Unexpected uses for bleach

Car wash, Baby clothing, Cat litter, Cutting board, Mosquito repellent, Garden tools, Swimming pool, Cups and mugs, Flower pots and planters, Cut flowers, Plastic lawn furniture, Porcelain, Butcher's block, White linen, Mold and mildew

Bleach is a super versatile cleaning product. Used in and around the house and garden as a disinfectant and sanitizer, bleach reduces the amount of germs on all sorts of surfaces and decreases risk of infection. Indeed, there are numerous ways to use bleach, but are you aware of its full potential?

Click through and find out some unexpected uses for bleach.

Car wash

Car wash, Baby clothing, Cat litter, Cutting board, Mosquito repellent, Garden tools, Swimming pool, Cups and mugs, Flower pots and planters, Cut flowers, Plastic lawn furniture, Porcelain, Butcher's block, White linen, Mold and mildew

Keeping your vehicle clean improves its performance. But it's not just about a car wash. For some detailed cleaning, mix up a 50/50 solution of water and bleach and get to work removing dust and grease from the dash and other plastic components of your car's interior. Tip: a toothbrush works wonders as an improvised scrubbing tool.

Baby clothing

Car wash, Baby clothing, Cat litter, Cutting board, Mosquito repellent, Garden tools, Swimming pool, Cups and mugs, Flower pots and planters, Cut flowers, Plastic lawn furniture, Porcelain, Butcher's block, White linen, Mold and mildew

Making a mess is what toddlers do, and baby clothes are often stained in the process. Use diluted bleach to remove any blotches or blemishes to leave babywear looking as good as new.

Coolers

Car wash, Baby clothing, Cat litter, Cutting board, Mosquito repellent, Garden tools, Swimming pool, Cups and mugs, Flower pots and planters, Cut flowers, Plastic lawn furniture, Porcelain, Butcher's block, White linen, Mold and mildew

The onset of summer means it's time to unpack the cool box. But after months in storage, it's probably wise to pour a solution of water and bleach into the cooler, close the lid, and leave overnight. This will kill off any germs and leave the box odor-free.

Cat litter

Car wash, Baby clothing, Cat litter, Cutting board, Mosquito repellent, Garden tools, Swimming pool, Cups and mugs, Flower pots and planters, Cut flowers, Plastic lawn furniture, Porcelain, Butcher's block, White linen, Mold and mildew

Unpleasant cat litter odor can be eradicated by wiping down an already washed and cleaned cat box with diluted bleach. The bleach kills odor-causing microbes.

Cutting board

Car wash, Baby clothing, Cat litter, Cutting board, Mosquito repellent, Garden tools, Swimming pool, Cups and mugs, Flower pots and planters, Cut flowers, Plastic lawn furniture, Porcelain, Butcher's block, White linen, Mold and mildew

Did you know that a cutting board can hold 200 times more dangerous bacteria than a toilet seat? That's why washing down this kitchen utensil is an essential process. Scrub with warm, soapy water and diluted bleach solution on a daily basis.

Mosquito repellent

Car wash, Baby clothing, Cat litter, Cutting board, Mosquito repellent, Garden tools, Swimming pool, Cups and mugs, Flower pots and planters, Cut flowers, Plastic lawn furniture, Porcelain, Butcher's block, White linen, Mold and mildew

Bugs hate bleach, including mosquitoes. So here's a tip: pour bleach into a cup and set it down where mosquitoes are a problem, and watch them buzz off pronto.

Garden tools

Car wash, Baby clothing, Cat litter, Cutting board, Mosquito repellent, Garden tools, Swimming pool, Cups and mugs, Flower pots and planters, Cut flowers, Plastic lawn furniture, Porcelain, Butcher's block, White linen, Mold and mildew

Implements used in and around the garden pick up lots of muck and gunk. Dirt like this can transfer all sorts of diseases and parasites to your pants and tools. After use, soak garden tools  overnight in water and bleach to eliminate the hazard.

Swimming pool

Car wash, Baby clothing, Cat litter, Cutting board, Mosquito repellent, Garden tools, Swimming pool, Cups and mugs, Flower pots and planters, Cut flowers, Plastic lawn furniture, Porcelain, Butcher's block, White linen, Mold and mildew

You should always cover an unused swimming pool, or better still drain the water. Sometimes this isn't possible or practical. But water left for long periods can accumulate a green film of algae. Add a 3.5 liters (approximately one gallon) of bleach for every 38 liters (approximately 10 gallons of water) and watch algae dissolve rapidly.

Cups and mugs

Car wash, Baby clothing, Cat litter, Cutting board, Mosquito repellent, Garden tools, Swimming pool, Cups and mugs, Flower pots and planters, Cut flowers, Plastic lawn furniture, Porcelain, Butcher's block, White linen, Mold and mildew

Using a diluted bleach and water solution is an excellent way of getting rid of tea and coffee stains in cups and mugs. Leave overnight and rinse thoroughly the following morning in cold, running water.

Flower pots and planters

Car wash, Baby clothing, Cat litter, Cutting board, Mosquito repellent, Garden tools, Swimming pool, Cups and mugs, Flower pots and planters, Cut flowers, Plastic lawn furniture, Porcelain, Butcher's block, White linen, Mold and mildew

You can disinfect garden flower pots and planters by using bleach. First, wash and rinse the vessels thoroughly with cold water. Next, soak them in a solution of around half a cup of bleach to 3.5 liters of water (approximately one gallon). Leave for 10 minutes before rinsing.

Cut flowers

Car wash, Baby clothing, Cat litter, Cutting board, Mosquito repellent, Garden tools, Swimming pool, Cups and mugs, Flower pots and planters, Cut flowers, Plastic lawn furniture, Porcelain, Butcher's block, White linen, Mold and mildew

Did you know that you can prolong the life of fresh flowers simply by re-cutting the stems on the diagonal and placing the blooms in cold water mixed with just a few drops of bleach?

Plastic lawn furniture

Car wash, Baby clothing, Cat litter, Cutting board, Mosquito repellent, Garden tools, Swimming pool, Cups and mugs, Flower pots and planters, Cut flowers, Plastic lawn furniture, Porcelain, Butcher's block, White linen, Mold and mildew

Often exposed to the elements for long periods, plastic lawn furniture always benefits from a wash and brush up. Use a warm, soapy water mixed with half a cup of bleach for the best results. Rinse in cold water and allow to air-dry.

Porcelain

Car wash, Baby clothing, Cat litter, Cutting board, Mosquito repellent, Garden tools, Swimming pool, Cups and mugs, Flower pots and planters, Cut flowers, Plastic lawn furniture, Porcelain, Butcher's block, White linen, Mold and mildew

For showroom quality white porcelain, place several paper towels over the item and saturate them with an undiluted bleach solution. Soak for 30 minutes. Afterwards, rinse and pat down with a dry cloth. Be sure to undertake this method in a well-ventilated environment.

Weeds

Car wash, Baby clothing, Cat litter, Cutting board, Mosquito repellent, Garden tools, Swimming pool, Cups and mugs, Flower pots and planters, Cut flowers, Plastic lawn furniture, Porcelain, Butcher's block, White linen, Mold and mildew

Zap weeds into touch by using undiluted bleach aimed into those difficult-to-reach cracks and crevices in paths and walkways where undesirable plant life tends to lurk.

Butcher's block

Car wash, Baby clothing, Cat litter, Cutting board, Mosquito repellent, Garden tools, Swimming pool, Cups and mugs, Flower pots and planters, Cut flowers, Plastic lawn furniture, Porcelain, Butcher's block, White linen, Mold and mildew

Dilute a dash of bleach in two liters (approximately half a gallon) of tepid water. Dip a brush into the solution and lightly scrub the surface, taking care not to saturate the wood. Rinse with cold water, laced perhaps with lemon juice. Dab dry with a clean cloth.

White linen

Car wash, Baby clothing, Cat litter, Cutting board, Mosquito repellent, Garden tools, Swimming pool, Cups and mugs, Flower pots and planters, Cut flowers, Plastic lawn furniture, Porcelain, Butcher's block, White linen, Mold and mildew

Want to keep your bedding looking crisp and bright? Add a dash of bleach to your regular detergent before the washing cycle for clean, germ-free linen every time.

Mold and mildew

Car wash, Baby clothing, Cat litter, Cutting board, Mosquito repellent, Garden tools, Swimming pool, Cups and mugs, Flower pots and planters, Cut flowers, Plastic lawn furniture, Porcelain, Butcher's block, White linen, Mold and mildew

Mold and mildew can be hazardous to health. The bathroom environment is especially susceptible to this unsightly organic matter, where it often accumulates on tiles and on shower curtains. The solution? A mixture of equal parts bleach and water sprayed over the affected area. Wait 20 minutes then scrub clean and rinse.

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