Q&A for How to Bleach Your Clothing

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Question

What does the triangle with lines through it on the tag in clothing mean?

Community Answer

It means "do not bleach." Do not use bleach of ANY sort on your clothing with that tag.

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Question

What should I do if my white top turned pink when I bleached it?

Community Answer

There's not much you can do. You can try to bleach it again by soaking your top in 2 liters of warm water with 1/2 cup of bleach.

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Question

Does soaking in bleach shrink clothing?

Robin Sager

Community Answer

Not in most cases. However, some cotton clothing can shrink if left in bleach (or any water solution) too long. That is why it is important to read the care tags of your garments carefully. If you are worried about a garment shrinking, you may only want to wash it for the minimum about of time.

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Question

What is the main reason for the use of bleach in a wash?

Robin Sager

Community Answer

Most people use bleach in order to brighten up their whites. Some white clothing tends to fade to a duller color over time or can even become discolored. You can also use bleach to sanitize your clothes that may see more direct wear, such as socks or white underwear.

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Question

Can I bleach whites in cold water?

Robin Sager

Community Answer

Yes, you can. Bleach generally works better when the water is warm or hot. However, some garments do not do well under hot temperature and must be washed or bleached in colder water. So, follow the steps above like usual, just use colder water instead. It may, however, take you a bit longer to see results.

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Question

How do I bleach a certain part of my clothing?

Community Answer

That's usually called spot cleaning. If you have a very defined area that you would like to bleach, use chalk or soap to draw an outline around it. Cover other areas of the cloth with something to protect it, like tarp or plastic bags or cardboard. Bleach the area, but keep the bleach about 1/4 an inch away from the edges of the outline you've drawn, because it will spread.

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