Bleach Alternative: Non-Toxic Homemade Bleach at Home

I get it. You have a tough cleaning project, and you feel like you have to use bleach to get the job done. But, you’re also trying to switch to a more non-toxic lifestyle, and you know that chlorine bleach is pretty bad for you! The great news is, you can get your tough cleaning jobs done without compromising your all-natural home. This homemade bleach alternative is beautifully effective, even without all of the scary side effects of chlorine bleach. And, it’s made with only 3 simple ingredients that you probably already have!

Why is chlorine bleach bad?

Chlorine bleach is unsafe for a variety of reasons, many of which are not commonly known!

Chlorine bleach can be fatal if swallowed.

This alone is enough reason for me to keep it out of my home. Especially with hoping that our family will be growing soon, it’s unimaginable to think of keeping something so poisonous in my home, especially in the name of “cleaning”. It’s amazing how cleaning ingredients can be amongst the dirtiest in our homes.

Chlorine bleach is corrosive, meaning it damages the skin, lungs, and eyes.

When bleach is being used, it can cause skin burns, burning in the lungs and throat, blurred vision, and more. It releases gases that are harmful, which is why you are never supposed to use bleach in a non-ventilated area. And yet, where’s the most common place that people use bleach? In the bathroom. Or the laundry room. Most of which do not have windows.

Chlorine bleach can give off toxic fumes when mixed with other cleaners.

When bleach is mixed with other common household cleaners, such as ammonia (another toxic household cleaner), it releases poisonous gases that are harmful and even fatal. It is never safe to mix these ingredients, and yet it could be an accidental mistake when all of these are available options in your cleaning cupboards. It’s another reason to keep ingredients like bleach out of your home!

Homemade Bleach Alternative Recipe

Supplies

• Measuring cups: I use these measuring cups.
• Storage jar: Choose either a quart jar or a gallon jar. For long-term storage (or just because it’s beautiful), get an amber glass jar.

Ingredients

To Make One Quart (4 cups)

• 2 1/2 cups distilled water
• 1 1/4 cup hydrogen peroxide
• 1/4 cup lemon juice (store-bought or fresh-squeezed)

or

To Make One Gallon (4 quarts)

• 10 cups distilled water
• 5 cups hydrogen peroxide
• 1 cup lemon juice (store-bought or fresh-squeezed)

Directions

1. Add all ingredients to the storage jar.
2. Close the lid and swirl to combine. Make sure to label your jar!
3. Store at room temperature in a dark place for a longer shelf life. For the longest shelf life, use an amber glass jar.

Tip for Making a Homemade Bleach Alternative Last Longer

This homemade bleach alternative will last for about 1 month in a clear jar, or about 3 months in an amber glass jar. This is because light exposure weakens the potency of hydrogen peroxide, and amber glass prevents light from entering the bottle.

Ways to Use Homemade Bleach Alternative

For Laundry

• Towels & Linens: To whiten and brighten towels and linens, you can add 2 cups homemade bleach over the top of the clothes before running a cycle as normal.
• Extra Whitening Boost: For an extra powerful whitening boost, add 1/2 cup baking soda to the bottom of the drum, then add your laundry, then pour 2 cups of homemade bleach over the top of the laundry. Run the wash cycle with warm to hot water (depending on what the materials of the laundry can handle), with a soak setting on the wash cycle.

For Cleaning

• Farmhouse White Enameled Sink: Whiten your enameled sink by sprinkling baking soda across the bottom of the sink, and then drizzling homemade bleach over the top. Use a dish scrubber like this bamboo scrub brush to buff away stains and scuff marks. Rinse with hot water afterwards to reveal a sparkling and bright sink. Soak it overnight for extra tough stains.
• Tile & Grout: To make a powerful cleaning scrub for tile and grout, make a paste with homemade bleach and baking soda, and use a scrubber (like this cool battery powered scrubber) to buff away stains and grime.
• Countertop Stains: To clean stains out of countertops, simply soak a cloth or paper towel in the homemade bleach, and place over the top of the stains. Allow the homemade bleach to do its work, and then wipe it away!
  

More Like This…

• Best Laundry Products
• Homemade Stain Remover
• Homemade Laundry Detergent

Be sure to pin the recipe for later!