Is adding bleach to your white clothes in the wash safe for the machine?

Question

So I've been accustomed to adding a bit less than the reccomended amount of bleach to the whites I wash. My chemist roomate (5th year, inorganic) said never add bleach because it would damage the lines in the washer... I've never heard of that before, is that common or is he just being super paranoid? I myself am also a chemist (1st year, organic) and I can see how it would damage rubber or even corrode metal parts but if this were a big problem people wouldn't be using bleach. Any thoughts?

Answer 1

Ive never heard of that either. I'm sure our moms wouldn't have used bleach if that was so

Answer 2

Unless you are pouring half a bottle in there and letting it sit for 3 days you will be fine.  Bleach away my friend, and let your whites regain there opulent shine!

That being said, bleach is bad for the environment, so you shouldn't use if it can be avoided :)

Answer 3

in some washing machines there are places to add bleach. i do it al the time. my machine hasnt been broken for 5 years.

Answer 4

You cannot use traditional bleach in most high-efficiency, front-load washers. It damages the seals and causes leaks. Your roommate's experience may be with the HE washers.

If you have a traditional washer, you can safely use bleach.

But if you're feeling especially earth-friendly, use less of it when possible. No reason to add extra, strong chemicals to our water supply when you don't need to.

Answer 5

Once a month you should do a wash cycle with nothing but BLEACH and WATER it cleans all the lines and the machine.

Answer 6

no but dont use too much it can eat at the white colthes use oxigen bleach not clorine bleach

Answer 7

He's full of c**p!

Put the bleach in kill the germs, make your cloths white and tell that dude Sparkey told ya!

Answer 8

thats not true...Ive been using Clorox Ultimate Care bleach....its more delicate and its not as strong as regular bleach. I use it for all my whites (socks, boxers, tshirts)...and they come out smelling clean and fresh....without the concern of the color going....

Answer 9

Your roommate may know something about chemistry but plainly knows nothing about doing laundry. Millions of people add bleach to their laundry every day, and if the lines in their washing machines are being damaged by bleach, it takes a long time to happen because many many people have washers that last 15 or 20 years.

Answer 10

there should be a place in the machine to add bleach so i would say that the machine can take it

Answer 11

thats not common but u never know cause when i do it i dont pay attention

Answer 12

My father had the same washer for some 15 years.  He added bleach to every single wash he ever did, and as far as I know, he never had a problem.  

I can see how bleach could dry out rubber, but I'm pretty sure the rubber parts of a washer are made to take a bit of abuse.  If you have your owner's manual, or if you go to the website of the manufacturer and look up your owner's manual online, it might say.

It seems like laundromats would be in trouble if this were really a problem.

Answer 13

Like so many other people, I've had a washing machine for year's and never heard of that before.

Answer 14

I have been addding bleach in my laundry for 40 years and I have never wore one out because wearing the lines out so I do believe he is being a little paranoid.Iam sure it could be possible but not probable so you just keep using bleach its OK.

Answer 15

adding bleach is safe , i have never heard some thing like that.

Answer 16

yes i do that all the time!! good luck washing your stuff!!!

Answer 17

i usually just wash my whites with my color. i dont use bleach at all. unless i really have to...but i just mix them all in..thats probably a bad idea.

i never heard that it could ruin the rubber though. hmm