Bleach FAQ's

Q. HOW DO I STORE AND TRANSPORT BLEACH?

Store bleach in a cool, dark place, out of reach of children & well below 25 C.When in-store, always check the lid is secure before placing in trolley and at home- always replace the lid securely

Q. DOES BLEACH HAVE A USE-BY DATE?

Yes it does. Bleach is one of those household chemicals that lose its activity over time. It doesn’t matter whether or not the bleach container has been opened or not. Temperature is the primary factor affecting how long bleach remains active. If stored in a cool dark place White King’s range of bleached aims to maintain a 4% hypochlorite concentration for 12 months. Be aware that due to the corrosive nature of bleach, Pental advise to discard out of date bleach in an effort to avoid potential bottle leaks. This can be done by pouring the remaining bleach down the toilet and recycling the bottle.

Q. WHAT HAPPENS TO BLEACH AFTER THE USE-BY-DATE?

Bleach is highly corrosive; it can eat thru almost anything, that is why it is so effective! But because we are all so used it being part of the household cleaning arsenal, the hazards it may cause and the care it demands are often unwittingly overlooked. Once your bleach is past the use-by date the formula may start to break down, the active ingredients settle at the bottom while the water remains at the top- and this is when it can start eating into the inner membrane of the bottle and then through the plastic itself. Worthy of note is that ALL HOUSEHOLD cleaning products including detergents, fabric softeners, stain removers etc. have a shelf life of 18 months at most usually, so anything older must always be disposed of.

Q. ARE SOME FABRICS TOO DELICATE FOR BLEACH?

Yes, Do not use on silk, wool, leather, viscose, rayon, tencil, or drip dry fabrics

Q. WHAT TYPE OF STAINS IS BLEACH INEFFECTIVE ON?

Bleach is alkaline; therefore it reacts with acids such as urine stains or fruit juices. For these types off stains do not use bleach. Instead mix one tablespoon of dish washing liquid with two cups of cold water in a small bowl, dip a clean white cloth into the solution and apply directly on the stain. Using a dry cloth (with no solution), gently blot the affected area until it’s dry then wash as normal.

Q. CAN YOU USE BLEACH ON METALS?

Bleach is corrosive as well as being a very strong oxidiser. Bleach will cause almost any metal to oxidise and can ever eat away at stainless steel, so it is vitally important that if you must treat metals with bleach that you wipe down the surfaces with water or ethanol afterwards. For delicate metal instruments, consider avoiding bleach altogether and using a different kind of disinfectant, such as ethanol.

Q. WILL BLEACH HARM MY PLANTS?

The potential for damage depends up the dilution rate and the care taken before, during, and after the job. If the plants are misted beforehand, and then rinsed carefully right afterwards, you shouldn’t experience much of a problem. Another point to consider is damage that might be done internally to any plants when using bleach so consider the soil moisture level when the pressure washing is done. The drier the soil, the more likely that the bleach may do damage internally to the plant if it is absorbed into the root system. The wetter the soil, the less likely any damage will be done since the bleach can be diluted by the soil moisture before any may be taken up by the plant.