Question
I workout often, and it seems some shirts have a permanent odor of sweat or mold. Will Clorox 2® help on my colored laundry?
Answer
The bleach active in Clorox 2® For Colors 3-in-1 Liquid, hydrogen peroxide, is a gentle bleach, making it safe for almost all washable colored items. However, it isn’t EPA registered, so we can’t make germ kill claims for the product. You may actually be able to use Clorox® Disinfecting Bleach to safely wash some of your workout clothes provided they are colorfast to bleach and don’t contain any spandex. You’ll need to check the items with a quick bleachability test as follows:
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- Mix a test solution by diluting 2 tsp Clorox® Disinfecting Bleach in ¼ cup water
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- Apply a drop to a hidden part of the item such as an inside hem, cuff, or seam. Wait one minute and then rinse and blot dry
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- No color change means the item can be safely bleached
For items that don’t pass the bleachability test, you the can try the following to deodorize extra smelly gym clothes:
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- Always wash in the hottest water recommended on the item’s care label.
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- Pre-soak with Clorox 2® For Colors 3-in-1 Liquid before washing. Use a ratio of 1 capful of Clorox 2® For Colors 3-in-1 Liquid to 1 quart of water; fully submerge the items for up to 1 hour. Drain the soaking solution before washing.
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- Wash any items of particular concern separately from other items to avoid germ transfer
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- Use the hottest dryer setting recommended on the care label, and dry items separately – or at least with some white towels so the items tumble properly in the dryer.
Periodically run a washer clean-out cycle with an empty washer and Clorox® Disinfecting Bleach to be sure the clothes washer is clean and smells from soil build ups inside the washer don’t transfer to other loads.
