Cleaning with Bleach – 13 Household Uses

Household Uses for Bleach

Although there are certainly more natural items that you can use to clean your home (such as vinegar and baking soda), bleach is still one of the most effective cleaning products that are sold in stores today – and it is used by millions of people all around the world.

First, here are a few tips for using bleach in your home:

Bleach tips & Warnings

• Always use bleach in a well-ventilated area.
• Never mix bleach with ammonia or other household cleaners.
• Always wear rubber gloves when using bleach.
• Rinse everything very well after washing with bleach.

Ways to Use Bleach

1. Make dingy whites whiter by adding 3/4 cup bleach to your washing machine 5 minutes after the washing cycle has started. Only do this with HOT water, after adding laundry detergent, but before adding your laundry.

2. Remove mold and mildew from grout between bathroom tiles. Mix equal parts chlorine bleach and water in a spray bottle, spray, let sit for 20 minutes, then scrub and rinse.

3. Remove stains and mildew from patio stones and cement with a mix of 1 cup chlorine bleach and 2 gallons water. Scrub with a brush and rinse clean.

4. Make an all-purpose disinfecting spray by mixing 1 tablespoon bleach with 1 gallon of hot water. Add to a spray bottle and use this mixture wherever there is cleaning to be done.

5. Remove toilet bowl rings by pouring 1 cup of bleach into the toilet water, flushing and using a toilet brush to scrub as the toilet fills back up with water.

6. Disinfect garbage cans with about 1/2 cup bleach, 1 gallon of water and 2-3 drops of dish soap. Scrub with a brush and then rinse clean.

7. Want your fresh flowers to last longer? Add 1/4 teaspoon of bleach to about 1 liter of water to your vase and then add in your flowers.

8. Remove mold and mildew from shower curtain liners. Wash with a few towels in warm water with 1/2 cup chlorine bleach and about 1/4 cup laundry detergent. Hang dry.

9. Remove weeds from your walkways by pouring a bit of bleach on them, and then pulling them out by the roots a few days later.

10. Sanitize children’s toys by letting them soak in a solution of 3/4 cup bleach per gallon of water. Soak for about 5 minutes, wash clean and then air dry.

11. Shine your vases and glass dishware by adding 1 tsp bleach to your soapy dishwasher.

12. Clean lawn furniture, kids play equipment and outdoor toys with 1 tablespoon bleach for every gallon of water.

13. Clean butcher block counters and cutting boards. Mix 1 teaspoon with 2 liters of water, dip in a brush and then scrub in small, circular motions. Dry immediately with a clean cloth.

If it is not used properly, bleach can be an extremely harmful substance. However, if you use bleach the right way, it is a very useful product for keeping your home clean and sanitized.

How do you feel about bleach? Do you use it in your home?