How to Neutralize Bleach on Clothes

Many people use bleach to whiten white clothes and make them brighter. Although the rinse cycle should neutralize bleach in clothes, it may be necessary to take an additional step to ensure there aren't any traces of bleach left in the clothing.

Sometimes neutralizing bleach on garments is important for a craft or fabric project to create cool effects. Bleach can damage fabrics if too much is used and/or if traces stay in the fabric, though, because the bleach slowly eats away at the fabric.

Wondering what neutralizes bleach on clothing? A typical household product, hydrogen peroxide, can be used to neutralize bleach.

To ensure that bleach has been removed sufficiently from garments or for decorative-clothing or craft purposes, you can mix hydrogen peroxide and water together to create a solution to rinse and neutralize the bleach. Hydrogen peroxide will stop the effects of sodium hypochlorite, an active ingredient in chlorine bleach, and neutralize it.

Before you begin, it's important to wear gloves and goggles to protect your skin and eyes.

Fill a plastic bucket or container with a gallon of warm water. Then add 1 cup of 3 percent hydrogen peroxide. Or create a solution that is 1 part hydrogen peroxide to 10 parts water.

Let the clothing soak for around 10 minutes in the hydrogen peroxide solution.

After soaking, place the garments in the washer and run as a normal load of laundry to rinse and wash out the neutralizing solution.

If you prefer to not make your own solution to neutralize bleach, there are commercial bleach-neutralizing products available for use on clothing, carpeting, or other items that bleach may potentially damage.

After the final wash, there is no need for concern that any bleach or peroxide still remains in the clothing as it will all be washed out.