When it comes to household cleaning products, Pine-Sol is a popular choice for many due to its effectiveness against dirt and grime on various surfaces at home.
However, when using Pine-Sol for laundry purposes, a lot of people wonder if the chemical contains bleach and can bleach clothes.
We’ll find out what Pine Sol Contains, whether it can bleach fabrics, and how to use it correctly in the laundry.
What Is Pine Sol?
Pine-Sol is a versatile cleaning chemical known for its distinctive pine scent and powerful cleaning abilities, making it an essential item in any home cleaning arsenal.
Originally formulated with pine oil, Pine-Sol is now available in various scents like lavender and lemon, but the core purpose remains the same – to clean, disinfect and deodorize various surfaces around your home including laundry.
Pine Sol is a really great disinfectant as it kills 99.9% of germs when used as directed. This makes it an ideal choice for keeping your living spaces fresh and germ-free.
Benefits Of Pine Sol In Laundry
Incorporating Pine-Sol into your laundry routine is simple yet transformative;. Below are some of its powerful uses in laundry.
Disinfects and Eliminates Odors
Pine-Sol is known for its powerful disinfecting properties, which makes it an ideal companion for your laundry detergent — say bye to those expensive bottles of laundry sanitiers.
With just a small amount of Pine-Sol added to your wash cycle, you’ll not only be giving your clothes a thorough clean but also eliminating any lingering odors that regular detergent might leave behind.
Enhances Stain Removal
Tough stains and soil like grease, oil or those form dye like ink can be particularly challenging to remove from clothing. But with Pine-Sol in your stain-fighting arsenal, you get a boost when tackling these spots. We’ll show you how to treat stains using Pine Sol later!
Cost-Effective Solution
Adding Pine-Sol as part of your laundry regimen doesn’t just improve cleaning performance; it’s also a budget-friendly choice! With Pine Sol, you’re getting multiple layers of cleaning in your house – including laundry – which means however much it costs, you’re getting more bang for your buck without sacrificing effectiveness.
Does Pine Sol Contain Bleach?
To set the record straight, Pine-Sol does not contain bleach. The original formula of this versatile cleaner is made up of water, surfactants like C10-12 alcohol ethoxylates, pine oil, thickeners, isopropanol and fragrance.
The surfactants are the main ingredients that do the cleaning and removing of stains, while the pine oil adds a layer of disinfection and freshness.
Pine-Sol, in fact, can be regarded as a more gentle alternative solution to bleach because it effectively cleans without the harshness of bleach.
It’s very key to note that although Pine-Sol doesn’t contain bleach itself, it should not be mixed with any other cleaning products (like glass cleaners) or chemicals – especially those containing bleach – as this could create hazardous fumes or reactions.
Is Pine Sol Safe For Colored Clothes?
Pine-Sol is generally safe for only whites and colorfast clothes; however, it’s lack of compatibility with non-color fast clothes has more to do with the surfactants in its formula than bleach.
Surfactants are compounds that help break down stains and dirt while preserving the integrity of the fabric, and while doing so, they could more easily knock off dyes from fibres that haven’t fully set it.
That’s why using Pine-Sol on non-colorfast clothing could result in severe fading.
To ensure your colored clothes are colorfast before using Pine-Sol, you can perform a simple test at home.
Here’s how:
- Choose an inconspicuous area of the garment (such as a seam or hem) where potential discoloration won’t be noticeable.
- Dampen a white cloth with water and add a small amount of Pine-Sol.
- Gently dab the cloth onto the selected area of your colored garment.
- Examine both the garment and white cloth for any signs of color transfer.
If there is no visible color transfer after performing this test, your clothing item should be considered colorfast and safe to clean with Pine-Sol.
On the other hand, if you notice any signs of dye bleeding or fading during this process, it’s best to avoid using Pine-Sol on that particular garment.
Can You Mix Pine Sol And Laundry Detergent Like Tide? — How Much Pine Sol Should You Use In Laundry?
While it might be tempting to combine cleaning agents for a super-powered laundry solution, mixing Pine-Sol and laundry detergent like Tide isn’t necessarily the best idea.
Pine-Sol is a versatile cleaner that can help remove stains, deodorize fabrics and do all those stuff that it does, but since it’s formulated differently than traditional laundry detergents, combining the two may lead to less-than-ideal results or even potential damage to your clothes.
That doesn’t mean you cannot use them in the same laundry cycle. In fact, you can use Pine-Sol as a laundry booster – just not in direct combination with your regular detergent.
Using Pine Sol as a laundry booster is simple, add 1/2 cup of it into the washing machine while it fills with water before adding your clothes.
This allows the cleaner to work its magic without interfering with the effectiveness of your favorite laundry detergent.
To use it as a spot treatment, use full strenght Pine Sol on the affected area and let sit for a few minutes. Then wash as usual.
Does Pine Sol Keep White Clothes White?
While Pine Sol might not be the go-to product for maintaining the pristine whiteness of your favorite garments, it does have a reputation for tackling stubborn stains which can dull the appearance of your white clothes, ultimately making them appear cleaner and fresher.
P.S: It’s crucial to note that Pine Sol should not replace your regular laundry detergent or bleach.
Instead, consider using it as a pre-treatment or spot cleaner on particularly tough stains before tossing your whites in the wash with your preferred detergent.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Pine Sol Stain Your Clothes?
No, Pine Sol will not stain you whites or colored clothes when used as per manufacturer’s instruction. Instead, it would make them brighter and fresher.
