Your bleach isn’t destined to a life in the laundry room. Some unlikely surfaces are fine to clean with bleach, like stainless steel, glazed ceramic tile, and sealed granite (among others).
Mary Gagliardi, cleaning expert for Clorox, shares with us all the items you can clean with bleach that you might not be considering and prescribes the winning bleach formulas for cleaning the most unexpected items in your home.
From fighting stains and bacteria on pet items to keeping the exterior of your home pristine, these are the items you can safely bleach, according to a pro.
Meet the Expert
Mary Gagliardi (also known as Dr. Laundry), is an in-house scientist and cleaning expert for Clorox.
Pet Bed Covers
If your pet’s bed has a cover, chances are it’s both removable and made of polyester, a safe fabric for bleach, says Gagliardi. Though, she still recommends testing for colorfastness on a hidden part of the cover before you commit to the process.
Once you get the green light…
- Start vacuuming the bed to remove as much pet hair.
- Be sure to zip the opening closed before laundering and add a bleach-safe white towel to balance the washer.
- Use detergent and 1/3 cup bleach with the load—just be sure to place them in the right dispensers so they release at the appropriate times.
- Once the cycle is complete, place the still-damp cover back on the bed. Prop it up in a place that allows for good air circulation.
- Be sure it’s completely dry before you allow your pet to use it again.
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Cleaning Tip
Bleach must always be used as directed. That means getting the dilution ratios right and never using your bleach at full strength.
Home Exterior
If you’re only harnessing the power of bleach inside your home, prepare to be amazed when you bring this cleaning ingredient outdoors.
Because this job can get messy, the laundry and cleaning pro suggests protective eyewear, gloves, and old clothes that you won’t mind potentially getting bleach splattered.
To avoid harming plants with runoff, water any nearby plants before you start the job, Gagliardi says.
- According to Gagliardi, a solution of 1/3 cup bleach per gallon of water can be used to clean non-porous exterior surfaces including siding, stucco, and painted wood, by applying to the surface and keeping it wet for 10 minutes, scrubbing as needed.
- Be sure to avoid contact with aluminum, Gagliardi warns. If your bleach solution comes in contact with aluminum, rinse it immediately.
- Finish up the process by watering the plants affected by the cleaning runoff once more before finishing the job.
Pet Blankets
According to Gagliardi, just like pet beds, blankets that are made specifically for pets are oftentimes both polyester and bleachable. If you’re unsure though, go ahead and try an inconspicuous part of the blanket for colorfastness before proceeding with a cleaning routine.
- Shake off excessive pet fur before bringing the item to the laundromat.
- Include two to three additional blankets to balance the drum during spin cycles, Gagliardi says.
- Use a delicate cycle with hot water and, if possible, an extra rinse.
- Gagliardi prescribes detergent and 1/3 cup of bleach for the wash cycle and finishing with a tumble dry.
Water Bottles and Coffee Tumblers
Water bottles and coffee tumblers are tricky to clean, but bleach can make quick and efficient work of the process. Gagliardi advises pre-washing tumblers, lids, caps, and water bottles with dish soap and water before rinsing.
Next, create a solution of two teaspoons of bleach mixed with a gallon of water. Soak all of your items in the solution for two minutes then remove and allow them to air dry completely—no rinsing required.
Stained Dishes
Stained coffee cups, plasticware, and more are no longer destined for the trash bin as long as you’re armed with a little bleach.
Use a solution of two teaspoons per gallon of water and soak the stained items for two minutes, Gagliardi says. Allow the items to air dry (once again, no rinsing required) completely before using or storing.
Litter Boxes
The disinfecting power of bleach makes it a huge cleaning asset throughout your home, especially when it comes to items like litter boxes.
“It’s easy to tune these out as you periodically add more cat litter to replace what you scoop out, but cat litter boxes do need periodic disinfecting,” Gagliardi says.
- Remove litter and wipe out any debris in the box.
- Create a solution of 1/3 cup bleach with a gallon of water and use this solution to wipe down the litterbox, reapplying it to the sponge as needed.
- Keep the surface wet for six minutes to benefit from its full disinfecting power.
- Rinse the litter box clean and allow it to fully dry before adding the litter back.