Percarbonate — the natural alternative to bleach
Sodium percarbonate (2Na₂CO₃·3H₂O₂) is the product that lets you whiten laundry without chlorine and treat the most stubborn organic stains without resorting to bleach. When it contacts water, it releases hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) — a powerful natural whitener that bleaches by oxidation and decomposes into water and oxygen, leaving sodium carbonate as the only residue (harmless). For the average Swiss household, where laundry stays at 30–40 °C in most cycles, percarbonate is the difference between towels that grey out in three months and towels that stay white for years.
In short
- Percarbonate (2Na₂CO₃·3H₂O₂) is a natural whitener that releases H₂O₂ in water.
- Works best above 40 °C, optimal at 60 °C — not effective on cold cycles.
- Costs CHF 5–9/kg in Switzerland in larger formats (branded products contain it at a higher price).
- Never mix with bleach: both are oxidisers, the reaction is unpredictable, and there isn't a single reason to.
What percarbonate is
Percarbonate is a white crystalline compound found in many "gentle whitener" detergents (Vanish Oxi, Bref Whitener, Eco-Bleach), but the pure form costs much less. When you dissolve it in water it decomposes like this:
2Na2CO3·3H2O2 → 2Na2CO3 + 3H2O2
The hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) bleaches organic stains — coffee, wine, blood, sweat — by oxidising them; then it decomposes in turn:
2H2O2 → 2H2O + O2
The final result is water and oxygen, plus sodium carbonate as a harmless mineral residue. Zero chlorine, zero problematic chemical residue, zero fumes you can breathe.
Where to buy it
In supermarkets (Coop, Migros) pure percarbonate is in the bio or eco lines in 500 g boxes at CHF 7–12: high price per kilo, handy if you need it right away. Drugstores and bio shops sell 1–3 kg packs at CHF 5–9/kg, and online (Galaxus, Brack) the larger packs drop to CHF 4–7/kg, the best price if you use it regularly. Storage: in an airtight jar, in a dry place — percarbonate decomposes spontaneously over time if it picks up moisture.
The main uses with doses
Whitening white laundry is the use that most justifies buying it: 1–2 tablespoons (15–30 g) in the drum per cycle at 60 °C give peak effectiveness. For particularly stubborn stains (wine on tablecloth, blood on sheets) a preliminary soak with 30 g of percarbonate in 5 L of warm water for 1–2 hours before the normal wash is worth it. On delicate coloureds the dose drops to one tablespoon (15 g) added to the detergent, cycle at 30–40 °C; always test in a hidden area first, because on intense reds and blues and antique fabrics there's no guarantee it won't fade.
For washing machine cleaning, 100 g in the empty drum on a 60 °C cotton cycle works: degreases, whitens, eliminates bacteria and biofilm. Useful frequency is every 2–3 months, alternating with citric acid in the off months — the two products do different things (one dissolves limescale, the other whitens and disinfects), so alternating covers both problems.
For darkened tile grout in the bathroom, a thick paste of 50 g of percarbonate and 30 ml of warm water applied with an old toothbrush, left for 30–60 minutes, scrubbed and rinsed, whitens without resorting to bleach. For the recycling bin that's picked up odours, 100 g in 5 L of boiling water, 30 minutes of dwell, rinse: disinfects and neutralises accumulated organic odours. And for yellow or grey towels after many cycles that have greyed them out, a soak of 50 g in a basin of warm water for an hour followed by a normal 60 °C wash brings them back to original white.
What NOT to do
Comparison with bleach (chlorine)
| Bleach (sodium hypochlorite) | Sodium percarbonate | |
|---|---|---|
| Whitening power | Strong and immediate | Strong but more gradual (needs 30+ min and 40 °C+) |
| Skin safety | Irritant even diluted | Safe; rinse if prolonged contact |
| Respiratory fumes | Irritant, avoid in enclosed spaces (Suva) | No fumes |
| Environmental impact | Chlorine residue in wastewater | Decomposes into water + oxygen |
| Fabric safety | Weakens fibres over time | Generally gentler |
| Cost per use | Cheaper nominally | Comparable, more versatile product |
Professional service
Dose summary
| Use | Dose | Time | Temperature |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard white laundry | 1–2 tablespoons (15–30 g) | Standard cycle | 60 °C |
| Delicate coloured laundry | 1 tablespoon (15 g) | Standard cycle | 30–40 °C |
| Yellow-towel soak | 50 g in basin | 60 min | warm |
| Washing-machine clean | 100 g | Empty cotton cycle | 60 °C |
| Darkened grout (paste) | 50 g + 30 ml water | 30–60 min | room T |
| Recycling bin | 100 g + 5 L | 30 min | boiling |
Frequently asked questions
Is percarbonate safe on coloured fabrics?
Does it really work at 30°C?
Difference with baking soda?
Sources & references
- [1]ECHA — Sodium percarbonate REACH profileEuropean Chemicals Agency — accessed 2026-05-08
- [2]EU Detergents Regulation 648/2004 — Cleaning agents and biodegradabilityEUR-Lex — accessed 2026-05-08
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