When your clothes get stained, a good way to clean them is by bleaching them. However, that’s not always the best idea. Of course, it can work for light-colored clothes mostly. But have you ever spilled one drop of bleach onto a black T-shirt, only to see the color turn to an ugly orange-pink in that spot?
Make sure that before you throw just about any piece of clothing in bleach, you read a guide that will show you how to properly bleach clothes. Now, on to the main topic — how can you remove the bleach smell from clothes…
1. Wash the Clothes With Detergent and Laundry Conditioner
If you just finished bleaching some clothes, and the smell still lingers, you could do another wash. Because bleach smell is not always that easy to remove, try washing the clothes again, but using only fresh-scented laundry detergent.
You could use just a small amount of detergent, or set them on the quick program, if you want them to be done faster. In addition, if you want your clothes to be soft and smell good, add a laundry conditioner too. It will give your clothes a nice, fresh scent, which can last, and cover the bleach smell.
2. Deodorize Your Clothes With Baking Soda
Baking soda is a miracle product that can clean different things. You can set your clothes in the washing machine with ¼ cup of baking soda instead of laundry detergent. Start the washing machine (on the complete cycle), and let the baking soda work its magic. By the end of the cycle, your clothes should be odorless.
3. Use Vinegar to Remove Bleach Smell
Vinegar can help you get rid of the bleach smell too. However, it’s worth mentioning that it has a smell of its own too. It will dissipate quickly, but it can be really pungent at first.
The best way to use vinegar to remove the smell of bleach is to add ¼ cup vinegar to the washing machine. Don’t skip the laundry detergent, though — just add the vinegar in addition to the detergent. Then, start your washing machine normally, by using the laundry detergent and vinegar mixture. By the end of the cycle, the vinegar should remove the bleach smell.
Furthermore, vinegar acts as a great fabric softener. So, if you want to get the added benefit of soft clothes too, use vinegar as a natural alternative.
4. Air-Dry Your Clothes
Just like opening windows to help with ventilation works well in a house, air-drying your clothes can help you get rid of bleach odor.
Try hanging the clothes on cloth hangers, as they keep the fabric stretched so it would dry faster. An added bonus is that your clothes are almost wrinkle-free when completely dry.
