Comments on: Make Your Own Clorox Anywhere Recipe

By: Copper

Copper — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 17:57:31 +0000

I would have to agree with the naysayers. The recipe you created while it can be an effective sanitizer is the not same as the Clorox product by one critical criteria – shelf stability. Bleach when mixed with water will rapidly begin to degrade and lose efficacy, even quicker in the presence of heat and light. The solution recipe would need to be mixed on a daily basis to ensure efficacy. The clorox product is stable for 1 year through careful manipulation of the pH of the solution.

By: Concerned Mom

Concerned Mom — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 19:27:15 +0000

I used to work for Clorox. The Anywhere Spray is not just water with a small amount of bleach in it. If you really want to have something that is safe and sanitizes, stick with the real stuff.

By: sophie

sophie — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 05:21:00 +0000

here’s an idea for anyone afraid of ruining clothes with bleach solution. wear white clothes or old clothes that you don’t care about ruining the first few times you use it. i’ve never had problems every using bleach for anything. i’m just careful not to splash it all around or wipe my hands on my clothes or get my sleeves in it, etc. it really isn’t that big a deal.

By: Makena

Makena — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 05:17:24 +0000

My question is if it won’t damage your clothes because the Clorox Anywhere guarantees that it won’t. I just don’t want to take the risk.

By: Domestic Diva

Domestic Diva — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 01:41:27 +0000

Love this! Thanks for sharing. Domestic Diva´s last blog post..Finally a DVD Review for the Guys: James Bond 007 in Quantum of Solace

By: SavvySavingMom

SavvySavingMom — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 18:09:22 +0000

After working in food service for about 3 yrs., when it came to wiping down and sanitizing counters and other surfaces as required by the regulations of our state health department, we kept small containers of a diluted bleach solution to clean our areas. I started using this method at home as well. But realistically, who keeps a bucket of bleach water just hanging out in your kitchen? So transferring it into a spray bottle was the next logical solution. Then the Clorox Anywhere came out. But you're right, who wants to spend that amount of money for the same thing you can make at home? Thanks for spreading the word! SavvySavingMom´s last blog post..Money Saving Laundry Tip

By: Deal Seeking Mom

Deal Seeking Mom — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 17:17:25 +0000

NCJill, I’m no expert of course, but I’d say bleach is bleach and a generic could easily be substituted for even more savings.

By: NCJill

NCJill — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 16:58:34 +0000

Does it have to be “Clorox” brand or can it be any generic bleach?

By: Deal Seeking Mom

Deal Seeking Mom — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 21:44:21 +0000

Thanks for your perspective, Anon; however, I think I’ll stick with Former Chemistry Professor’s take on it. Of course for any readers that may be concerned, even if you make a new batch every day, the amount of solution that you can make from a single bottle of bleach would be far more cost effective than purchasing the ready-made solution.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 17:26:27 +0000

The special thing about Anywhere is that scientists figured out how to stablize such a small amount of bleach in water and keeping it from breaking down to salt. If you mix your own solution it will work if you use it immediately, but it won’t continue to disenfect for much longer. If I were you I would go ahead and spend the $3 to buy the product. Also, did you know Clorox just came out with a new Anywhere Anti-Allergen spray? It’s one of my favorites!

By: Former Chemistry Professor

Former Chemistry Professor — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 00:50:10 +0000

Oh…thinking about response 27 for a second: there is a big difference equilibrium-wise between an open container of bleach water and a well-sealed one. The chlorine will remain in solution in a closed container much, much longer. (Think about the carbon dioxide in solution in bottle of soda pop if this is hard to imagine and it should become intuitively obvious.)

By: Former Chemistry Professor

Former Chemistry Professor — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 00:39:38 +0000

Deal Seeking Mom: The way that NaClO in solution works is that it spontaneously liberates chlorine as a gas when it is dissolved in solution. As it turns out, the not all of chlorine bubbles out of solution. Some stays dissolved for a long time. When you apply the bleach solution to a surface the whole mess evaporates; the water and the chlorine eventually go their separate ways but, in the meantime, the chlorine (a potent oxidizer and nasty poison) does a number on the bacteria. The remaining solid would be a salt in the chemical sense (but not table salt, NaCl as you might expect) but sodium hydroxide.

For the really nerdy among you, here is the dissociation reaction:
NaCl + NaClO + H2O → 2NaOH + Cl2

Ordinary laundry bleach is constantly releasing chlorine gas from solution by the way. If you have a bottle of bleach that is 5 years old, it is not going to be a strong as one you have that is one year old. The same goes for the Clorox Anywhere; it may get somewhat weaker over time. Though, this very well could be the equilibrium quantity of NaClO that is destined to remain in solution at room temperature and pressure. The Clorox guys have likely thought about this. Do you need to make it every day? No.

By: Deal Seeking Mom

Deal Seeking Mom — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 17:17:39 +0000

Thanks for stopping by! I think I understand where I went wrong. I converted it by using percentages of water and bleach, but I didn’t consider the concentration of NaClO in the bleach. I appreciate the help, and you’re right, more effective is good news in my book. I haven’t had any issues with discoloration or anything, so I’ll stick with the recipe I’ve been using.

If you should happen to see my reply, do you have any information on comment #27 about how long it will retain its effectiveness?

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 07:51:19 +0000

First, the bad news: The recipe is too concentrated.* A former chemistry professor in college myself, when my wife asked me to buy it, I balked. As it happens you need 1.0 mL standard (6.0% sodium hypochlorite) laundry bleach solution per 650 mL (22 oz) bottle. This is of course assuming that you are not measuring by mass (which is not stated on the bottle but is likely the case as sodium hypochlorite is a solid). FYI there are approx. 5 mL per teaspoon.

Now for the good news: more bleach is more effective at killing germs.

*: the fancy math, for a 650mL (22 oz) bottle of anywhere

(650mL Anywhere)(0.0095mL NaClo/100mL Anywhere)(100mL bleach/6.0mL NaClO) = 1.0mL bleach

By: Heather B

Heather B — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 23:16:00 +0000

THANKS for posting this! I did a google search for “make your own clorox anywhere” and found your post. Just what I was looking for.

By: Tara

Tara — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 14:17:00 +0000

That’s an interesting quote. I go through mine pretty quickly but definitely not in one day. It always still has the faint scent of bleach right up to the last of it. I’ll have to do some more digging and see what I come up with. Thanks for sharing!

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 16:53:00 +0000

i was totally ready to make this spray, but found this quote on the net

"how long will diluted bleach continue to be effective? The minimum standards for daycare in the state of Texas require the use of a sanitation solution on a daily basis. If you use diluted bleach, you have to mix a fresh bottle of it every day because it breaks down in just 24 hours to salts which will no longer kill germs."

so do i have to make a fresh one every time i use? mmmmm
i wonder how clorox's 'anywhere spray' holds its effectiveness after 24hrs? i want to know their secret! :D

By: Tara

Tara — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 13:49:00 +0000

Ooh, FAB idea, Kendra!!! Off to find my Sharpie…

By: Kendra

Kendra — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 13:23:00 +0000

I had no idea - thanks for that tip!

I just sharpied those amounts on my bottle so that when I run out I know how much to put in.

Thanks!

By: Vickie

Vickie — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 01:01:00 +0000

Oh WOW!! I’m so excited I will be saving money! Thanks for sharing :)