Is OxiClean the same as hydrogen peroxide?
Emily Schmidt
Updated on May 15, 2026
I was surprised to discover that OxiClean does not contain magical, stain-removing fairy dust. What it does contain is a powdered version of hydrogen peroxide and good, old-fashioned washing soda. This combination is also known and referred to as Oxygen Bleach. (To differentiate it from chlorine bleach.)
Does OxiClean have hydrogen peroxide in it?
Description. One of the active ingredients in OxiClean is sodium percarbonate (Na2CO3•H2O2), an adduct of sodium carbonate (Na2CO3) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). This breaks down into hydrogen peroxide when dissolved in water. These ingredients break down safely in the environment and leave no toxic byproducts.How much hydrogen peroxide is in OxiClean?
These calculations suggest that OxiClean consists of 34.1% sodium carbonate and 65.9% sodium percarbonate. Based on our simple experimental methods, OxiClean con- tains approximately 21% hydrogen peroxide by mass, which is in close agreement with the company's reported 18%.Can you use hydrogen peroxide instead of OxiClean?
If you want to be precise and make something the most chemically similar to OxiClean, you would mix hydrogen peroxide with washing soda. You can throw it in the laundry to remove organic stains or brighten a load, the same way you would OxiClean.What is similar to OxiClean?
Since sodium percarbonate is highly concentrated, where you would use 1/2 cup of OxiClean in your laundry, you would substitute with only 2 tablespoons of its generic, sodium percarbonate.Sodium Percarbonate, PBW or Oxyclean - HBW 214
What can I use instead of hydrogen peroxide?
The bottom line. Rubbing alcohol and hydrogen peroxide both kill most bacteria, viruses, and fungi. In general, rubbing alcohol is better at killing germs on your hands, as it's gentler on your skin than hydrogen peroxide.What is the main ingredient in OxiClean?
The OxiClean™ formulation is a combination of ingredients, the key ingredient being sodium percarbonate, sodium carbonate, surfactants and polymer. Combined, these ingredients work together to remove the toughest stains.Can you clean with hydrogen peroxide?
Hydrogen peroxide is great for removing stubborn mold, mildew and mysterious crust on surfaces throughout your house. Fill an opaque spray bottle and go nuts on your bathroom fixtures, floors and walls. It is especially useful on mildewy shower curtains.How do you make homemade OxyClean?
Homemade OxyClean Recipe
- 2 parts water.
- 1 part hydrogen peroxide.
- 1 part washing soda.