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5 Ways to Use Hydrogen Peroxide in Laundry

By
Mary Marlowe Leverette
Mary Marlowe Leverette 2018
Mary Marlowe Leverette
Mary Marlowe Leverette is one of the industry's most highly-regarded housekeeping and fabric care experts, sharing her knowledge on efficient housekeeping, laundry, and textile conservation. She is also a Master Gardener with over 40+ years of experience and 20+ years of writing experience. Mary is also a member of The Spruce Gardening and Plant Care Review Board.
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Updated on 12/20/24
Reviewed by
Rhea Mehta
Dr. Rhea Mehta, PhD
Reviewed by Rhea Mehta
Rhea Mehta, PhD, is an award-winning toxicologist who has worked to empower people to lead healthier lives, starting in their homes, for over a decade. Rhea holds a PhD in Toxicology, with over 15 scientific publications, and a certificate in integrative health coaching. 
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Nandini Balial
Fact checked by Nandini Balial
Nandini Balial is a writer and copy editor who specializes in lifestyle, food, mental health, immigration, film/TV, literature, politics, and feminism. She has worked in a variety of fields, including television, film, book-selling, and publishing; she also spent over two years as a TaskRabbit maid, housekeeper, and personal assistant.
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hydrogen peroxide and white towels

The Spruce / Ana Cadena

Benefits of using hydrogen peroxide in laundry include whitening whites, brightening colors, removing stains and odors, and disinfecting your washer. It's also easy to use, safe for most clothes, and works as a natural cleaner. Learn how and where to use it during your laundry routine.

Uses for hydrogen peroxide in laundry
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Uses for Hydrogen Peroxide in Laundry

  • 01 of 05

    Whiten Dingy Whites

    hydrogen peroxide and white clothing

    The Spruce / Ana Cadena

    White clothes become dull and yellowed over time due to exposure to body soil, dye transfer from other fabrics, and residue from excess laundry detergent and fabric softener that gets trapped in the fabric fibers.

    Add 1 cup of 3% hydrogen peroxide to the washer drum before adding the water and clothes. The hydrogen peroxide can also be placed in the automatic bleach dispenser of the washer where it will be dispersed into the wash cycle.

  • 02 of 05

    Remove Stains From Clothes

    using a q-tip of hydrogen peroxide on blood stains

    The Spruce / Ana Cadena

    Hydrogen peroxide is a very effective stain remover for protein- and plant-based stains. It works well in treating blood, mildew, fruit and vegetable, and dye-transfer stains.

    Always test hydrogen peroxide on colored clothes in an inconspicuous spot (e.g., the hem or inside seam) first to ensure the colors don't fade. To test, dip a cotton swab in the hydrogen peroxide, and rub it on the fabric. If color transfers to the swab, don't proceed. 

    To treat stains, pour or spray a small amount of hydrogen peroxide on the stain. Allow it to soak into the fabric for about 10 minutes before washing the garment as usual.

  • 03 of 05

    Deodorize Clothes and Towels

    hydrogen peroxide with towels and clothing

    The Spruce / Ana Cadena 

    Mix 1/2 cup of hydrogen peroxide with enough water to completely submerge the smelly items such as musty towels or stinky tennis shoes. Allow them to soak for at least 15 minutes (30 minutes is possible). Then, wash as usual.

    For an entire washer load of towels or foul-smelling athletic gear, add 1 cup of hydrogen peroxide. Give the fabric time to soak (up to an hour). Then add detergent and wash with hot water.

  • 04 of 05

    Brighten Colored Clothes

    hydrogen peroxide and bright clothing

    The Spruce / Ana Cadena

    Colored clothes can become dull from body soil and detergent residue trapped in the fibers. You can brighten them with the mild bleaching action of hydrogen peroxide. Remember, never pour full-strength hydrogen peroxide directly onto colored fabrics unless you have tested them first for colorfastness.

    The easiest way to use hydrogen peroxide to brighten colored fabrics is to pour 1 cup into the bleach dispenser. It will be added during the wash cycle when there is enough water to dilute it. If you don't have a dispenser, dilute 1 cup of 3% hydrogen peroxide with 2 cups of water, and add that to the empty washer drum. Then, load your colored clothes, and wash as usual.

    Continue to 5 of 5 below
  • 05 of 05

    Clean and Disinfect a Clothes Washer

    cleaning a washer with hydrogen peroxide

    The Spruce / Ana Cadena 

    High-efficiency front-load washers are notorious for developing smelly odors, especially in high-humidity areas. The odor comes from mold and mildew growth on detergent and fabric softener residue left inside the washer drum and on rubber door seals due to overdosing. 

    When your washer needs cleaning, add 2 cups of hydrogen peroxide to the empty washer drum. Then, run a hot water wash cycle to make your washer smell fresh and clean. A monthly cleaning will usually prevent a stinky repeat.

Hydrogen Peroxide vs. Bleach

Hydrogen peroxide and chlorine bleach remove stains and whiten, brighten, and disinfect fabrics. Chlorine bleach is much stronger than hydrogen peroxide and is too harsh to use on spandex, wool, silk, mohair, leather, and rubber. You can safely use chlorine bleach on cotton, polyester, nylon, acrylic, and rayon. That said, always check the clothing’s care label to see if it can be bleached.

To whiten and sanitize clothes, add chlorine bleach to the bleach dispenser, or dilute in cold water and wait 5 minutes before adding it to the washing machine, and use the hot water cycle.

You can use hydrogen peroxide to bleach most fabrics if the garment is colorfast. Oxygen bleach is the most gentle bleaching agent—it removes stains and brightens laundry, and it’s safe to use on almost all types of washable white or colored fabrics. It doesn’t have the same disinfecting properties as hydrogen peroxide or chlorine bleach, however.

Other Uses for Hydrogen Peroxide

Beyond laundry, hydrogen peroxide can help you disinfect, sanitize, deodorize, and clean around your home. Here are just a few examples of how to use this versatile household ingredient:

  • Disinfect kitchen sponges, cutting boards, toothbrushes and mouthguards, beauty and manicure tools, garden tools, and kids' and pets' toys.
  • Deodorize feet with a bacteria-killing foot soak.
  • Wipe away soap scum from bathroom and kitchen surfaces.
  • Get tough stains, like grass, coffee, blood, and wine, out of carpet and clothes.
  • Remove stains from marble.
  • Lighten and remove mildew from grout.
  • Kill mold from washing machines, humidifiers, and walls.
  • Sanitize your fridge and toilet.

Tips for Using Hydrogen Peroxide in Laundry

There are a number of best practices you'll want to keep in mind when using hydrogen peroxide in your laundry including:

  • Never mix hydrogen peroxide with household ammonia, chlorine bleach, or vinegar in a closed container: Dangerous gases can form if you mix these together.
  • Skip using chlorine bleach and hydrogen peroxide in the same washing cycle: Combining the two won't double the whiteness of dingy laundry. The sodium hypochlorite of the chlorine bleach is a much more potent oxidant and will immediately break down the hydrogen peroxide into just plain water. So opt for one or the other in each load.
  • Don't store hydrogen peroxide in clear containers: It is highly light-sensitive, which is why it is sold in dark containers. It will lose its cleaning ability if transferred to a clear container; instead, add a spray nozzle directly to the dark bottle to easily spot-clean stains.
  • Use hydrogen peroxide within six months of opening: It is most effective when freshly opened but will still provide cleaning and disinfecting qualities for this time. Eventually, the hydrogen and oxygen molecules will revert into a bottle of plain water. An unopened bottle of hydrogen peroxide has a shelf life of around one year.

What Is Hydrogen Peroxide?

Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is an oxidizing agent used as laundry bleach. The best choice for laundry is the 3% solution sold in drug stores as a first-aid disinfectant. It is safe to use on all washable, dye-stable fabrics. Just like other oxygen-based bleaches, hydrogen peroxide breaks down safely into water and oxygen and is a more environmentally friendly bleach than chlorine bleach (sodium hypochlorite).

FAQ
  • How long should you soak stained clothes in hydrogen peroxide?

    If you’re spot-treating a stain, allow the hydrogen peroxide to sit for 10 minutes. If you’re submerging clothes in a solution of hydrogen peroxide and water to deodorize smelly laundry, soak for 15 to 30 minutes before machine washing.

  • Which is better for laundry, vinegar or hydrogen peroxide?

    It depends. Hydrogen peroxide is better for getting rid of tough stains and whitening whites. Vinegar, on the other hand, does a better job at removing residue from clothing and hard water build-up. Vinegar also is great for whitening clothing without bleach.

  • What happens if you mix hydrogen peroxide with laundry detergent?

    When you mix hydrogen peroxide with laundry detergent, you create a stronger cleaning solution. The hydrogen peroxide works as a natural bleaching agent, helping to both brighten and remove stains from your laundry.

  • When should you not use hydrogen peroxide in laundry?

    Hydrogen peroxide can stain fabric that is not dye-stable. Always test colored clothes to see if they are colorfast in an inconspicuous spot before using.