Here's What You Can Substitute For OxiClean - House Digest (2024)

Here's What You Can Substitute For OxiClean - House Digest (4)

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To tackle tough stains on clothes, many reach for OxiClean. This liquid, pod, or powder product breaks down grease and oil stains and preventssoils in the washing machine from transferring to your clothes, per OxiClean. This product also brightens and freshens clothes — and it's safe for both white and colored loads. For over two decades, OxiClean has been a must-have in just about every laundry room.

However, some may be turned away from OxiClean because of its potentially harmful ingredients. According to Sustainable Baby Steps, some of these ingredients can cause various illnesses in humans and are toxic to aquatic life. It can also be irritating for those with sensitive skin. So it's understandable why some stay away from OxiClean. But, without OxiClean, consumers need an alternative ingredient that will lift stains and brighten clothes. Luckily, there are some more natural alternatives that also happen to be cheaper, too.

Three alternatives

Here's What You Can Substitute For OxiClean - House Digest (5)

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The first alternative is sodium carbonate, also known as washing soda. This chemical naturally lifts stains from clothes. According to Arm and Hammer, add 1/2 a cup of washing soda directly to the washing machine drum before cleaning clothes. Or, if your clothes are extra stained, you can add 1 cup of washing soda.

The second alternative ingredient is hydrogen peroxide. This chemical breaks down stains and brightens clothes, just like OxiClean. Stain Removal 101 suggests adding 8 ounces of a 3% solution to each load of laundry. You could also apply hydrogen peroxide directly to the affected area, per Apartment Therapy. Both sodium carbonate and hydrogen peroxide (mixed with sodium carbonate to make sodium carbonate peroxyhydrate) are found in OxiClean, per Sustainable Baby Steps. However, using these chemicals by themselves is safer than using OxiClean. They're also known to be just as effective — and they're cheaper, too.

There's one more alternative chemical that can lift stains and brighten clothes, and it's oxalic acid. This chemical is more natural than OxiClean, and it's an excellent option for clothes stained from iron water. Nelson describes how to use oxalic acid to remove stains. Seventy-five grams should be added to every liter of warm water in a plastic (not metal) tub. It should never be added to the washing machine. The stained clothes can then be submerged for up to five minutes.

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Here's What You Can Substitute For OxiClean - House Digest (2024)

FAQs

What is a good substitute for OxiClean? ›

Hydrogen peroxide and washing soda

If you want to be precise and make something the most chemically similar to OxiClean, you would mix hydrogen peroxide with washing soda. You can throw it in the laundry to remove organic stains or brighten a load, the same way you would OxiClean.

How to make your own OxiClean? ›

It's essentially a mix of washing soda and hydrogen peroxide. Once mixed together these ingredients react to form sodium percarbonate. If you mix them together yourself you'll notice a lot of bubbles and foam. This is why I mix and use this as needed for fresh stains.

Can you mix hydrogen peroxide and baking soda for laundry? ›

Start by making a paste. You'll need one part hydrogen peroxide, one part baking soda, and one part water. This potent paste will break down the proteins in sweat and blood, making them easier to wash away. You may be wondering, “What about colored fabrics?” Well, hydrogen peroxide is safe for most fabrics.

What is the generic version of OxiClean? ›

Sodium percarbonate is highly concentrated, so where you would use 1/2 cup of OxiClean in your laundry, you would substitute with only 2 tablespoons of its generic, sodium percarbonate. Sodium percarbonate is really cool stuff. It is a highly concentrated powder that releases hydrogen peroxide.

What is the key ingredient in OxiClean? ›

Sodium Percarbonate and Sodium Carbonate

OxiClean's most important active ingredient is sodium percarbonate: Which is basically dry/powdered hydrogen peroxide plus washing soda. Washing soda is also called sodium carbonate, which is very similar to but not exactly baking soda.

Is OxiClean hydrogen peroxide? ›

Description. One of the active ingredients in OxiClean is sodium percarbonate (Na2CO3•H2O2), an adduct of sodium carbonate (Na2CO3) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). This breaks down into hydrogen peroxide when dissolved in water. These ingredients break down safely in the environment and leave no toxic byproducts.

Which is better, borax or baking soda? ›

Both baking soda and Borax are effective because they are alkaline and abrasive. But Borax has a higher PH than baking soda, making it a slightly harsher but arguably more effective cleaning agent. It inhibits fungi, mold, and bacteria.

What do borax and vinegar do? ›

Borax has long been recognized for its disinfectant and deodorizing properties. Mix a 1/2 cup of Borax into 1 gallon of hot water or undiluted vinegar and clean with this solution. For a fragrant smell, add a few sprigs of fresh thyme, rosemary or lavender to the above recipe.

Can you mix hydrogen peroxide and Dawn dish soap? ›

here's the best at home stain remover you can use on almost anything, always spot check before using on colors. 1 bottle hydrogen peroxide 1 tsp baking soda 1 tsp dish soap (Blue Dawn is the best) Mix together in a squirt bottle and get to it. Spray on stain and let sit for 5-15 minutes. White clean w a cloth or towel.

What laundry detergent do hotels use? ›

Because of the pH, hotels must use regular detergent rather than professional-grade detergent. Regular detergents found in grocery stores have a neutral pH, however professional-grade detergent is frequently basic or has a higher pH, which can be harsh on sheets, linens, and towels.

What should you not clean with hydrogen peroxide? ›

Keep reading for more on that and other things you should never do with hydrogen peroxide.
  • Don't use it to clean deep cuts. ...
  • Don't use hydrogen peroxide without wearing gloves. ...
  • Don't mix it with vinegar. ...
  • Do not ingest it. ...
  • Don't use it if it doesn't fizz when you start cleaning.
Apr 18, 2020

Is oxygen bleach just hydrogen peroxide? ›

What is Oxygen Bleach or Non-Chlorine Bleach? There are 3 types of oxygen bleach, or non-chlorine bleach: Hydrogen Peroxide, Sodium Percarbonate and Sodium Perborate. Oxygen bleach can help lift dirt and stains from fabrics before washing.

When should you not use OxiClean? ›

OxiClean™ MaxForce™ is not designed to be used on dry clean only fabrics and should not be used on wool or silk items.

Is hydrogen peroxide good for stains? ›

Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is a colorless liquid composed of hydrogen and oxygen molecules. It's a mild antiseptic, disinfectant, and bleaching agent. When applied to stains, it releases oxygen, which breaks down the chemical bonds in the stain's molecules. This reaction lifts the stain, making it easier to wipe away.

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