Know when to use chlorine bleach and when to avoid it

For cotton only, dilute chlorine bleach (sodium hypochlorite) according to label directions and wash in cold water (25°C). Never use chlorine bleach on linen — research shows it causes shrinkage 2-4 times beyond permissible standards and degrades the fiber's structural and strength characteristics.

Why It Matters

Chlorine bleach is a powerful, non-selective oxidizer that attacks both stain molecules and cellulose fiber. Cotton's higher cellulose content (90%) and simpler single-cell structure tolerate this better than linen, whose pectin-bonded multi-cell structure and lower cellulose content (65-80%) make it far more vulnerable. Repeated chlorine bleaching weakens even cotton over time.

Tips

• Never use on linen — use oxygen bleach instead
• On cotton, use cold water and dilute concentrations to minimize fiber damage
• Do not combine with ammonia or vinegar
• Oxygen bleach achieves similar whitening on cotton with far less fiber damage