Using Bleach to Wash Clothes on the Trail

[Marko Botsaris]

This blog post:

http://ingasadventures.com/2014/06/12/doing-laundry-on-the-backpacking-trail/

seem to have a very well thought out strategy for keeping clothes fresh using bleach. Also a thought out rationale why it is better than BD soap. On the other hand most of the synthetic labels warn away from bleach. Anyone with experience with this method or something similar? Did is shorten the life of your synthetic stuff? Could it just be a matter of degree – enough to kill the bacteria, but not enough to fry the fibers?

[Bob Gross]

Bleach can have a very negative effect on some fabrics, and you might not see it happening in the short term. I would never think of using bleach on synthetics.

If you absolutely need to wash clothes on the trail, and if simple rinsing doesn't cut it, then I would suggest to use about a half-drop of any mild liquid soap. Do the laundry inside your cook pot, and then discard the liquid away from any stream. Sun-drying will also have a sterilizing effect on the garment.

–B.G.–

[Billy Ray]

"If you absolutely need to wash clothes on the trail, and if simple rinsing doesn't cut it, then I would suggest to use about a half-drop of any mild liquid soap. Do the laundry inside your cook pot,…"

I would not want the nasties fron my socks or under wear in my cook pot… a wp stuff sack would be better….

billy

[David Moreno]

I've never used it on the trail, but washed my outdoor clothing in a public washer that had just before been used to bleach whites. They used the scented kind and there was no residual smell in the washer.

I found this out right after doing my load of clothes.

Within 3 wearings of the clothing, I started to notice the material breaking in areas that rubbed against anything.

Moral: Don't ever wash outdoor fabrics in water that has even the slightest bleach residue. Definitely don't wash in bleach on the trail. Bleaching on the trail has environmental consequences as well.

Just my opinion.

[Roger Caffin]

There is no end to the stupidity of some people.
Basically, Bob G is right. SOAP.

Cheers

[Marko Botsaris]

Great. I'll keep doing what I have been doing since forever (BD soap), and one less thing to bring.

[Adam White]

I'm sure I'm not alone in this–but I don't do any laundry on the trail.

I mean, I'm guilty of jumping in lakes and streams partially clothed on occasion, and I consider that "good enough". I don't even bring soap, much less do laundry with it.

I always thought it was my offensive personality all these years. Maybe it's my odor.

"Hey, come stick your head in my bivy. Does that smell bad to you?"

[Anonymous]

"Basically, Bob G is right. SOAP."

Why bother with soap, when a few simple rinses/wring outs until the wringing water runs clear? More or less. ;) It's not like you're going anywhere civilized after all.

Edited: Pretty much in the same category as using deodorant, IMO.

[Marko Botsaris]

The idea is to get the skin-irritating bacteria out, and as far as I'm concerned I can smell as bad you like. In fact its the ideal – feel good, but repel the annoying humans.

[Anonymous]

"The idea is to get the skin-irritating bacteria out, and as far as I'm concerned I can smell as bad you like."

Water and a good air drying in the sun seems to take care of both bacteria and odor, if my experience is any indicator. The only skin irritation I ever experience in the backcountry has to do with sunburn and accumulation of sweat byproducts and bacteria in the nether regions and my head. The first is addressed by sunscreen/clothing, the second by a good old fashioned, thorough washing of said regions with plain old water. That said, WYOC/B, as always.

[BlackHatGuy]

"sweat byproducts and bacteria in the nether regions and my head"

Tom, dude, I can't believe you actually left yourself so open on that one. Must …… resist …….. replying…….

[Anonymous]

"Tom, dude, I can't believe you actually left yourself so open on that one. Must …… resist …….. replying……."

I was counting on you, Doug. It's been sort of boring around here lately, so c'mon,
show me what you've got. ;0))

Oops, did I just leave myself open again?

[JJ Willcoxon]

A couple of drops of Campsuds in a waterproof stuff sack turned inside out. Shake and agitate, empty dirty water (far from any water source), wring out the clothing item, repeat with clean water 2-3 times to get the soap out and hang dry in the sun.

[Bruce Tolley]

To the question in the original post, while I think that soap and sunlight is the right answer, if I remember my college chemistry right, you will get the same chemical effect (the release of oxygen as a disinfectant) but dosing your laundry water with chlorine dioxide.

[Jake S]

"a wp stuff sack would be better"

Yet another use for a trash compactor bag.

[Author]

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