Benzoyl peroxide is a potent chemical compound that is frequently used in acne treatments. It kills the bacteria that cause acne on your skin while also bleaching your hair, skin, and clothing.
The oils in your skin can easily transfer benzoyl peroxide from your skin’s surface to your clothing. Even a small amount of benzoyl peroxide can mildly bleach your clothing.
Does Benzoyl Peroxide Bleach Clothes?
Benzoyl peroxide, like most peroxides, can bleach materials with which it comes into contact. Clothes can be quickly and easily bleached with benzoyl peroxide.
Benzoyl peroxide is a common ingredient in over-the-counter acne medications and creams. Depending on the other ingredients in the acne medication, it can also leave a rust-colored or orange stain on fabrics. Natural fabrics bleach faster than synthetic fabrics, but all fabrics are susceptible to bleaching.
You don’t have to choose between your clothes and your acne treatment! You can take precautions to avoid bleaching and treat stains.
The amount it bleaches your clothes depends on how strong the benzoyl peroxide concentration is, how long it sits on the fabric, and how delicate the fabric is. The longer it sits, the more bleach it will produce. It will also have a more abrasive effect on delicate fabrics.
One of the primary applications of benzoyl peroxide, aside from acne treatment, is as a bleaching agent. If it gets on your clothes, it can and will bleach them. The more contact it has with the fabric and the longer it sits on it, the stronger is the bleaching effect.
Is Benzoyl Peroxide Harmful to Fabric?
The only effect benzoyl peroxide has on the fabric is bleaching or discoloration. It will not cause any harm to the fibers or weaken the garment. However, it will remove any dye in the fabric and may leave orange stains behind.
Natural fibers are more likely to bleach with benzoyl peroxide than synthetic fibers. Cotton and linen, in particular, are prone to staining from benzoyl peroxide. Polyester and nylon are less likely to be damaged by the medication.
The concentration of benzoyl peroxide also influences how much the garment stains. A higher concentration of benzoyl peroxide will discolor and stain faster than a lower concentration. However, the concentration in most acne medications is insufficient to burn through the fibers of most clothes.
How to Remove Benzoyl Peroxide Stains from Clothing?
Stains on clothes look irritating and we all want to get rid of them immediately. While using benzoyl peroxide on the face or for any other such purpose, stains may appear on clothes.
There are two main methods for removing benzoyl peroxide from clothing: oxygen-based bleach or dish soap and a white vinegar mixture. Although bleach should only be used on white linens or clothing, the dish soap method will also work on colored fabrics. Neither method is suitable for leather, wool, or silk.
The first step, regardless of fabric type, is to remove any remaining benzoyl peroxide or medication from the fabric. Instead of scrubbing, scrape it off the surface; you want to lift it off without rubbing any more benzoyl peroxide into the fibers.
Soak the stained item in cold water with a small amount of bleach mixed in for the oxygen-based bleach method. Make certain that the item is submerged in water for at least four hours. You can leave it for as long as you want.
Check to see if the stain has disappeared after soaking. If the staining persists, repeat the soaking process in a fresh bleach solution. Alternatively, you can thoroughly rinse the garment and try the dish soap solution. If you wash the item until the stain is gone, you risk permanently setting it in.
Allow the stain to soak in the solution for at least five minutes after it has been saturated. Then, rinse it and check to see if the stain has disappeared. Repeat as necessary and wash the item normally when the rust color is gone.
How to Hide Bleach Stains?
If removing the stain doesn’t work, or if you prefer a more creative approach, you can always cover up the affected area! You could embroider a cute design over the damaged part of your clothing if you enjoy crafting. Alternatively, take out your sewing machine and sew on a fancy appliqued design.
For those who prefer a simpler approach, here are instructions for applying a simple fabric patch to cover up a stained area:
- If you want the patch to stand out, choose a fabric that closely matches your garment or a bold contrasting color.
- Calculate the stained area. You’ll need to cut a fabric square one inch larger than the stain’s dimensions.
- Fold over a quarter-inch hem on all four sides of the square with an iron or your fingers.
- Pin the square to the inside of your garment, with the folded over edges on the inside.
- Choose matching sewing thread for the patch.
- Sew a slip stitch around the patch’s edge to secure it to your garment.
- Tie a knot in the thread and trim the excess.
Related questions
Is it possible to bleach white with benzoyl peroxide?
Benzoyl peroxide is a caustic solution that can bleach the skin. It can make your skin appear whiter and change the color of your hair (including your brows) if it encounters the same strands on a regular and repeated basis. Clothing and other materials can also be bleached with benzoyl peroxide.
Is it true that benzoyl peroxide bleaches the skin?
Benzoyl peroxide is commonly found in acne treatment products, but this powerful ingredient can have a number of unfavorable side effects. It’s important to remember that benzoyl peroxide is a harsh solution that can bleach your hair.
When applied to the skin, it may cause the area to appear whiter and may also have an effect on the color of your hair. Even your brows can be affected if the same strands come into regular and repeated contact with the product. It can also be used to bleach clothing and other materials.
Conclusion
Benzoyl peroxide is an excellent acne treatment, but it is a terrible stain remover. Strong chemicals, such as benzoyl peroxide, can quickly and easily damage or stain your clothing. Avoiding contact with benzoyl peroxide is the best way to avoid bleaching and staining.