The same applies to vinegar and rubbing alcohol, both of which should never be mixed with bleach.

If there are no words on the tag, look for a triangle shape with an open center. This is the symbol for an item that can be bleached. [6] X Research source Also look for the fabric composition of the item. If it’s cotton mixed with spandex, wool, or silk, avoid bleaching it since these materials can be ruined by bleach.

You can also use regular chlorine bleach on a colored garment if you’re trying to lighten the color of the entire item. You should be very careful while using Clorox. Even if it splashes on a garment by mistake, it will pull out the color of that garment automatically. [9] X Expert Source Robert ShapiroLaundry Specialist Expert Interview. 24 August 2021.

If you’re attempting to lighten the color of the fabric, leave it in chlorine bleach for up to 10 minutes.

Use about ½ cup (120 mL) of bleach for a full-sized load. If there are any items with color in this load, use only non-chlorine bleach.