Oxygen Bleach Questions

[labboy]

1. Has anyone had difficulty finding the Ecover 100% sodium percarbonate (small box) of oxygen bleach in the US? We used to have it at our local natural food stores but it seems to have been replaced by a formulation blended with washing soda. I may just have to order from the Chemistry Store next time I stock up on STPP.

2. I noticed on OxyClean and other products the directions say to add directly to the drum of front loaders and not to add with detergent. If you are using a powdered detergent along with it, why would it matter if they were both in the dispenser at the same time? (Liquid I could see...)

Thanks!
Bob

 

[launderess]

OxiClean - Skip it and find a source for pure sodium percarbonate. Most all such products contain fillers such as washing soda (OxiClean is about 50% washing soda give or take), which you don't need or even want.

Have not looked lately but last time one was in local "green grocer" that stocks Ecover products the small boxes of oxygen bleach were still there and contained pure spc. One has so much oxygen bleach of various sorts in our stash that really don't pay that much attention to that section of the shop, but will take a look next time am in said store.

Cannot think of why Oxiclean does not want their product dispensed in the drawer. One puts all powdered products there they belong (dispenser drawer) with no problems.

One worry about putting any sort of bleach directly into the tub is contact with laundry, in particular colours. Oxygen bleach will become active soon as it comes into contact with water. Not dissolved product in such instances and cause textile damage such as color loss.

 

[labboy]

Thanks Launderess!

Agree about the OxiClean and fillers. Just couldn't find the small pure percarbonate Ecover (only a Ecover blend of percarbonate and washing soda) and was perusing alternatives.

 

[mich]

Before you buy Pure Sodium Percarbonate...

Sams Club & Costco often have 5KG boxes of Oxyclean, for about $10. One only needs two tablespoons, and it'll cost you a lot less, compared to buying it pure.

Something to think about I use it, and I really like the results of a tablespoon and a half, on white loads.

 

[mich]

As for adding it, straight into the drum...

Better Results can be seen, when the Oxygen Environment, is separated from the slowly activating Enzyme environment, even for just a few seconds. Sometimes, when the SC & Enzymes mix too quickly, even in trace amounts, the enzymes can become unstable, and won't be as effective in the wash.

It also, gives the Oxyclean (or sodium percarbonate) a chance to neutralize any chlorine in the water supply, preventing even the trace amount of the Chlorine from effecting enzymatic performance, and color fading.

 

[mattl]

I hate Oxiclean and will not use it, way too much filler.  My bleach of choice is Clorox oxygen bleach, getting harder to find but for me it does the job.

 

[stan]

Just a thought,

but what about a liquid non chlorine bleach? The "Bright Green" brand from Safeway use to work fairly well.
I don't know the percentages of peroxide therein, but someone here may know the nuts and bolts of liquid versions, and how they work in comparisons to powdered S.P

 

[donprohel]

Liquid non-chlorine bleach

As far as I can remember liquid non-chlorine bleach works very, very, very well: it releases more oxygen than sodium percarbonate even at low temperature just for the agitation (hydrogen peroxide is not very stable) and it does not lower the PH that much, hence it is safe and effective also for delicates (including wool).

I use sodium percarbonate only for whites.

I used a lot of liquid non-chlorine bleach when I was in Italy, where it is easy to find and quite cheap, here in UK, instead, it is strangely unpopular and expensive but, well, here ammonia costs as much as champagne!

 

[launderess]

Oxygen Bleach & Enzymes

This pretty much covers things:

http://www.lsbu.ac.uk/water/enztech/detergent.html