A Complete Guide To Chlorine and Non chlorine Bleach Uses

The easiest way to understand chlorine and non-chlorine bleach is that chlorine bleach is not safe for colorful garments, while non-chlorine bleach can be used for colorful items.

Bleach is a chemically formed product that is utilized domestically or industrially to remove colors from fabric, remove stains, whiten the fabric, or clean the fiber.

What is Chlorine Bleach?

Chlorine bleach is a chemical item that is widely used for removing stains, and disinfection purposes. It can be formed by using a considerable amount of percent active chlorine. Many bleach products include such ingredients, whether they are household cleaning products, disinfection liquids for hospitals, public health, water chlorination, or other industrial processes. This type of chlorine is often referred to as percent active chlorine, which means 1 gram of active chlorine is equal to the 1 gram of elemental chlorine.

There are other types of chlorine as well. sodium hypochlorite, chlorine dioxide, monochloramine, halazone, chlorine gas, bleaching powder, and dichloro-isocyanurate are the prominent types of chlorine. Sodium hypochlorite is usually known as liquid bleach as it contains 3 - 6% of solution in water. In the past, it was called “javel water”. It is very useful in household and other domestic purposes: to brighten the white fabric, clean and disinfect the hard surfaces in kitchens and bathrooms, keep swimming pools virus-free, clean water for drinking, etc.

Similarly, bleaching powder was previously known as chlorinated lime. it is formed by a mixture of calcium chloride, calcium hypochlorite, and calcium hydroxide. It can be easily found in the market as a white powder often comes in the form of white tablets that contain chlorine.

What is Non Chlorine Bleach?

Non-chlorine bleach is also a chemical product but it does not contain it in abundance. It consists of hydrogen peroxide, sodium percarbonate, and sodium perborate. This bleach is commonly known as oxygen bleach, all-fabric bleach, color-safe bleach, peroxide bleach, and Clorox 2. Chlorine bleach can not be used for colored items but this bleach is safe for all types of colored products. There is no harm in using this agent for white items like cotton, polyester, nylon, spandex, rayon and acrylic.

Difference between Chlorine and Non-Chlorine Bleach

In chlorine bleach, the amount of chlorine is considerably high while in non-chlorine bleach, no or very low amount of chlorine is present. Chlorine bleach is not suitable for colored items while non-chlorine bleach is recommended for colored products. Chlorine bleach is formed by sodium hypochlorite and dichloro-isocyanurate. On the other hand, non-chlorine bleach is composed of hydrogen peroxide, sodium perborate, and sodium percarbonate.

Conclusion

As we have discussed the applications of both types of bleaches, we can conclude that both have their roles for domestic and commercial purposes. Both are used for disinfecting and cleaning. The major difference between chlorine and non-chlorine bleach is the amount of chlorine chemical. That is why, chlorine bleach is not supposed to be safe for colored items while non-chlorine bleach is recommended for colored items.

FAQs

What is the difference between chlorine and non-chlorine bleach?

Chlorine bleach contains a high percentage of actives while non-chlorine bleach does not have active agents like sodium hypochlorite but comprises other actives such as sodium perborate, sodium carbonate, and hydrogen peroxide.

Is chlorine harmful?

Chlorine in small amounts is not harmful but exposure to its higher percentage can cause damage to your health such as breathing issues, vomiting, and eyes or nose burn, etc.

Which chlorine is more useful?

Trichlor is widely used on the domestic level, especially for cleaning and disinfecting pools. However, it has a high amount of chlorine which can affect the pH level of the pool slightly but still, it is a better form of chlorine.

Can chlorine cause damage to your skin?

Yes. Extended exposure to chlorine can cause serious damage to your skin including dryness, premature aging, and sensitivity problems. It is necessary to take precautionary measures and skin care routines to prevent any loss.