# Bleach allowed (any bleach) — Laundry Care Symbol | Launderwise

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Bleaching

![Bleach allowed (any bleach)](/images/care-symbols/bleach.svg)

# Bleach allowed (any bleach)

An ISO 3758 plain triangle, indicating any commercial bleach — chlorine or oxygen — may be used on the garment when needed.

## What it means

An empty triangle is the most permissive bleaching symbol: both chlorine (sodium hypochlorite) and oxygen (peroxide) bleaches are allowed. It appears on robust, typically white fabrics that can withstand strong whitening agents.

## What to do

Use bleach only when you actually need to whiten or disinfect, and always dilute it per the product label. Even when any bleach is permitted, an oxygen bleach is gentler on fibres and is the safer default for repeated use.

## How to use this term

Use this bleach symbol before choosing chlorine bleach, oxygen bleach or a no-bleach stain route.

- Read bleach allowed (any bleach) with the other symbols on the same care label; the strictest symbol wins.
- Match the instruction to the garment's most fragile part, including trims, lining, prints and finishes.
- If the label, fabric behaviour and stain method disagree, test a hidden area or choose the lower-risk route.

### Common mistake

Do not assume colour-safe bleach is safe for every fabric; silk, wool, leather and some dyes can still be damaged.

For the broader method, use the [Set-in stain guide ](/blog/remove-set-in-stains/index.md)and then return to this term when the label changes the safe option.

## Related terms

- [Non-chlorine bleach only](/glossary/bleach-non-chlorine/index.md)
- [Do not bleach](/glossary/do-not-bleach/index.md)
- [Oxygen bleach](/glossary/oxygen-bleach/index.md)

## Sources

- [ISO 3758:2012 Textiles — Care labelling code using symbols ](https://www.iso.org/standard/42918.html)— International Organization for Standardization

[ Back to the full glossary](/glossary/index.md)