Bleach is powerful, which is exactly why it needs to be used correctly. Get the ratio and timing right and white clothes come out bright and stain-free, wash after wash, without the fabric wearing thin.
1. Sort before you soak
Bleach is strictly for whites and colourfast whites-with-white-trim. Even a single stray coloured sock in the mix can discolour an entire load, so always sort first.
2. Get the ratio right
Mix around 30ml of Miss Chemist Bleach with 4 litres of water for a standard soak — more isn't better, it just increases the risk of fabric damage over time.
3. Timing matters more than strength
Soak for no more than 5 minutes. Stains lift within this window; leaving clothes in longer doesn't clean them any better; it just weakens the fibres.
4. Never mix with other cleaners
Never combine bleach with other cleaning products, especially anything acid-based like toilet cleaners — mixing can release harmful fumes. Use it on its own, in a well-ventilated space.
5. Rinse thoroughly
After soaking, rinse clothes in clean water at least twice before regular washing to make sure no residue is left sitting against the fabric.
Used this way, bleach is a safe, effective way to keep whites looking genuinely white — not just "less grey."