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Can You Bleach Polyester Cotton Blends?

80% cotton 20% polyester tag

Can you bleach cotton polyester blends? Learn how to safely bleach polyester cotton blends including 50 cotton 50 polyester and 60 cotton 40 polyester fabrics.

More from Clorox experts

Question

How do you whiten cotton/polyester blends?

Answer

Cotton/polyester blend white fabrics can be safely washed with Clorox® Disinfecting Bleach on an on-going basis. Always wash whites in hot water – or the hottest water recommended on a care label. It’s also important to use enough bleach. In a standard washer, use ⅓ cup Clorox® Disinfecting Bleach for normal size loads, and up to ⅔ cup for extra-large or heavily soiled loads.  For best results you (again in a standard washer) dilute the measured bleach in 1 quart of water and add it to the clothes washer 5 minutes after the wash cycle has begun.

If you have a HE washer, fill the bleach dispenser to the “max-fill” line. For heavily soiled laundry, consider washing two smaller loads.

For extra whitening or heavily stained items, use a bleach soaking solution of 1/4 cup Clorox® Disinfecting Bleach per gallon of water.  Fully submerge the item for 5 minutes, then rinse.  Finish by washing the item in hot water, using detergent + ⅓ cup Clorox® Disinfecting Bleach.