12 Cruelty-Free Bleach Brands That Will Brighten Your Clothes

Do you know what’s annoying? Washing a load of laundry, and the clothes come out looking kinda blah. You grab your usual Clorox or OxiClean to fix it, only to realize both brands still test on animals.

That’s when I started hunting for something better. Turns out there are plenty of cruelty-free bleach options that whiten, brighten, and deodorize just as well.

I rounded up 12 brands that skip the harsh chemicals and the animal testing so you can keep your laundry fresh and your conscience clear.

All of the brands below are vegan and certified cruelty-free by Leaping Bunny or PETA.

Brands marked with an asterisk (*) are owned by a parent company that is not cruelty-free.

In a hurry? Here are a few favorites to try first:

Molly’s Suds Oxygen Whitener – Made with simple ingredients and gentle on sensitive skin.
Nellie’s Natural Oxygen Brightener – Comes in an old-school tin and delivers powerful results.
Clean Mama Natural Oxygen Whitener – Created by a cleaning expert who knows her stuff.
Grab Green Bleach Alternative Pods – Premeasured and mess free for quick, easy laundry days.

1. Molly’s Suds Oxygen Whitener

Molly’s Suds Oxygen Whitener is a natural, chlorine free bleach alternative made for anyone who wants bright laundry without harsh chemicals. It is made with simple, mineral based ingredients that safely lift stains and freshen clothes. I like that it works for both laundry and general cleaning, a reliable vegan option for everyday use.

2. Nellie’s Natural Oxygen Brightener

Nellie’s Natural Oxygen Brightener is a gentle powder bleach alternative that works well for anyone with sensitive skin or a low tox home. It uses oxygen power instead of chlorine to brighten clothes and lift stains while staying biodegradable and color safe. I love that it comes in a reusable metal tin, giving it both vintage charm and less waste.

3. Clean Mama Natural Oxygen Whitener

Clean Mama Natural Oxygen Whitener is a bleach alternative made for those who want one product that can tackle both laundry and household cleaning. It is made with sodium percarbonate and other earth derived ingredients that whiten and brighten without harsh chemicals. I like its light lemon scent from real essential oil, a vegan formula that leaves everything fresh and clean.

4. Grab Green Bleach Alternative Pods

Grab Green Bleach Alternative Pods are perfect for anyone who wants an easy, low mess way to brighten laundry without harsh chemicals. The premeasured pods are safe for both whites and colors and skip chlorine, phosphates, and artificial fragrance. They are vegan and made with naturally derived ingredients, a simple and effective choice for a low effort, cruelty-free routine.

5. Heritage Park Naturally Bright Oxygen Powder

Heritage Park Naturally Bright Oxygen Powder is a gentle but effective bleach alternative made for anyone who wants one cleaner for laundry and beyond. It uses biodegradable ingredients like washing soda and sodium percarbonate to lift stains and neutralize odors without chlorine or dyes. It is vegan, color safe, and works in both standard and HE machines, a great all purpose pick for an eco conscious home.

6. 365 by Whole Foods Market Oxygen Whitening Powder

365 by Whole Foods Market Oxygen Whitening Powder is a simple, mineral based bleach alternative for brightening laundry and lifting stains. It is made with just two ingredients, sodium carbonate and sodium percarbonate, giving you a no nonsense option that skips chlorine, dyes, and synthetic fragrance. It is vegan, biodegradable, and carries the EPA Safer Choice label, a smart pick for anyone who wants a clean wash without the extra additives.

7. AspenClean Oxygen Bleach Powder and Stain Remover

AspenClean Oxygen Bleach Powder and Stain Remover is a gentle but powerful laundry booster made for sensitive households. It lifts dirt, grease, and stains using biodegradable, plant based ingredients and skips chlorine, fragrance, and toxins. It is vegan, EWG rated A, and comes in compostable packaging, making it a great choice if you want clean clothes without creating more waste.

8. Ecover Non-Chlorine Bleach*

Ecover Non-Chlorine Bleach gives you the brightening power of bleach without the harsh chlorine or strong scent. It is unscented, color safe, and made with biodegradable, plant based ingredients that deodorize laundry without fading fabrics. It is vegan and a good pick if you want a gentle, fragrance free option that still works. *Ecover is owned by SC Johnson, which is not a cruelty free parent company.

9. Seventh Generation Oxy Booster*

Seventh Generation Oxy Booster is a simple, powder based bleach alternative that whitens clothes and removes tough stains. It is free from synthetic fragrance and dyes, making it a safe choice for sensitive skin and everyday laundry. It is vegan and works best with one pack per load for bright, fresh results. *Seventh Generation is owned by Unilever, which is not a cruelty free parent company.

10. Powerizer Color Safe Bleach

Powerizer Color Safe Bleach is a multitasking cleaner that works as a detergent, stain remover, and household cleaner all in one. It is made with plant and mineral based ingredients that are biodegradable, phosphate free, and gentle on skin. It is vegan and USDA Certified Biobased, a smart pick if you want one product that can handle laundry, dishes, and just about every surface in your home.

11. ECOS Oxo Brite

ECOS Oxo Brite is a mineral based powder that brightens whites, lifts stains, and even helps tackle mildew. It skips chlorine and harsh chemicals, making it safe for colorfast fabrics and gentle on skin. It is vegan and plant based, a reliable choice if you want strong cleaning power without traditional bleach.

12. Nature Clean Oxy Stain Remover

Nature Clean Oxy Stain Remover is a gentle but effective bleach alternative that uses oxygen power to lift stains and brighten laundry. It is free from chlorine, dyes, and phosphates, and made with biodegradable ingredients that are safe for septic and greywater systems. It is vegan and a great choice for anyone who wants a natural, eco-friendly cleaner that still gets results.

What Is Bleach

Bleach is a chemical used to whiten, disinfect, or sanitize, and it usually comes in liquid or powder form. Most traditional household bleach contains chlorine, which on its own is a dangerous gas. To make it usable, chemists turn chlorine into a safer compound called sodium hypochlorite.

If you check the label on a regular bottle of bleach, you’ll usually see sodium hypochlorite listed among the first few ingredients. That’s the active part doing the heavy lifting when it comes to whitening and disinfecting.

What Is Non-Chlorine Bleach

Non-chlorine bleach skips the chlorine and uses other active ingredients like hydrogen peroxide, sodium percarbonate, or sodium perborate instead. It still works to whiten, disinfect, and sanitize, only in a gentler way.

Because it is less harsh, non-chlorine bleach is safe to use on colored fabrics and delicate materials. That is why you will often see it labeled as color-safe bleach. It brightens and freshens without stripping color or damaging fabric.

Wrap Up: Cruelty Free Bleach

Using bleach is not exactly a laundry essential, but it does make a difference when you want your clothes to look bright and fresh. Sure, you could live with faded colors and yellowish whites, but who really wants to do that?

It is nice to know there are plenty of cruelty-free bleach options that can handle stains and brighten laundry without the harsh chemicals or animal testing. Small swaps like these make your routine a little cleaner and a lot kinder.

Have you tried any of the cruelty-free bleaches before? Feel free to leave your thoughts in our comment section below!