Percarbonate (Oxybleach)

Sodium Percarbonate is what’s known as an oxybleach – meaning it cleans and whitens using oxygen, not chlorine. It’s the active ingredient in soakers like Napisan, just without the added fillers, fragrance, and synthetic brighteners.

It's made by combining two of my favourite ingredients: washing soda and hydrogen peroxide. When mixed with hot or boiling water, it activates and starts fizzing – and that’s your cue it’s working. The reaction releases oxygen, which gets in and breaks down organic stains like sweat, blood, food, and dirt at a molecular level. It doesn’t just mask stains or coat fabrics – it actually helps lift them out.

You’ll see the best results when you soak stained items in hot water with a spoonful of percarbonate added – you can do this with tea towels, cloth pads, whites, even coloured gear. Give it time to bubble away and the stains should fade out.

When it comes to whitening, it works by oxidising the compounds that cause dullness or discolouration. Think of it like a refresh for tired fabrics – whites look whiter, and colours come back to life without being bleached out. It’s safe for most colours because there's no harsh chlorine to strip dyes or cause that blotchy fading.

Once it’s activated, it stays effective for a few hours. After that, it settles down and breaks apart into oxygen, water, and washing soda – all of which are biodegradable and safe for the envionment.

One thing to note – don’t store it once it’s mixed with water. It keeps reacting and can expand in sealed containers. Just mix what you need and use it while it’s fizzing fresh.

I use sodium percarbonate in a heap of situations. In particular recipes, you’ll find it in:

• Laundry Washing Powder – for stain removal, whitening and deodorising.
• Dishwasher Tablets or Powder – to cut through grease and lift grime.
• Supercharge cleaning paste – provide 'bleach like' power in my pastes

You can also use it on its own:

• Add a scoop to hot water for soaking stained clothes, towels, cloth pads, or even manky dish cloths.
• Sprinkle into the bottom of the toilet bowl with boiling water for a fizzing deep clean.
• Degrease cookware – soak trays and pots with baked-on bits

Just remember:

• Always activate it with hot or boiling water.
• Only mix what you need - it loses power after a few hours.
• Don’t store once activated - it can build up pressure and isn’t shelf stable once wet.

You'll find step-by-step recipes using it over in the DIY Recipe Hub.

She is a beauty! Sodium Percarbonate when used in household cleaning, breaks down into washing soda, oxygen and water - all biodegradable and safe for your drains, waterways and septic systems. It also replaces the need to use chlorine bleach which is a win for the world and your families health!

Sodium percarbonate is classified as a poison under the Therapeutic Goods Act - not because it’s harmful to the planet, but because it’s dangerous if swallowed or inhaled in large amounts.

• Don’t eat it (obviously), and keep it away from kids and pets
• Avoid contact with eyes
• Use gloves if soaking or handling solutions for extended periods
• Store in a dry, sealed container, away from heat and moisture
• Once mixed with water, do not store in a sealed bottle - it can expand and burst

“It’s just like bicarb"
Nope. It fizzes like bicarb and vinegar, but this one actually deep cleans, disinfects, and whitens and is much more stronger than bicarb

“It’s bleach - so it must be bad.”
It’s oxygen bleach, not chlorine. Big difference! No toxic fumes, no scary residues. Percarbonate actually whitens by removing stains, not masking them.

“It must be good for delicates if it’s eco.”
It’s powerful! Not safe for delicates – skip silk, wool, and anything marked hand-wash only.

“I can dilute and store the solution?”
Nope - once mixed with water, it keeps reacting and can build pressure. Always use it fresh. Plus after 5-6 hours it not longer beneficial. 

"It's a poison so it must be bad"
Only if you eat it, snort it, breathe in huge amounts or rub it in your eyes! All things you should apply common sense not to do with a cleaning product anyway! This does not mean it bad for the environment either, Sodium percarbonate is not known to bioaccumulate or persist in the environment for more than a few days. The degradation products of sodium percarbonate (sodium carbonate, water and oxygen) are non-toxic.