Expert: Henry Boyter - 2/17/2005

Question
You say there is no peroxide. The lable on my container says h2o2. Go to google and type in h2o2 laundry. You will see it is there along with sodium perkobate (oxyclean) as you stated. I was just trying to lower my soap bill and come up with cleaner laundry
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Followup To
Question -
We do a small amount of comercial laundry on the side and I saw that there is an expensive machine that adds more oxygen to the water to clean better and use less soap. I also have bought H2O2 which from my memory is hydrogen peroxide for sale for cleaning laundry. It is my guess that that machine is making h2o2. At the bar I work at has a carbonater to add co2 to water to make soda water. Now can a unit like this add oxygen to water by spinning it together (that is the way it works) if oxygen is added instead of co2? Or do you know of a simple safe way to do this so I won't have to buy so much soap? (soap is my biggest expense and the h2o2 cleans better)
Answer -
There are two types.  One just bubble very fine air bubbles into the water.  The other uses a generator like in an home air cleaner to produce ozone.  The ozone will clean better since it can destroy the stains or color.  The bubbles just allow the dirt to separate form the fabric.  Neither is an ideal cleaner for all types of stains.  Would probably work on dirt, etc, but oil and grease would be difficult.  I'm not sure I believe the claims I read.  There is no peroxide involved.  If you want peroxide, use Oxyclean (the US version - sodium percarbonate).  

Trying to rig one up on your own would be very difficult and unless you bought a high end system, you would still need to add detergent.  My advise - shop at K-Mart for detergent.

Answer
H2O2 at a level that would do any good for laundry is a dangerous chemical and can damage clothes. It should only be handled by professionals (not clear on your experience).   It only works on some types of stains and not others.  You still need the detergent.  Drug store stuff can be used, but I think you will be dissappointed in the results.  Anyway, the machines you discussed don't produce H2O2.  Another way to cut costs is to used 75% ofg the recommended detergent except on really soiled clothes.  I looked at a few of the google sites.  I see mostly use H2O2 instead of bleach + the detergent.  Just quit using bleach and save money.  Get one of the new Clorox pens when you need to treat a spot.  Much better than adding stuff every load.