Q&A for How to Neutralize Bleach

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  • Question
    How can I neutralize bleach in a washing machine?
    Bess Ruff, MA
    Environmental Scientist
    Bess Ruff is a Geography PhD student at Florida State University. She received her MA in Environmental Science and Management from the University of California, Santa Barbara in 2016. She has conducted survey work for marine spatial planning projects in the Caribbean and provided research support as a graduate fellow for the Sustainable Fisheries Group.
    Environmental Scientist
    Expert Answer
    The rinse cycle of your washing machine is generally sufficient for neutralizing bleach use on your clothes.
  • Question
    The decorative petals of my hummingbird feeder were covered with black mold. I used bleach to clean them. The residual from the bleach is still in the tiny holes and crevices. How can I remove it?
    Community Answer
    Use a solution of one tablespoon lemon juice to eight ounces (one cup) water, soak for twenty minutes, and then rinse in clear water. Lemon juice is a natural cleaner and disinfectant (with the added benefit of neutralizing chlorine because of the ascorbic acid, one form of vitamin C), leaving no harmful compounds.
  • Question
    I wanted to bleach a colored cotton comforter white. I used Clorox bleach mixed with water and it took the color out, but left the comforter a pale yellow. Is there any way I can make it pure white?
    Community Answer
    If you use pool chlorine or tablets for your toilet you might have better luck but your probably better off just buying a white one. You might also try laying it out in the sun for a day or two to see if the sunlight will turn the yellow white. Any bleach solution strong enough to turn a colored fabric white would most likely damage the fibers, greatly reducing the item's useful life. I tried a strong solution on a white towel with Kool-Aid on it. It turned yellow and disintegrated the next time I washed it.
  • Question
    What can I do if I put a little bleach into my ice cube maker, but the bleach smell is still there even after repeatedly rinsing?
    Community Answer
    Try to run lemon juice through the maker. Lemon juice is a safe way to clean and disinfect, and is nature's bleach. It may be able to clean out the bleach, so try until you can't smell bleach anymore, then rinse out repeatedly to get rid of the lemon. If only lemon remains, it is completely safe to drink, and will eventually fade.
  • Question
    How do I clean up a Clorox spill on a concrete garage floor?
    Community Answer
    Soak up as much Clorox as possible with a towel, then get a mop and bucket with fresh water. Mop the floor as you would in the kitchen. Clorox will not harm concrete, but it will disinfect it.
  • Question
    How do you cover a bleach mark on a fabric lounge suite?
    Community Answer
    You can get a fabric dye and do your best to match it close enough to the original shade so it's not as noticeable. You may have to try a couple of times to get the right shade.
  • Question
    How can I neutralize bleach on metal?
    Community Answer
    There are many products and cleaning systems you could find online that would help you with this.
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