Topic summary
Chlorine-based bleach
Extracted from the Wikipedia article Chlorine-releasing compounds.
Whitening agents
Chlorine-based bleaches have been used since the late 18th century to whiten cotton and linen clothes, removing either the natural fiber color or stains of sweat or other organic residues. They are still used in households for laundry and to remove organic stains (such as mildew) on surfaces.