If you’re looking to clean your home with safe, natural products, sodium percarbonate is a great one to have in your tool kit. Whether you’re trying to keep whites clean in the laundry, remove stubborn stains around the home or clean the grout in your bathroom, sodium percarbonate is a powerful, yet safe cleaner to have on hand.

What is Sodium Percarbonate?

Sodium percarbonate, sometimes called oxygen bleach, is a natural chemical compound known for its cleaning and bleaching actions. It’s a white, crystalline powder that is made from sodium carbonate (aka washing soda) and hydrogen peroxide. 

When added to warm or hot water, sodium percarbonate releases sodium carbonate, oxygen and water, which is what gives it its soapy, cleaning action.

Sodium percarbonate is considered safe for humans and animals and is biodegradable, eventually breaking down into sodium, carbonate and peroxide. Even though it's natural, sodium percarbonate can cause irritations and must not be ingested. Keep out of reach from children and pets, and wear gloves when using as a precaution.

Sodium percarbonate is a great, multi-purpose addition to your natural cleaning toolkit.

Sodium Percarbonate vs Chlorine Bleach

Sodium percarbonate and chlorine bleach (aka sodium hypochlorite) may both have whitening and cleaning actions, but they differ greatly when it comes to human and environmental health. 

In sodium percarbonate, the active ingredient is hydrogen peroxide– a substance that is considered safe for humans in low doses. Hydrogen peroxide is commonly used in mouth washes. 

In chlorine bleach, the active ingredient, sodium hypochlorite, is a corrosive disinfectant that can be harmful even in small doses. Chlorine bleach has toxic fumes and toxic byproducts which cause harm to our waterways and wildlife.

What’s more, chlorine bleach strips fabrics of colour, causing deterioration and even yellow stains over time. On the other hand, sodium percarbonate gently whitens and brightens and when used in the right ratios, doesn't strip colour from fabric. 

Uses for Sodium Percarbonate

Sodium percarbonate is a multi-purpose cleaner, and can be used for just about anything you need to clean, whiten or deodorise around the home.

Keep in mind, its cleaning action is most powerfully activated in hot water. It will still work when dissolved in cold water, though longer soaking will be required and you won't get the same dramatic fizzing action as with hot water.

Here are some of the ways you can use sodium percarbonate:

• Whiten clothes

• Presoak whites and stains before washing

• Remove stains

• Soak reusable nappies

• Clean grout and tiles

• Remove mould from shower curtains

• Clean toilet

• Remove tea and coffee stains

• Clean chopping boards and kitchen utensils

• Freshen up smelly drains

• Clean and deodorise fridge

• Spot clean upholstery stains

When Not to Use Sodium Percarbonate

Although it’s a hero with many uses, avoid sodium percarbonate for:

• Wool, silk and leather

• Painted and lacquered surfaces

• Stone, including marble

• Unsealed wood

• Aluminium, brass and copper

• Delicates that require a cold water wash

Use sodium percarbonate in the bathroom, kitchen, laundry and beyond for cleaning, stain removal, deodorising and whitening.

How to Use Sodium Percarbonate in the Laundry

How to Use Sodium Percarbonate for Bathroom Cleaning

How to Use Sodium Percarbonate as a Kitchen Cleaner

Sodium Percarbonate for Upholstery and Carpets

Where to Buy Sodium Percarbonate in Perth

We sell bulk sodium percarbonate from our store in Victoria Park. Bring your own jar and get as much or as little as you need – no packaging, no waste! That’s what we’re all about at Urban Revolution – products that are natural, healthy for humans and kinder on the environment.

Have you used sodium percarbonate around the home before? Let us know in the comments how you use it.

Want more natural cleaning inspiration? Check out our guide to bicarb soda.