Bleach

The most widely used form of bleach, chlorine bleach, is used to whiten whites and disinfect around the house. Another type, oxygen bleach, is safe for colored laundry and can also kill germs. Use it to boost fabrics’ brightness.

Applied straight from the bottle, chlorine bleach can damage fabrics and hard surfaces, so always dilute it first. Use 3 tablespoons of bleach per 1 quart of water to kill mold and mildew in the bathroom. After a year, the active ingredient in chlorine bleach degrades, lessening its germ-fighting ability. And if you mix a batch of bleach and water together for cleaning, it will start to lose potency within just one day.