Don't have one of the machines that you are talking about - but yes, I regularly use bleach for some types of loads.

I follow the directions etc and no issues.

If you go the Clorox site you will get a lot of very good information about why and how to use bleach.

They also have information about the origin of the Clorox company (very interesting)

Check out the link on Bleach Myths.

I don't have a washer with a heater but I do not use bleach. For whites washed in hot water I use Oxyclean. Bleach is too toxic.

timindy, I checked out the Clorox website and seriously disagree with their statement about LCB not having a negative effect on the environment. That webiste has the purpose of marketing their products, so of course they don't want to admitt that the use of LCB is controversial and problematic.
LCB does not just react to NaCl and other harmless substances after usage. It can, in fact, create very undesirable by-products. This is the main reason that LCB is not used for laundry purposes in Europe. Using LCB for water treatment is also controversial and we have seen first-hand that it can cause problems. For a while the local water treatment facility had difficulties removing chlorinated organic substances out of the drinking water and they sent out flyers with a warning not to drink large amounts of tab water.

Another reason not to use LCB is the fact that I can't stand the nasty chlorine smell that gets left behind in towels and clothes. And it causes more wear and tear than using hot water and oxygen based bleaches. Even if the water temperature of a washer without heater isn't quite hot enough to effectively kill all germs, I think that it is healthier to go without LCB. Most common household germs are not dangerous and keeping a house totally germ-free is proven to cause (not prevent!) allergies.

Here is a link that might be useful: Wikipedia - sodium hypochlorite

I should add again, check out the Bleach Myths on the Clorox site; then make up your own mind.

As is explained there, bleach starts as salt, quickly breaks down and it ends as salt - it is not harmful or toxic to the environment.

timindy,
I am not saying that everybody has to stop using LCB right now. It is a fact though, that it can and does cause some toxic substances in wastewater. I know about and understand the chemistry behind it. I have studied enough chemistry to know that it is not just a myth. It may be a small percentage of chlorine atoms that actually react to toxic substances, but nonetheless they can be a hazard.

The above mentioned example about our water treatment facility is not made up. It was roughly two years ago here at Fort Bragg, NC. We did get a warning that the water does not meet the standards and that it contained a small amount (but more than the required maximum level) of chlorinated organic substances.

I am not suggesting at all that LCB doesn't have any valid applications. It is true that the water treatment using LCB has saved lives. It can be used to sterilize fabrics and surfaces, there is no doubt about that. I just think it is not right to downplay any negative aspects and declare them nonsense. The Clorox websites serves as marketing for the products of that company. To get an independent, scientific opinion you'll have to look for other sources.

Bleach can ruin your expensive clothes faster than normal, it breaks down the fibers, a bleach alternative works great learned this from mother in law and the right way to fold laundryLOL also bleach stinks the smell is awful.

The reason europeans don't have widespread use of bleach is that they mainly use a profile wash not popular in america. They start with cold tap water and raise it to boiling (or nearly), this treats stains and doesn't use anymore chemicals other than soap and water. washers in the US generally do not have heaters to accomplish this. Therefore they use bleach. I safely use bleach in my Figidaire FL'er, but only in small amounts (less than 1/3 cup).
You can try and use Clorox Advanced which is a specially buffered bleach that is formulated to work gently on fabrics.
Oxywash would be used on colors without fading them.
Just my 2 cents!
-Alex
PS: There was a nasty rumor that bleach also caused premature bearing failure in Fl'ers, but it has yet to be proven.

tecnopolis,
it is true that the European washers have the option to do a profile wash and reach temperatures close to the boiling point of water. But, not nearly all fabrics can be washed on that cycle. Even at lower temperatures LCB is not added to kill bacteria.

There are environmental and health concerns about the use of chlorine bleach. In Germany, ozone is used to treat drinking water instead of chlorine bleach. Ozone is as effective in killing germs and any traces of it can easily be removed by using UV light that splits the ozone and produces oxygen. Drinking water produced like this tastes and smells much better than water treated with chlorine bleach. The purity requirements for tab water in Germany are stricter than the requirements for bottled water since it has to be safe even if consumed in large amounts. There is also no addition of fluorides in Germany. If you drink lots of water you may get much more flouride than recommended. If you look it up you'll find that that one is a controversial subject even in the US. Don't just assume that everything the government allows or does is also save for your health or the environment!

I have a Bosch Next 500 that is capable of washing clothes at high temperatures. I no longer use chlorine bleach, as I no longer need it to whiten my clothes. Personally, I never liked to use bleach anyway, as I think it is hard on fabrics and not so great for the environment.

No. Not using in my washer.

I use liquid bleach for whites (socks/underwear/undershirts mostly) as well as towels and sheets of all colors.

My washer only has a 1000 watt heater, so the wash portion of a sanitary cycle could take 60 to 90 minutes to heat a big load of towels to 153F. The long wash cycle is rougher on towels than using the recommend 1/3 cup of bleach on a cycle with a shorter wash time, based on the amount of lint ending up in the dryer's lint filter.

My washer dispenses the bleach into the first rinse, so the water temp is cool, and the bleach is only "in action" for 4 minutes. Four minutes is apparently long enough to whiten and disinfect the already washed laundry.

I use towels several times, hanging them to dry on a bar between uses. Only when I use liquid bleach do the towels stay completely mildew-odor free.

Joe

Joe

You are said that the towels mildew between uses when you don't use LCB. Does this mean the bleach is remaining in the towels after you take them from the washer and dryer?

jerrod,

I don't think so, since bleach becomes inactive pretty quickly. I think it is because the bleach kills anything in the towel that might grow and produce a mildew smell when the towel is used.

Joe

Oh

So you mean the LCB will kill anything that might grow mildew after you have used the towel a few times. I guess I am just confused. Never mind as I am not having any problem :)

How does the LCB work on colors? I have dark navy blue, green, and eggplant colored towel sets..not sure this would be safe.

I have an He4t which does have a sanitize cycle. I only use the hottest cyles when DH has really stinky clothes or when I am soaking our shower curtain and bath mats in OxyClean (our water leaves an orange deposit that can be removed with OxyClean). I NEVER use bleach, I don't even allow it in the laundry room. I've never had a need for it. OxyClean has always whitened things just fine. I don't know if I'm extra-sensitive, but if something is washed with bleach I can smell it once the clothes warm up on my body or once I've been in the bed awhile, even if I use extra rinses, even if I wash in plain water for an entire cycle. So no bleach for us.

I heard of others having an issue with their towels smelling musty, but we've never had that issue. Maybe because we let the towels dry out after use?

rarely used in old TL (only when toilet trainig was ongoing).... haven't used in the FL.... sanitary seems to cover the need for it... although there IS a bleach dispenser in my machine (bosch)