Where to buy powdered bleach?

[zmgmeister.livejournal.com]

Which stores around here sell powdered chlorine bleach? Tired of lugging around bottles to do a wash. I've seen little single-wash boxes in vending machines at the cleaner's, but doesn't anyone sell a two-pound box of this? This isn't the same as color-safe bleach, which is fine, but once in a while I like to wash with actual chlorine.

Comments

[syntheticnature.livejournal.com]

I don't know.... a Google search turns up only big janitorial-size tubs (http://www.amazon.com/Chlorinated-Bleach-Powdered-Chlorine-Bleach-35lb/dp/B000HZ9XL0) or cases of little boxes to refill vending machines. It might not be available in ordinary-mortal sizes. (http://www.restockit.com/Lever-Powder-Chlorine-Bleach--(DRK2979646)---ON-SALE-TODAY!.html)

Never heard of such a thing...

[speedosam.livejournal.com]

...and probably doesn't exist. The melting point of crystalline bleach is 18C (or 64F) according to Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodium_hypochlorite). And since commercial bleach is about a 5% solution of the pure stuff, you really wouldn't want to use much powdered bleach anyway, and you'd have a hell of a time mixing it evenly with your wash water.

Or maybe I'm totally off and the stuff does exist.

[zmgmeister.livejournal.com]

It definitely exists. They sell little packs of it at the laundry around the corner. I believe it's sodium dichloroisocyanurate or calcium hypochlorite (swimming pool chlorine), and it would be in the form of granules mixed with washing soda and other ingredients.

The issue is that it's hard to find in a more economical size, unless you want to buy an institutional-size keg or a 100-case of vending refills. I was hoping someone might have seen it in a wholesale club or hardware store.

But after a little more Googling, apparently Amway does sell dry chlorine bleach in a 3-pound box. So if any place around here sells Amway products they might have it.

[speedosam.livejournal.com]

Ah, calcium hypochlorite, which, yes, is solid at room temperature. Again, just be careful using the stuff. You might want to dissolve it in a good amount of water first.

Or, if all else fails, why not tote along some liquid bleach in a well-marked water bottle? Easy enough. :-)

[zmgmeister.livejournal.com]

Drips and dark clothing, that's why not. There's a certain charm in being able to pour your Tide, etc, into a little jar and toss it in your laundry basket without worrying. That and the shelf life of liquid bleach for those who use it infrequently.

I think the dry stuff is usually the other, less pronounceable, compound. But it's intended for laundry use so I'd dissolve it in water just like I would regular bleach.

[zmgmeister.livejournal.com]

Also, some dishwasher detergent packs have dry chlorine.