How to whiten clothes, linens and fingernails with Oxiclean. Yep. It does it all and this little experiment with a sweaty pillowcase will show you just how well it works.
What you are witnessing is an illusion. Like heat waves on the pavement, a rigged carnival game or any 25 year old girl's Instagram profile pic.
The pillow case you're looking at looks like a thing of beauty, blowing in the breeze in a tranquil backyard. Gathering up the heat of the day, drying to a fresh, crisp swath of fabric ready for a good night's sleep.
It is not.
It is a horror.
Years ago THAT was the fella's pillow case. The fella is my ex boyfriend/husband/partner whatever you want to call him. And he head sweated on that pillowcase for years. A beautiful 100% handmade linen pillow case from Rough Linen stained with 2 years worth of head sweat, drool and nightmares. After 2 years my pillow case on the other hand had remained clean and white. Like the pillowcase of an angel.
I know it's hard to believe judging by the picture above but believe me. That pillow case was a mess in that photo. The problem with my particular front load washer is the fact that you can't use bleach in it. Ever. Also, you should never use bleach on linen.
Also bleach has a tendency to yellow clothes over time. In fact because of this whole front load washer not accepting bleach I started using this solution to keep my white facecloths clean (which as you'll see if you read the post works incredibly well).
That left me with quite a dilemma. So I did a little research (as I am want to do) and discovered that Oxiclean will whiten whites, but isn't the same as bleach. It's a chlorine free bleaching agent. It whitens by some kind of magical oxygenating process.
The active ingredient in Oxiclean is actually sodium percarbonate, (a sort of powdered form of hydrogen peroxide). Water is what activates it, releasing oxygen and then the product decomposes into water and oxygen.
Oxiclean also has a few other things like filler and soda ash, but the real worker in the situation is the sodium percarbonate, which you can buy on Amazon but at the time of writing this post it's sold out. If you feel like ordering it and experimenting try this link to see if it's become available again.
Because of all of these things (no chlorine, environmentally friendly, gentle but effective) it can be used safely on linen.
So I bought some Oxiclean with absolutely NO hopes of it actually working. Because let's face it, most products that claim to do something amazing usually do very little other than produce very convincing television commercials.
This is NOT a paid post. Nobody asked me to do a post on the miracle of Oxiclean. I wish they had. Because I will now and forever sing the praises of Oxiclean to anyone who will listen.
Behold the miracle of Oxiclean ... I soaked the left side of the pillow overnight, leaving the other half of the pillowcase out of the solution. That way I would know EXACTLY how much the product worked.
Holy crap is right! I didn't do any magical lighting trick, or Photoshop shenanigans. It is not an illusion. THAT is the difference Oxiclean made on the head sweat pillowcase.
Which means all those white tee shirts with yellow arm pits you own aren't a lost cause. There's another Oxiclean now, Oxiclean White Revive which I haven't tried because the regular Oxiclean works for me.
In the past few years I've even started using it to clean my hands when they're a disaster and stained after weeks of gardening. I just mix a tiny bit up in some water, soak my fingers in it for a minute then scrub them with a nail brush.
This is DEFINITELY an off label use for Oxiclean and since it's basically powdered hydrogen peroxide you probably don't want to soak your hands very long, but it works to remove soil stains around nails and nail beds which are almost impossible to get clean otherwise.
Oxiclean for linens, clothes and hands ... so you too can look like the angel you are. Or even better, you can look like the angel you aren't.
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Tina
I used oxyclean on my outdoor furniture cushions. They had stains from the eucalyptus leaves which sat on them all winter plus the usual outdoor & big city grime that settles. It did a great job. Next time I'll soak it overnight to get the last few stubborn stains.
Jcrn
Does heat affect Oxycean when stored? We had a bunch stored in an attic. It is 100 degrees up there! Can I
probably still use my Oxyclean? I guess I am lucky it didn't spontaneously combust!
Christina
I used to use Oxy Clean all the time, and I loved it but I ran out. Since I shop at Costco, I had a ton of Baking soda and I had read once or twice that it brightened laundry, I decided to try it and slowly deplete my super supply! Well it seems to me, my unscientific general laundry washing with baking soda has done at least the same as Oxy Clean. In fact, i feel it has brightened my whites better than Oxy.
Although I have not had to treat my kids laundry for major spots and stains in recent times, and I have not tried it on my fella's pillow I do not know if it is a reliable substitute. I am off to try a baking soda experiment and I will let you know what I find out.
Carolyn Boyd
I have also used OxyClean on old linens with mystery stains. It works really well. I can (and do) use bleach in my front loader (it has a bleach dispenser) however this is tough on fabrics and can't be done with colours. Glad you're back Karen. Wish you many happy days and snore-free nights.
Erika
I love Oxyclean! I collect vintage linens and it will really take the stains out. But it isn't suitable for all fabrics, like silk, and if the item is really stained, like decades-old stains, it may need to soak for a really long time. It will even take red hair color out of a white cotton pillowcase. Eventually.
Kathleen Kauffman
FYI - Oxyclean Baby works just as well, and is "supposedly" a little more irritant free. I discovered it when I had children and subsequently started buying it up to give out as holiday gifts to all my new mom friends. You think sweat stains are bad?? Heh. Wait till you have children.
taria
we are enjoying the 'pillowcase of an angel' part of this post. lol bet your mama laughed at that too. Biz and oxiclean are both great. I collect old linens and have had good luck with both. Biz shouldn't be used on all fibers though.
Kristina
Also love Oxy-clean and use it all the time. For the super gross pit-stained shirts, I use warm water and a bucket and a couple of scoops. Leave it a few days, then add more oxyclean and replace the water with warm water again. It takes about a week, but it makes them nice and white again!
sue
Elizabeth W. has already mentioned that it works on embroidered pieces and just wanted to echo her endorsement. I had bought some pieces at a yard sale and one lovely piece had a very dark brown stain on it. I soaked it for days in Oxiclean and while there is a tiny discolorations still, that experience made a believer out of me.
Hope
38 years of sheet owning....and I am only now on my first set of white sheets. (Always colored, stripes,florals,wild prints).
I didn't think of the stains when I bought them this spring just the lovely photoshoots of stylish bedrooms. Will not get too graphic (TMI) but I have to stand over our bed before I strip it with spraybottle of Oxiclean Maxforce Stainer Remove and spray all those little spots of blood, blue ink, foot cream residue etc.This would also be a good addition to anyone's laundry room.My 30 yr old daughter gave me the headsup on this product.
Nancy Blue Moon
Use it all the time Karen..I put it in my homemade laundry soap plus use it for soaking tough stains and for the vintage linens that I buy..I'm going to be nice today and not make any dirty remarks about you know who..(the C word..lol
Karen
Hah! ~ k
Nancy Blue Moon
Or does the C stand for Christine????? You think so Angel??
Meagan
Oh yes, Oxiclean is a super star cleaner! You won't believe how often you will find uses for it around the house. We've used it on cloth diapers, floor grout, carpet stains, aged yellowing curtains etc.!
saf affect
LOVE oxy for so many uses. Does wonders on yellow pit stains too. (Bleh!)
Suzanne
Be sure to buy it at Costco - WAY cheaper than the grocery store and you get A LOT, which means you can add it to every load if you need to and soak with abandon. Wonderful on cloth diapers and stinky man gym shirts.
Chris
Men don’t hold a patent on stink. Women stink, too.
Sunday
Oooo-kaaay...!
XP
I love a good challenge so was working to renew a rag used to clean a grill. After numerous attempts and much soaking in various concoctions the rag was still sticky and smelly from grease. I've never used oxiclean but went for it. Soaked overnight and it blew my mind.. rag restored!
Natika
This is awesome! I don't think they sell Oxiclean here though... but now I'm definitely going to be on the look-out for it!
Elizabeth W.
Oxyclean is the only thing I use in almost every load I do. I started using it on cotton flannel sheets as a massage therapist years ago. It did a good job of keeping the oily smell at bay.
Now at home I even use it on very dark clothes most of the time (a very small amount, up to the first line on the scoop--is the normal amount for front-loaders) It's great for dog bedding, keeps it nice and un-stinky, and my vet swears by it for cleaning grout in bathrooms. Who knew??
Oh, and it will do a pretty good job on those vintage lace doilies we tend to collect. Since I've discovered that Oxyclean makes them presentable and fresh-looking, I use them as placemats on the table. The little ones work as coasters too. Better than letting them rot in the closet!
christine
Dear Angel,You kill me!:)
shawna
love OxyClean and have been using it for years to clean kid stains. Just be careful if soaking anything with a zipper. i have had it for"eat" through the material next to the zipper! Don't let it sit too long.
Tanya H.
My guy did horrible things to his pillow cases, too. A friend has the same problem. Wonder what's up with the male head. I know the male brain is hard to fathom, but why must the outer covering be a challenge, too?
I love OxyClean. I have three boy kids. Enough said. Alternatively, a paste of peroxide, Dawn, and baking soda is a miracle on soiled pits.
Terri
Tanya,
I had to comment on your paste recipe (peroxide, Dawn and baking soda...). This is the paste I used to rid my little dachshund of the skunk that sprayed him in the face a few weeks ago. Not only is this combo, apparently, good for stains, but it also worked wonders on getting that stench off him. Good to know!
Laura-Lee
Borax to pre-soak in the laundry tub does wonderful as well. Then use oxyclean in your washing machine - will even make clothes that anyone that has been working around outside or tinkering with cars wearing, come out looking clean.
Never knew you could get clothes that were too far gone to consider donating looking clean, and almost never worked in.
Karen
I'm going to be Oxicleaning my white running shoes today and I'm actually looking forward to it, lol. ~ karen!
Maggie V
Have been using it since it was introduced to the world by some annoying commercial guy on TV. His voice drove me crazy but the product has been my salvation. Keep using it but you really do not need buckets full to get desired results or maybe you do.
Just sayin
Allison
RIP Billy Mays. <3 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZTpXh33Mbeg
Cheverly Long
I'm approximately 7 years too late to this party, but just have to add this story:
The night before Billy died, one of his commercials came on TV at my in-law's house. My mother in law pressed the mute button while yelling "SHUT UP, Billy!!" The next morning we heard the news and I said to my husband "Your mother killed Billy Mays!"