]

Some of the Clorox and other bleach formulas contain surfactants. I don't understand this.
Why add even more surfactants to a wash that has detergent that already contains surfactants?

 

[mark_wpduet]

Here's what I've used for years

I've used Regular Clorox bleach before and liked it a lot, but I can't tell the difference so I've always used the Kroger brand bleach. Here are two pics of the labels

 

[mark_wpduet]

Ingredient label

here

 

[jamiel]

Interesting...that Kroger bleach is a disinfectant (..kills 99.9% of germs). Note on the lot number the plant (GA-03 ) is specified...that would let the EPA trace it back to the manufacturing plant. Essentially, the only disinfectant bleaches are the traditional ones (or their concentrated counterparts)....scented, thickened, etc are not disinfectant and are less strong. Here in Michigan we sometimes get bleach sourced from Canada, but it still has to be EPA certified. Since it's so heavy, it's expensive to ship so the radius from a bleach plant is pretty small (if you're really interested there was a case back in the late 50s where P&G bought Clorox...the FTC (Federal Trade Commission) filed suit and required P&G to divest Clorox; saying that P&G had the resources to create a business and buying the #1 brand let them corner the market. Interesting names from those days of the local bleach companies (Linco in Chicago/HiLex in Minneapolis/Roman Cleanser in Detroit and Florida) in the lawsuit (you can find it on Google)

 

[labboy]

Differences...

There are differences between Clorox and the other bleaches. The products I support (laboratory instruments) use sodium hypochlorite for routine cleaning and maintenance. For many years, my company and other laboratory instrument vendors have recommended Clorox as it is a filtered bleach product.

When the many varieties (scented, thickened, HE, etc.) came along it caused problems as the various additives cause clogs and leave interfering residues behind when used on many systems for maintenance procedures.

We are very specific that only Clorox Regular formulations should be used on our systems. (No scented, no Splashless, no High Efficiency, etc.)

In writing the technical bulletins explaining what type of bleach is OK for our products, I learned from Clorox Technical Service that the chlorine concentrations are reduced in the scented and other formulas to make them more acceptable to the consumer. The reduced chlorine concentrations and other additives mean they do not have disinfection claims. Only EPA registered disinfectants can say claim "Disinfects" or "Sanitizes", have to have the sodium hypochlorite concentration and the EPA registration number on the label.

Here is a link to a Clorox technical service bulletin which lists the many, many uses for the "regular" registered, disinfectant Clorox. Who knew it could be used for Maine Lobsters?

http://www.clorox.com/pdf/5813-100_service-bulletins.pdf

 

[mark_wpduet]

I know what you mean

I have never used anything other than regular bleach because I can tell it's not the same....I'm sure Clorox is filtered more than the regular store brand bleach, but I still have always been happy with this bleach.....

I just noticed after I took that picture that this expires in 2 months! Holy crap there's over 1/2 a bottle left. I buy a gallon at a time and it literally takes me a year or so to go through it because I have always felt a little of this goes a long way... I didn't realize until JUST NOW that bleach has an expiration date....I wonder if I should toss it after June? What a waste!

 

[yogitunes]

funny how Clorox...or bleach in general...is made from SALT water of the ocean.....and once used, returns to that formulation.....you would think harmful in a way, but I have the greenest lawn on the right hand side of my house....

I said it before....take bleach, and spray areas of your lawn, first it will turn yellow, great for lettering at parties, then almost brown, and then grow back more green and plush than any lawn chemical ever could...do a small patch, see what happens....

I don't doubt that Clorox is filtered.....the first few hundred gallons is labeled store brand, before the Clorox bottles get filled.....it happens at all companies...

Lemon was a great scent when first introduced.....but for the past few years, I can't small any scent left over from any of the scented versions...

this is a fun thread....what esle do you use bleach for other than laundry?

 

[launderess]

For Long Term Storage

Best to use dry chlorine bleach common to commercial laundries. It is also sold in small "vend" sizes for use in laundromats.

Dry chlorine bleach is more stable than the liquid variety which is one of the reasons you find it in powdered dishwasher detergents. Also because it is dry many find it easier to use than liquids.

 

[mark_wpduet]

I use it

I pour a small bit in a spray bottle and fill the rest with distilled water and then I spray a rag down with it and clean door knobs, keyboards, cabinet handles, phones, basically anything that gets touched a lot.

How long can you go past the sell by date on liquid bleach if stored below 70?

 

[alr2903]

MarkWpduet, I buy a lot of Kroger Brand laundry supplies. I have never been disappointed with any of them. Their el cheapo bucket of white powder with blue flecks is great for sheets and towels. I also use their Home basics liquid in the Admiral TL it does not require HE detergent but it is very controlled as far as sudsing. It is hard to argue the prices. alr