Glossary

Chlorine bleach

11.16.21

A group of strong oxidizing agents, all of which have one or more chlorine atoms in their molecule.

Liquid chlorine bleach is commonly sold as an approximately 50% solution of sodium hypochlorite.  As a laundry additive, liquid chlorine bleach removes stains, aids in soil removal, whitens, disinfects, and deodorizes.  Dry forms of chlorine bleach include chlorinated isocyanurates and chlorinated trisodium phosphate.  They are used as the bleaching ingredient in products marketed in dry form, such as cleansers and automatic dishwasher detergents.  Neither liquid nor dry chlorine bleach should be used on silks, woolens, dyes sensitive to hypochlorite, and certain stains, such as rust, which can be set by hypochlorite. Chlorine bleach deactivates enzymes found in laundry detergents or laundry aids.