如果你在清洁产品中寻找漂白剂的使用，你会经常阅读相互矛盾的令人困惑的建议 – 其中一些建议只基于谣言和异端。
在真正的安全居家清洁方式中，我认为现在是时候研究这个课题，了解清洁产品中使用的漂白剂的类型，研究使用它们的好处和风险，并基本上，为您使用漂白剂做出明智的决定提供所需的信息。
有不同类型的漂白剂吗？
漂白剂有几种类型。这些不同种类的漂白剂用于不同目的，包括消毒医疗设备；木材脱色；净化污水/游泳池，用于家居清洁产品。三种最常见的漂白剂是：
- 氯化漂白剂（例如次氯酸钠）
最常见的家用漂白剂。这种成分通常被称为“漂白剂”。通常在厨房和浴室洗洁用品中找到。 - 过氧化物或氧化漂（例如过氧化氢，过碳酸钠）
通常用于洗衣洗涤剂，以去除漂白衣物和去除污渍。 - 减少漂白剂（例如连二亚硫酸钠，二氧化硫脲）
这些硫磺漂白剂用于更专业的用途，例如：木材脱色。它们的毒性通常更大，因此在家中很少使用。
为什么漂白剂会添加到清洁产品中？
有两个主要原因将漂白剂添加到家用清洁产品中。首先，在厨房和浴室清洁剂中，氯漂白剂通过破坏必需蛋白质的结构杀死微生物 – 表面消毒。
家用漂白剂的另一个用途是在洗衣液中直接改变污迹色斑（发色团）的结构，因此它们不再吸收可见光。使它们看起来更白，更亮。
值得关注的是，氯漂白剂可以使衣服褪色，损坏颜色，使黄变白色并且还会损坏织物。这就是为什么近年来氧气和过氧化物漂白剂在织物处理中的使用呈指数增长的原因。
当然，最后，所有类型的漂白剂都会杀死细菌并为衣物除臭。
将漂白剂富含在洗洁产品中有很多很好的理由。它是一种多功能且广泛使用的成分。但是使用漂白剂有什么风险？
家用漂白剂可能对患有哮喘和皮肤病（例如湿疹）或频繁接触的人有害。据估计，约所有哮喘发作的风险中室内暴露于漂白剂等化学物质占了15％。吸入过氧化氢会导致气道狭窄和喉痉挛。氯和过氧化物漂白剂都会形成具刺激性的挥发性有机化合物（VOCs） – 包括四氯化碳。
所以我们的建议很简单，所有类型的家用洗洁漂白剂都应该在通风良好的地方使用。
此外，家用洗洁产品中发现的漂白剂具有强腐蚀性。漂白剂的“滑溜”感是由于皮肤中的脂肪酸转化为皂衍生物（皂化），这就是为什么必须彻底冲洗暴露的皮肤。有趣的是，非常低浓度的次氯酸钠浴（0.005％）已被证明可以降低患有特应性皮炎儿童的金黄色葡萄球菌感染严重程度。
因此，有理由在健康方面使用漂白剂时要谨慎。使用漂白剂会对环境造成影响吗？
除了与家用漂白剂相关的健康问题之外，它们对水域系统的污染通常也是一个问题。
虽然没有真正的绿色清洁产品，但这里不同类型的家用漂白剂之间存在明显的差异。
过氧化氢分解为氧气和水。
过碳酸钠分解为过氧化氢和苏打灰。
这两种成分对环境的影响可以忽略不计。
另一方面，氯漂白剂是不稳定。在环境中漂白剂长期的积累是不太可能的。事实上，欧盟和美国环保署都认为，即使在相对较高的浓度下，正常使用的漂白剂对环境风险也可以忽略不计。
也就是说，经常忽略氯漂白剂来自有机氯化学品系列。这些化合物需要几个世纪才能分解，绿色和平组织要求完全终止有机氯的生产。
如何识别产品成分标签上的漂白剂？
与大多数洗洁产品一样，尝试识别成分标签上的漂白剂通常很复杂且不清楚。制造商通常不会透露其成分。标签通常列明“氯漂白剂”（次氯酸钠）或“氧基漂白剂”（过氧化氢或过碳酸钠），而未列出化学成分。
当然，我们会随时向您通报洗洁产品中漂白剂的用途和类型，我们只会审查那些完全被我们披露成分的产品！
通常的家用漂白剂有更安全的替代品吗？
有几种家庭成分可以具有温和的漂白效果，不含漂白剂。这些通常是弱酸性物质，有助于以与漂白剂相当的方式去除污渍（它们需要更长时间），包括：
- 醋酸（白醋）
- 柠檬酸（柠檬汁）
稀释溶液是很重要的，就使用水和酸制作，清洗后要小心洗去酸。由于这些酸可以起到温和的漂白作用，它们也可以脱色，因此在开始之前一定要测试一小块区域。
[注意：切勿将含有漂白剂的洗洁产品与家用酸混合，否则会形成有害的氯气。]
你更喜欢什么类型的漂白剂？
每种漂白剂都有自己的优点和缺点。而且，必须注意的是，它们都不是完全安全的或绿色的。
因为它们会加剧哮喘和湿疹，所有这些都只能用于通风良好的区域。
从环境角度来看，过氧化氢和过碳酸钠对环境的影响可以忽略不计，而氯有一些可疑的制造费用。
从性能的角度来看 – 如果我把衣服变白，我每次都会选择过碳酸钠或过氧化氢。氯基漂白剂会长期损坏衣服。
作为消毒剂，这三种都是有效的抗菌剂。
考虑到这一点，因此我个人完全停止使用氯漂白剂，每次都选择过氧化氢或过碳酸钠漂白剂。并且极少只在衣服上使用这些。
资料来源：https://www.safehouseholdcleaning.com/bleaches-cleaning-products/
If you search for the use of bleaches in cleaning products, you’ll often read conflicting confusing advice – some of which based on nothing more than rumour and heresy. Click bait.
In true Safe Household Cleaning fashion, I thought it high time to look into this topic, get an understanding of the types of bleaches used in cleaning products, research the benefits and risks of using them and, essentially, give you the information you need to make an informed decision on your usage of bleach.
Are there different types of bleach?
There are several types of bleach. These different kinds of bleaches are used for different purposes, including sterilizing medical equipment; decolorizing wood; decontaminating sewage/swimming pools and used in household cleaning products. The three most common types of bleach are:
- Chlorinated-Bleaches (e.g. sodium hypochlorite)
The most common household bleach. Often the ingredient referred to as ‘bleach’. Normally found in kitchen and bathroom cleaners. - Peroxide or Oxygen-Bleaches (e.g. hydrogen peroxide, sodium percarbonate)
Commonly found in laundry detergents to remove whiten clothes and remove stains. - Reducing Bleaches (e.g. sodium dithionite, thiourea dioxide)
These sulphur bleaches are used for more specialized purposes, such as: decolorizing wood. They are often more toxic, and so rarely used in the home.
Why are bleaches added to cleaning products?
There are two main reasons to add bleach to household cleaning products. Firstly, in kitchen and bathroom cleaners, chlorine bleaches help to kill microorganisms by disrupting the structure of essential proteins – disinfecting surfaces.
Another use for household bleaches is in laundry detergents to directly alter the structure of colour stains (chromophores), so they no longer absorb visible light. Making them appear whiter and brighter.
It’s worth noting that chlorine bleaches can fade clothes, damage colours, yellow whites and also damage fabrics. It’s why the use of oxygen and peroxide bleaches has increased exponentially in fabric treatment in recent years.
Of course, and finally, all forms of bleach kill bacteria and deodorize clothes.
There are many great reasons to include bleaches in cleaning products. It’s a versatile and widely used ingredient. But what are the risks of using bleaches?
Household bleaches can be harmful to those with asthma and skin conditions (e.g. eczema), or on frequent exposure. It’s estimated that indoor exposure to chemicals such as bleach are responsible for around 15% of all asthma attacks. Inhaling Hydrogen Peroxide can cause narrowing of the airways and laryngospasm. Both chlorine and peroxide bleaches can form irritant volatile organic compounds (VOCs) – including carbon tetrachloride.
So our advice is simple, all forms of household cleaning bleach should be used in well-ventilated areas.In addition, the bleaches found in household cleaning products are strongly corrosive. The ‘slippery’ feeling of bleaches is due to the conversion of fatty acids in the skin to soap derivatives (saponification), which is why it’s essential to thoroughly rinse exposed skin. Interestingly, very low concentration sodium hypochlorite baths (0.005%) have been shown to reduce the severity of Staphylococcus aureus infections in children with atopic dermatitis.
So there are reasons to be cautious when using bleaches on health grounds. Are there any environmental impacts in using bleaches?
In addition to the health concerns associated with household bleaches, their contamination into water systems is often stated as a concern.
While there is no such thing as a truly green cleaning product, there are stark differences between the different types of household bleaches here.
Hydrogen Peroxide breaks down to oxygen and water.
Sodium Percarbonate breaks down to Hydrogen Peroxide and Soda Ash.
The environmental impact of these two ingredients is negligible.
Chorine bleaches, on the other hand, are unstable. Long-term accumulation of bleach on the environment is unlikely. In fact, both the EU and EPA consider the environmental risk of bleaches in normal use, even at relatively high concentrations, as negligible.
That said, it’s often overlooked that Chlorine Bleaches are from the organochlorine family of chemicals. These compounds take centuries to decompose and Greenpeace has called for a complete end to organochlorine production.
How do I identify bleaches on the product ingredients label?
As with most cleaning products, trying to identify bleach on ingredient labels is often complex and unclear. Manufacturers often don’t disclose their ingredients. Labels often state ‘chlorine-bleach’ (sodium hypochlorite) or ‘oxygen-based bleaching agents’ (hydrogen peroxide or sodium percarbonate), without listing the chemical ingredient.
Of course, we’ll keep you informed of the use and type of bleaches in cleaning products, and we only ever review products where we have full disclosure of the ingredients!
Are there any safer alternatives to the usual household bleaches?
There are several household ingredients that can have mild bleaching effects, without containing bleach. These are usually mild acids, and help to remove stains in a comparable way to bleaches (they just take a lot longer), including:
Acetic acid (white vinegar)
Citric acid (lemon juice)
It’s important to make a dilute solution, with water and the acid, and carefully wash the acid away after cleaning. As these acids act as mild bleaches, they can also decolorize, and so make sure to test a small area before starting.
[Note: Never mix bleach-containing cleaning products with household acids, as this will result in the formation of harmful chlorine gas.]
What type of bleach do you prefer?
Each bleach has its own strengths and weaknesses. And again, it must be noted that none of them are fully safe or green.
All of them should only be used in well-ventilated areas as they can exacerbate asthma and eczema.
From an environmental perspective, Hydrogen Peroxide and Sodium Percarbonate have negligible effects on the environment, whereas chlorine has some questionable manufacturing overheads.
From a performance perspective – I’d go for Sodium Percarbonate or Hydrogen Peroxide every time if I as whitening my clothes. Chlorine-based bleaches damage clothes long term.
As a disinfectant, all three are effective anti-bacterial agents.
So with this in mind, I’ve personally stopped using chlorine bleaches altogether and I go for Hydrogen Peroxide or Sodium Percarbonate bleaches every time. And only use these rarely on clothes.
Source: https://www.safehouseholdcleaning.com/bleaches-cleaning-products/
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