Griffin Dyeworks & Fiber Arts

Understanding Mordants and Modifiers

Chlorine Bleach

CHLORINE BLEACH: NaClO

Description: Corrosive liquid discovered in 1774 by Carl Wilhelm Scheele; strong oxidizing and hydrolyzing agent.
Other Names: Sodium hypochlorite, household bleach
Dye Use: Not much use to natural dye aficionados; will remove or fade natural dyes. Keeps working in fiber long after it seems to be washed out.
Best On: Synthetic fibers, not natural dyes
Dye Recipe: If bleach is suspected in purchased fiber, soak 24 hours in soapy water, rinse several times to remove all bleach residue.
Safety: Do not get on skin, do not breathe fumes, NEVER mix chlorine bleach with ammonia or a toxic gas is created!
Disposal: Pour down sink or toilet
Alternative: Thiox, sodium hypochlorite
Source: Grocery store

CODES: c = cup; gal = gallon; lb = pound (weight); tbsp = Tablespoon; tsp = teaspoon / [AF] Anglo-French; [Ar] Arabic; [AS] Anglo-Saxon; [Dan] Danish; [Du] Dutch; [Fr] French; [Ger] German; [Gk] Greek; [It] Italian; [L] Classical Latin; [LL] Late Latin; [ME] Middle English; [ML] Modern Latin; [OE] Old English; [OF] Old French; [ON] Old Norse; [OS] Old Saxon; [Port] Portuguese; [Sp] Spanish; [Sw] Swedish / CE = Common Era; BCE = Before Common Era

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