Bleach is a highly effective cleaner. It will kill almost all types of germs and viruses. However, it’s extremely toxic as well.
Bleach fumes cause respiratory problems, can burn the skin and even cause major nervous system damage. When it is combined with other harsh chemical cleaners, these new and dangerous chemicals are even more dangerous; there’s no telling what those fumes are doing to your body and the environment. Bleach is toxic to humans and your pets too.
But, we all like bright, white linens and clean and sparkly homes, so how do you achieve that without using bleach?
No worries, there’s an alternative to bleach that is just as effective and will leave your clothes smelling fresh and your home shining bright.
Ingredients:
- 3/4 cup 3% hydrogen peroxide
- 1/4 cup lemon juice
- 2 Tbsp. citric acid
- filtered water
- 20 drops lemon essential oil
- amber 1/2 gallon glass jug
- funnel
Why We Used These Ingredients
All of the ingredients in this recipe will gently brighten clothes.
The citric acid is not completely necessary but it helps make the cleaning solution more effective (especially if you have hard water).
Hydrogen peroxide and lemon juice are very effective stain removers and brighteners. I suggest you use an amber glass jar or store your homemade bleach alternative in a cool, dark area so that the essential oils and peroxide don’t lose their effectiveness.
How To Make A Natural Bleach Alternative
Watch our one minute video below to see how to make this natural bleach alternative.
Or simply continue scrolling to see our step-by-step written and photo instructions.
Measure out 3/4 cup of peroxide and pour into the amber glass jar.
Measure out 1/4 cup of bottled lemon or fresh lemon juice and pour into the amber glass jar.
Add 2 tablespoons of citric acid to the jar.
Gently swirl the jar to dissolve the citric acid and mix the ingredients.
Fill the jar the rest of the way up with filtered water.
Add about 20 drops of lemon essential oil and gently swirl the jar to mix.
How To Use
This bleach alternative can be used in many ways for laundry or home cleaning. Here are some of them:
- Add 1 cup per small laundry load on the hottest water setting for whiter whites and softer clothes.
- For stained clothes, soak the entire garment in this bleach mixture overnight and then wash as normal.
- Add the bleach alternative to a glass spray bottle and spritz on kitchen counters and surfaces to kill germs. Likewise, you could also use as a window or mirror cleaner.
- Mix some of the bleach with a small amount of baking soda and use as a scrub for tiles and grout.
- Add a cup to the toilet bowl, allow to sit for an hour and then scrub to clean away stuck on stains.