Every house gets dirty every so often, no matter how big or small. And while there isn’t just one way of cleaning your home, there are clever ways to do it!
Bleach is a versatile cleaning agent and a powerful disinfectant. Proper usage and application of bleach allow you to make the most of your household chores, perhaps even enjoy it!
In this article, we’ll explore the clever household uses of bleach, from your kitchen and bathroom to the bedroom and living room. We’ll also give you some cleaning tips and workarounds to help you clean efficiently and thoroughly.
Things to Keep in Mind Before Cleaning With Bleach
Before we get into the many uses of bleach, we need to say a few words about bleach cleaning safety and efficacy.
To avoid risks to your respiratory system, keep the area where you’ll be using bleach well-ventilated. In other words, keep your windows and doors open during and after cleaning to eliminate toxic fumes.
It would help if you didn’t mix bleach with other household staples like vinegar. This could lead to the creation of chlorinated gases, which are incredibly harmful.
Since bleach can cause severe skin irritations and burns, it’s essential to wear safety gear like a mask, gloves, protective goggles, and any long-sleeved clothing or a biohazard suit.
Additionally, keep bleach out of the reach of children and pets
Finally, we don’t suggest using full-strength bleach. Before using bleach, you need to dilute it with water. That’s why following our instructions for properly diluting bleach is essential.
Diluting Bleach for Cleaning
Before using bleach for cleaning, you need to dilute it so that it’s safe to use. It would help if you referred to the instructions on the bleach bottle to make a diluted bleach solution.
If there are no instructions on the bottle, you can make a diluted solution by mixing 1/3 of a cup with a gallon of room-temperature water. You can adjust the bleach-to-water ratio as needed to meet the desired concentration.
16 Clever Household Uses of Bleach
We all know that bleach is a great cleaning agent, but you’d be surprised at what else it can do! Here are some of the most clever uses of bleach:
Cleans Butcher’s Block
If you’re thinking about cleaning your butcher’s block, give your cutting board a good scrub with a bleach and water mixture. For the best results, dilute with a 1:10 bleach-to-water ratio.
Scrub gently in small circular motions so you don’t drench the board. Afterward, wipe it with a damp sponge, then dry it with a microfiber towel.
Use to Whiten Laundry
No one wants their bedding and white t-shirts to turn from pearly white to grayish white. So, to avoid this, try using bleach.
Add two-thirds of a cup of bleach to your standard washer, set it to the hottest water setting, and soak your duvets, bedsheets, and other white clothing. Fully submerge the fabrics and soak them for 5-10 minutes.
On the other hand, add one-third cup of bleach if you’re using a high-efficiency washer and do the steps mentioned above.
Freshen Your Flowers
Everyone enjoys flowers, though their scent and appearance can only be sustained if you take good care of them. Usually, flowers can last up to 5 days without water. Proper flower care can make a massive difference between them, lasting five days or two weeks.
With this in mind, we suggest a quarter teaspoon of bleach per liter of vase water to ensure that your flowers last as long as possible.
This keeps them looking fresh and reduces the amount of nasty stuff that gathers in the water as it ages.
Whitening Tile Grout
It’s disturbing how fast tile grout can get darker and darker, especially near that area behind the toilet! Don’t worry; using bleach is the easiest way to clear stubborn dirt from the tile grout.
Remember that bleach is known for its whitening ability, and its effect is no different on your bathroom tiles. To do this, mix a 3:7 bleach-to-water ratio and spray it onto the tiles. Allow 3-5 minutes before brushing.
Once done, you should have sparkly, new-looking tiles once again.
Cleans Backyard Plastic Furniture
Plastic furniture tends to fade, gather dirt, and develop a stinky, moldy odor in a matter of weeks. Luckily, bleach is effective in cleaning white patio furniture, and it very works well with different colors.
You can mix 1 part bleach and ten parts water in a bucket and let it settle for a few minutes before applying it to your furniture.
Then, brush the bleach solution onto your furniture and leave it on for no more than 10 minutes to remove the yellowing and clean the furniture’s surface.
Allow to air-dry after rinsing, and voila, your furniture is as good as new!
Brighten Up Glassware and Tableware
Want shiny glassware and tableware to impress your guests? Bleach is your best bet!
Commonly, you can sterilize glassware and dishware in soap and warm water. Nevertheless, if they are contaminated or have been stored for a long time, you should take extra measures to sanitize them before reusing them.
To do this, put two tablespoons of bleach in your dishwasher and let it do its thing. Alternatively, immerse your glassware in a 1:4 bleach-to-water ratio for about 10 minutes if you’re not using a dishwasher.
Remember to rinse well and dry it with a towel. Then, marvel at the sparkling results!
Disinfect Thrifted Items
Everyone loves a good rummage sale find, especially when it’s a bang for your buck. Yet, where that find came from is always a mystery. So, to make sure it’s safe for use, you need to disinfect it diligently.
Here’s how to do so with clothes:
First, check the label to confirm that you can use bleach. If it can’t be bleached, you can use half a cup of oxygen bleach to eliminate the smell and stains. If it can be bleached, mix 1 part chlorine bleach with nine parts water in your washer for 5 minutes for disinfecting.
Here’s how to do so with items such as toys:
Mix half a cup of bleach per gallon of water to sanitize the item. Scrub the surface gently and let it sit for about 5 minutes, then thoroughly rinse before air drying it.
Remove Mold Growth Off Hard Surfaces
The best way to keep mold at bay is to clean it frequently. Spritz the target area with equal parts of bleach and water solution. Allow 5-15 minutes before scrubbing, rinsing, and thoroughly drying.
Clean Out Your Washer
Bleach can be used for more than just whitening your laundry; it can also pamper your hard-working washer!
Add a couple of cups of bleach to your washing machine’s water and set it to the highest temperature with no laundry.
This will keep your washer clean, sanitized, and smelling fresh, allowing you to squeeze more out of each wash.
Bleach Can Be a Weed Killer
Weeds can erupt from wall cracks, pavers, and walkways in a few days. While you can use herbicides to kill weeds, bleach can get the job done, sometimes even better!
Bleach can reduce soil pH to the point where no plants can live or emerge in the area where it’s sprayed. In this case, avoid directly applying bleach on lawns and other plants.
Start by spraying full-strength bleach on the weeds. Let it sit for 1-3 days. After which, pull them out to the roots and watch them wilt away.
Disinfect Garbage Cans
Garbage cans have a strong and gross odor. Before cleaning with bleach, clear out any debris from the cans or containers.
For better results, mix equal parts of dishwashing liquid and bleach into warm water and use this solution to give the garbage cans a good scrub.
Lastly, rinse the cans and set them in the sun to dry.
Clean Painted Walls
Forget the old way of cleaning your walls using vinegar and water. Use bleach instead! Don’t ever use full-strength (non-diluted) bleach on your walls, though, as it can severely damage the paint.
It might also cause you some harsh skin irritations.
Here’s how you go about it:
Prepare a solution by mixing 1 part bleach with ten parts water. Try it on unnoticeable wall areas to confirm it doesn’t stain the surface. Then, let the bleach sit for around 20 minutes max.
This is highly suggested for slight mold and mildew instances. Usually, the dilution varies based on the amount of dirt. But as a rule of thumb, never use more than 1 part bleach to 3 parts water.
Disinfect Garden Tools
Bleach is a cheap and widely used household disinfectant that you should only mix with water and liquid detergents. If you mix it with other than water and detergents, it’ll produce toxic fumes that can put your health at risk.
So, to use bleach for disinfecting your tools, mix 1 part of bleach with nine parts of water in a plastic container and soak them for 30 minutes.
Remember that bleach’s efficiency is reduced by half after 2 hours, so you should make a new dilution for each cleaning session.
Finally, make sure to rinse and dry them thoroughly to avoid corrosion.
Note that bleach is best used for hand tools, like spades, rakes, and shovels.
Wipe Off Window Molds
Whether you’re a housewife or a househusband, bleach can be a game-changer in your window cleaning routine. Not only is it simple to use, but it also delivers instant results.
Cleaning your windows is very straightforward. You only need a wiping cloth, bleach, and some get-chores-done music on your Spotify!
Begin by spraying 2 ounces of bleach and 1 ounce of detergent diluted in a liter of water. Spray, wipe, and rinse. Be sure to let the bleach sit for 10 minutes.
This technique is also suitable for window sills made of wood, vinyl, granite, or stone.
Sanitize Drinking Water
For sterile water, we recommend diluting eight drops of unscented bleach per gallon for clear water. Double the drop if the water is turbid.
In either case, it’s best to wait 30 minutes before drinking. This ensures that the water is fully sterilized.
Disinfecting Plant Pots
After washing your plant pots and ensuring they’re clean, dilute 1 part of bleach to 9 parts of water in a large container.
Then, soak the pots entirely for at least 10 minutes to eliminate any bacteria that may still be lurking on the surface.
Finally, thoroughly rinse it all to remove any bleach residue and let it air dry.
Conclusion
Household uses of bleach come in many forms. Unsurprisingly, this is the go-to cleaning solution for every household. Plus, it’s cheap and easy to find!
The truth is, you can use bleach to clean almost everything. When we say everything, we mean from your bedroom to the kitchen, from the laundry area to the bathroom, your living room, and even the garden!
One example is removing stains and whitening clothing. It’s also ideal for cleaning floors, walls, pathways, and other non-porous surfaces.
Bleach, in addition, is proven to be effective in removing mildew, and molds, even killing weeds.
When used correctly, bleach can do more than clean your house. It can keep your home disinfected, sparkly, and fresh while also making it a safe place.