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YOUR EVERYDAY ESSENTIALS
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NON-TOXIC CLEANING 101
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FEATURED
YOUR EVERYDAY ESSENTIALS
ExPLORE
NON-TOXIC CLEANING 101
At its core, sodium percarbonate is an oxygen-based bleaching agent used in laundry boosters, stain removers, and cleaning powders. You’ll also see it listed as:
Chemically, it’s a solid compound made by combining sodium carbonate (washing soda) with hydrogen peroxide. When it hits water, something very simple—but very powerful—happens.
When sodium percarbonate dissolves in water, it breaks apart into:
From there, the hydrogen peroxide quickly breaks down further into just water and oxygen, while the sodium carbonate helps tackle grease and grime. It’s this scientific reaction that provides effective whitening and deodorizing power without relying on chlorine, harsh fragrance byproducts, or lingering “bleachy” residue. You still get whitening, brightening, and deodorizing, but in a way that aligns with your non-toxic, family-first values.
Sodium percarbonate doesn’t come from a plant or essential oil; it’s a manufactured mineral-based ingredient. Here’s how.
Sodium percarbonate is produced by crystallizing hydrogen peroxide and sodium carbonate together into a stable, solid powder. That powder can then be added to cleaning formulas (like laundry boosters or dishwasher powders) or used on its own in concentrated form.
Because sodium percarbonate is built from simple, well-understood building blocks—washing soda and hydrogen peroxide—it offers strong cleaning performance without introducing toxic chemicals like chlorine bleach, optical brighteners, or harmful perfumes into your home.
You’ll find sodium percarbonate in a range of non-toxic cleaning products, especially where extra whitening and deodorizing power is needed. Here are some of the most common ways it’s used:
Sodium percarbonate is a staple in oxygen-based laundry boosters and stain removers because it can:
In a typical laundry routine, an oxygen-based product with sodium percarbonate is either added directly to the wash cycle as a booster or used as a pre-soak for heavily stained or extra-smelly items. Always follow product directions for how much to use and the recommended water temperature.
Because sodium percarbonate releases active oxygen in water, it’s especially helpful for:
Most oxygen bleach formulas work best in warm to hot water for soaking. After soaking, wash and rinse items thoroughly before wearing or using them again.
Outside the laundry room, sodium percarbonate-based cleaners are often used for:
If you’re using sodium percarbonate in one of these applications, make sure the surface is compatible by testing a small, inconspicuous area first.
Like many cleaning ingredients, the safety of sodium percarbonate depends on how it’s used, including the concentration, contact time, and whether it’s properly rinsed. Here’s how sodium percarbonate stacks up when it comes to safety in cleaning products.
Sodium percarbonate carries an Environmental Working Group (EWG) rating of 2–5, depending on concentration and product type. This rating reflects a low-to-moderate irritation risk at higher concentrations and the potential for eye and skin irritation if handled directly in powder form or in very strong solutions. In diluted household use, it’s considered non-toxic.
The short answer: yes. Once it’s activated in water and does its job, sodium percarbonate ultimately breaks down into water (H₂O), oxygen (O₂), and sodium carbonate (soda ash/washing soda). These compounds are easy on the environment and don’t persist the way chlorine bleach does.
When used as directed in household products, sodium percarbonate is generally considered septic-safe because it decomposes into oxygen, water, and soda ash and doesn’t introduce chlorine or other persistent disinfectants known to disrupt septic bacteria. As with any cleaner, it’s still wise to avoid dumping large amounts of highly concentrated solution directly into a septic system, stick to diluted, normal-use amounts through laundry and dish cycles, and, if you rely heavily on a septic system, consult a local septic professional if you have questions about overall load.
In diluted form and once rinsed away, sodium percarbonate is considered non-toxic for typical household use. For example, surfaces and fabrics that are cleaned with an oxygen-based product and then thoroughly rinsed or washed are safe around kids and pets. However, the dry powder and strong solutions can be irritating if inhaled or if they contact skin or eyes, so they should be stored securely and handled with care.
A few best practices:
Most oxygen-based products containing sodium percarbonate are:
You’ll typically want to avoid using sodium percarbonate on:
For dark or richly hued items, always do a small test in an inconspicuous spot before soaking or using strong solutions.
You’ll find sodium percarbonate in two key Truly Free Home staples:
Here’s what this non-toxic ingredient does behind the scenes.
In OxyBoost, sodium percarbonate is the oxygen-powered engine that:
Because OxyBoost is free from chlorine, optical brighteners, artificial dyes, and harsh fragrances, you get all that extra cleaning power in a way that aligns with non-toxic, sensitive-skin-friendly laundry.
In Truly Free Home Dishwasher Soap, sodium percarbonate helps:
Paired with plant-based surfactants and mineral-based ingredients, it supports sparkling dishes without the chlorine, phosphates, or harsh fragrance often found in conventional tablets or powders.
Sodium percarbonate is one of those ingredients that does a lot of heavy lifting in non-toxic cleaning. That’s why we rely on sodium percarbonate in Truly Free Home OxyBoost and Dishwasher Soap—and why it deserves a place in a truly non-toxic lifestyle. So when you see it on an ingredient list, don’t be alarmed. Read past the long name and know exactly what it’s doing for you: delivering serious cleaning power, without compromising on safety or your values.
