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If you have ever pulled laundry out of the machine thinking it smells clean… then caught that “sweaty” or “musty” smell the moment the fabric warms up, this is the fix I reach for first.
An oxygen soaker works with sustainable laundry detergent by doing two jobs that detergent often struggles with alone: a pre-soak reset for odours and set-in grime, and an in-wash boost for stains and dullness.
This is for families doing school uniforms, anyone washing gym gear or polyester blends, households with towels that look permanently grey, and pet bedding that holds onto smell even after a wash.
Here is the simple rule: use eco detergent for everyday cleaning, then bring in an oxygen soaker when you need time + oxygen to lift what the wash cycle cannot.
Use an oxygen soaker as a pre-soak for odours and stains or as an in-wash booster with eco detergent. Dissolve it first, soak at least 1 hour (overnight for stubborn stains), avoid wool and silk, and follow the product directions for dosing.
An oxygen soaker is basically oxygen bleach (also called non-chlorine bleach or colour-safe bleach). The most common active ingredient you will see is sodium percarbonate.
When sodium percarbonate hits water, it releases hydrogen peroxide and sodium carbonate (washing soda). That is the “one-two” punch: peroxide helps break down a lot of organic stains and odours, while washing soda supports cleaning by shifting the wash water in a helpful direction.
What it is not:
Detergent handles the everyday mess, but an oxygen soaker handles the “leftovers” that need time—odour molecules stuck in synthetics, dullness in towels, and stains that do not shift in a normal cycle.
Read Also: How to Remove Sweat Smell From Clothes
Natural laundry detergent or eco laundry liquid is your daily driver. It is built to remove day-to-day dirt, skin oils, and general grime with surfactants and (sometimes) enzymes.
Oxygen soaker is a specialist. It does its best work when you give it water + time—especially as a pre-soak or as an extra boost when the load needs help beyond detergent.
| Job | Eco laundry detergent | Oxygen soaker |
|---|---|---|
| Removes everyday dirt/oils | Strong | Support role |
| Sweat smell / “permastink” reset | Can struggle alone | Excellent as pre-soak reset |
| Brightening whites / de-yellowing towels | Limited | Very good ( |
| Heavy stains | Good with pre-treat | Best with time + soak |
Use this like a quick checklist. If you tick even one or two boxes, an oxygen soaker is usually worth it.
Read Also: How to Build an Eco Home Cleaning Routine
Before I soak anything, I do two quick checks: care label first, then a tiny spot test on an inside seam. That one habit has saved me a lot of regret.
Do not use on:
If you are unsure, the safest move is: do a 30-second spot test, rinse, and check for colour change before committing to a full soak.
Read Also: Benefits of Natural Cleaning Products
It's important to remember oxygen soaker works best when it is fully dissolved and given time. The “sprinkle powder on top and hope” method is where people accidentally get patchy fading or uneven results.
This is my go-to for the classic problems: towels that stay dull, gym clothes that “wake up” and smell again, and anything that has that stale funk.
Step-by-step
Step-by-step
Fill a bucket or sink with water
Warm water helps it work better, but I always stay within the fabric care label. If it says cold-only, I do cold and simply extend the soak time.
Dissolve the oxygen soaker fully first
I never put dry powder directly onto fabric. I mix it in the water and stir until I cannot see grains sitting at the bottom. If it clumps, I use a small jug of warm water to dissolve it first, then pour that into the soak.
Soak at least 1 hour (overnight for tough stains)
Wring gently, then wash normally with eco detergent
After soaking, I wring gently (no aggressive twisting on stretchy fabrics), then wash as normal using my usual eco-conscious detergent dose.
This is the method I use when a load is mostly normal… but needs a little help. Think: light stains, slightly dull towels, school uniforms after sports day, or “this needs an upgrade” laundry.
How I do it
Run your usual eco detergent dose as normal.
Add a small amount of oxygen soaker as a booster.
My best-practice tip: oxygen bleach performs better when it dissolves well. If I am boosting a wash, I dissolve the soaker in a cup or jug of water first, then add it in. This avoids powder sitting on a dark item and leaving lighter specks.
I use this when I want targeted help without soaking the whole garment.
How I do it
Mix a small amount of oxygen soaker with a few drops of water to make a paste.
Apply it only to the problem area (collar line, sock soles, armpits).
Let it sit briefly, then wash normally.
I do not leave paste on for ages, especially on coloured fabrics. A short dwell time is usually enough, and it lowers the risk of lightning.
Read Also: Conventional Cleaning vs Eco-Friendly Cleaning Products
Yes. I do this all the time for “everyday plus” loads where the clothes are mostly fine but need extra help with dullness or light stains. The main thing that matters is dissolving the oxygen soaker properly so it does not sit on fabric in dry patches. If the smell or stains feel stubborn, I get better results with a pre-soak first, then a normal wash with eco detergent.
I treat it like a reset tool, not an everyday habit. For most homes, once every 2–4 weeks on towels, sheets, and activewear is plenty. If you wash a lot of gym gear or kids uniforms, you may use it weekly on those specific items, but I still keep environmentally friendly detergent as the daily routine and save soaking for when something needs a deeper clean.
Usually, yes, if the product is labelled as colour-safe and you use it correctly. In real life, colour safety depends on dye quality and how you apply it. I avoid sprinkling powder directly on clothes, and I always do a quick spot test on darks on an inside seam before soaking the whole item.
For noticeable results, I start at at least 1 hour. For tough odours, heavy stains, or greyed whites, overnight is often the difference between “better” and “actually fixed.” If the fabric is delicate or the colour is questionable, I do a shorter soak and repeat later instead of pushing one long soak.
No, I do not use it on wool or silk. Even oxygen-based bleach can weaken natural fibres and ruin the feel or finish. If it is wool or silk, I follow the care label and use a fabric-specific wash product, then focus on gentle washing habits instead of soaking.
It can reduce germs depending on concentration, temperature, and contact time, but I do not treat it as a guaranteed “disinfect laundry” solution. In my experience, oxygen soaker shines most as a deodoriser + stain lifter, not as a shortcut for sanitising. If disinfection is your goal, focus on washing guidance for hygiene, proper drying, and the safest product approach for the fabric type.
I avoid mixing them in the same soak or in the machine. Vinegar is an acid, and oxygen soakers work best in the conditions they are designed for, so combining them can reduce performance and make results unpredictable. If you use vinegar in your laundry routine, keep it separate: rinse between steps, or save vinegar for a different laundry wash.
If you remember one simple rule, make it this: pre-soak for a true reset, booster for extra support. When laundry smells clean but turns smelly again, when towels go dull, or when stains stay put, an oxygen soaker gives you the time and lift a normal wash cycle cannot.
If you want to keep your routine simple, browse the Laundry product range for everyday sustainable detergents without harsh chemicals, pick up an oxygen laundry soaker for those reset loads, and explore the wider eco friendly home cleaning products in Australia for practical, low-waste home essentials.
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