Abstract: Methodologies and equipment for using a hypochlorite solution to remove menstrual fluid, underarm perspiration or other hard-to-remove stains from soft fabric articles with reduced damage to the fabric articles when compared with popular chlorine bleaches. The soft fabric articles preferably are in white, although the present invention can also be applied to articles in other colors. In one embodiment, the weight concentration ratio of the alkali metal hydroxide over the hypchlorite salt in the hypochlorite solution is no less than 1:12.5. The hypochlorite solution may contain at least 0.2% by weight of sodium hydroxide and/or have a pH of at least 11.8.

Abstract: Methodologies and equipment for using a hypochlorite solution to remove menstrual fluid, underarm perspiration or other hard-to-remove stains from soft fabric articles with reduced damage to the fabric articles when compared with popular chlorine bleaches. The soft fabric articles preferably are in white, although the present invention can also be applied to articles in other colors. In one embodiment, the weight concentration ratio of the alkali metal hydroxide over the hypochlorite salt in the hypochlorite solution is no less than 1:12.5. The hypochlorite solution may contain at least 0.2% by weight of sodium hydroxide and/or have a pH of at least 11.8.

Abstract: Methodologies and equipment for using a hypochlorite solution to remove menstrual fluid, underarm perspiration or other hard-to-remove stains from soft fabric articles with reduced damage to the fabric articles when compared with popular chlorine bleaches. The soft fabric articles preferably are in white, although the present invention can also be applied to articles in other colors. In one embodiment, the weight concentration ratio of the alkali metal hydroxide over the hypochlorite salt in the hypochlorite solution is no less than 1:12.5. The hypochlorite solution may contain at least 0.2% by weight of sodium hydroxide and/or have a pH of at least 11.8.

Abstract: This invention discovers that laundry-strength hypochlorite bleach compositions are described by three essential components; hypochlorite, hydroxide, and the concentration ratio (CR), the latter defined as the concentration of hypochlorite over the concentration of hydroxide (also, its reciprocal). The hypochlorite content determines fabric cleaning efficacy, the hydroxide content determines stability, and the CR indicates quality of fabric safety, such quality ranging from damaging to gentle. Therefore, hypochlorite bleach compositions can range from fabric damaging to degrees of fabric protection, depending upon the values of CR. Values of CR (as defined) greater than 30:1 characterize fabric-damaging common regular bleach. By decreasing the ratio value, fabric protection progressively improves to a relatively broad maximum at a ratio value about 2:1.

Abstract: Household-strength bleach contains just two essential components, hypochlorite and hydroxide, and the hypochlorite is well-known to damage soft fabrics. In this invention is discovered a third component, the concentration ratio which is the concentration of hypochlorite over the concentration of hydroxide in the bleach solution. Although considered impossible, hypochlorite bleach can be made fabric gentle by elegantly balancing the concentrations of hypochlorite and hydroxide, requiring no ingredients commonly added to mitigate the damaging effect of hypochlorite. It's all in the ratio (or the reciprocal). By adding hydroxide to a solution of given hypochlorite salt concentration, the bleach fabric protection progressively improves for ratio values below 12.5:1, reaching maximum protection at a ratio value about 2:1. By comparison, the ratio value is >30:1 for fabric-damaging common regular bleach.