5 More Things To Do with Bleach
Updated: Mar. 20, 2019
Keep bleach in your home? Put it to work with these innovative new household uses.
Bleach and ammonia are both useful for removing mold and mildew inside and outside your home. However, the two should never be used together.
1. Make a Household Disinfectant Spray
Looking for a good, all-purpose disinfectant to use around the house? Mix 1 tablespoon bleach in 3.7 litres hot water. Then fill a clean, empty spray bottle and use it on a paper towel to clean countertops, tablecloths, lawn furniture – basically, wherever it’s needed. Just be sure not to use it in the presence of ammonia or other household cleaners.
Take Care: Some folks skip the bleach when cleaning their toilets, fearing that lingering ammonia from urine – especially in households with young children – could result in toxic fumes. Unless you are sure there is no such problem, you may want to stick with ammonia for this job.
2. Get Rid of Moss and Algae
To remove slippery and unsightly moss and algae on your brick, concrete, or stone walkways, scrub them with a solution of ¾ cup bleach in 3.7 litres water. Be careful not to get bleach on your grass or ornamental plants.
3. Disinfect Trash Cans
Even the best housekeepers must confront a gunked-up kitchen garbage pail every now and then. On such occasions, take the pail outside, and flush out any loose debris with a garden hose. Then add ½ to 1 cup bleach and several drops of dishwashing liquid to 3.7 litres warm water. Use a toilet brush or long-handled scrub brush to splash and scour the solution on the bottom and sides of the container. Empty, then rinse with the hose, empty it again, and let air-dry.
4. Sanitize Garden Tools
You cut that diseased stalk off your rosebush with your branch clipper. Unless you want to spread the disease the next time you use the tool, sterilize it by washing it with ½ cup bleach in 1 litre water. Let the tool air-dry in the sun, then rub on a few drops of oil to prevent rust.
5. Clean off Bathroom Mold
Bleach and ammonia are both useful for removing mold and mildew inside and outside your home. However, the two should never be used together. Bleach is especially suited for the following chores:
– Get mold and mildew off your shower curtains. Wash them – along with a couple of bath towels (to prevent the plastic from crinkling) – in warm water with ½ cup bleach and ¼ cup laundry detergent. Let the washer run for a couple minutes before loading. Put the shower curtain and towels in the dryer on the lowest temperature setting for 10 minutes, then immediately hang-dry.
– Rid your rubber shower mat of mildew. Soak in a solution of 1/8 cup chlorine bleach in 3.7 litres of water for 3-4 hours. Rinse well.
– Remove mold and mildew from the grout between your bathroom tiles. Mix equal parts of chlorine bleach and water in a spray bottle, and spray it over gout. Let it sit for 15 minutes, then scrub with a stiff brush and rinse off. You can also do this just to make your grout look whiter.
