Does Pine-Sol Have Bleach in it?

Pine-Sol, a product of Clorox Company, is a popular household cleaner valued for its non-destructive property. It was traditionally sourced from pine oil extracted from trees that has a potent action against stain cleaning. Does Pine-Sol have bleach in it to give the product a powerful cleaning action?

Pine-Sol is a good disinfectant but it does not contain bleach. When it was created in 1929, Pine-Sol had pine oil as its active ingredient. Many years and change of ownership later, its content was altered, replacing the expensive pine oil. The brand mainly has chemical surfactants and glycolic acid as its active ingredients. But unlike its sister product Clorox, Pine-Sol was made without including bleach.

So, we break down the things you need to know about Pine-Sol, its uses, and its present ingredient concentration.

What are the Ingredients in Pine-Sol?

The Pine-Sol products come in different variants with varying fresh scents. It has All-Purpose Cleaners, Multi-Surface Cleaners, Professional Multi-Purpose Cleaners, and Squirt and Mop Floor Cleaners.

What goes in every bottle of Pine-Sol cleaner? Here are the ingredients added to boost its cleaning power:

• Solvent. Water is a widely used solvent for almost all household cleaning solutions. It serves as a base ingredient that dissolves all other ingredients added to it. Solvents also aid in the soaking and lifting of grimes and dirt.
• Surfactants or Cleaning Agents. These chemicals are the active ingredient that cuts through grease and crud dirt to remove them from the surface. Surfactants cause the foam that cleaners produce while scrubbing. Pine-Sol uses different surfactants that, when combined, are strong enough to lift stains and thoroughly degrease the surface. These surfactants are:
• PEG/PPG Propyl heptyl Ether
• C10-12 Alcohol Ethoxylates
• Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
• Plant-Derived Thickener. Hydroxyethylcellulose is added to Pine-Sol to control its viscosity and consistency.
• Colorant
• Fragrance (Mixture of essential oils, aroma compounds, fixatives, solvents, linalool, geraniol, butylphenyl methylpropional)

What Are the Added Ingredients in Pine-Sol Squirt and Mop Floor Cleaner?

Pine-Sol Floor Cleaners has the following added contents:

• Glycolic Acid. Glycolic Acid is a cleaner and antibacterial agent added to the Pine-Sol Squirt and Mop. This organic acid helps in removing discoloration, mineral scale deposits, soap scums, and other hard water stains.
• Polyethylene Glycol Monomethyl Ether. It is used as an additional solvent and grease remover that is effective for breaking fat molecules from the surface.
• Preservatives prevent deterioration of the product and maximize its shelf-life. They inhibit the growth of molds and bacteria within the product.

What is the Shelf-life of Pine-Sol?

Pine-Sol can last for up to two years, after which, its color will change. Thankfully, you can still use it since it retains its cleaning potency beyond this period.

Will Pine-Sol Stain Clothes and Fabrics?

Pine-Sol is safe for both white and colorfast fabrics. It is also used as a pre-treatment for grease and other oil stains. In fact, some users even add Pine-Sol to their regular detergent to boost its laundry cleaning effect.

However, it should be noted that adding too much Pine-Sol in the laundry can damage and discolor the fabric. Its residue may also cause skin irritations, especially in people with product sensitivities. To be completely sure it is safe for your laundry, do a spot test in an inconspicuous area of the clothes. You should also rinse it well to remove all its irritating residues when using it in laundries.

Is Pine-Sol a Disinfectant?

Yes, Pine-Sol Multi-Purpose Cleaner is registered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as a disinfectant when used at its full strength. It can kill common household bacteria in hard and non-porous surfaces when used according to package direction.

Can You Mix Pine-Sol with Bleach?

Since Pine-Sol does not contain bleach, can you combine it with bleach at home? Mixing Pine-Sol with bleach is not recommended. Cleaners and bleach react with each other and release harmful gases. They are not also recommended for mixing with other household cleaners for the same reason.

Where Can You Use Pine-Sol?

Pine-Sol works best on hard and non-porous surfaces like floors, counters, walls, sinks, tiles, or shower stalls, among others. You may also use it on glass surfaces. If you are using Pine-Sol on a wooden surface, make sure not to let a puddle of solution stay on it. If the wooden surface is unsealed or unfinished, it will seep into the area and cause it to crack eventually.

Where Can You Not Use Pine-Sol?

While Pine-Sol is generally safe for most surfaces and fabrics, some materials may not be compatible with it. It is not ideal for aluminum, marble, and some wooden surfaces. Pine-Sol is a good cleaner for finished wood, but do not use it in unsealed, unpainted, waxed, oiled, or worn wooden materials.

Pine-Sol is also non-food grade and, therefore, unsafe for use in cleaning the dishes.

Can You Use Pine-Sol for Cleaning the Car?

No, Pine-Sol is not ideal for use on any painted surface. The product is harsh and can strip off its protective coating and damage the car’s finish.

Is Pine-Sol Toxic?

Generally, Pine-Sol is not toxic, but it does emit toxic gases in insignificant amounts. When swallowed in sizable amounts, Pine-Sol risks harmful and even fatal side effects. It may cause skin allergies when it comes in contact with the skin and for a longer period.

So, always take necessary precautions when using any cleaning products. Use gloves and avoid inhaling, ingesting, or letting the product stay on the skin. Seek medical help needed.

Is Pine-Sol Toxic to Pets?

Pine-Sol can be used for cleaning pet areas, but is not safe to be used as a shampoo. The product is toxic to pets, especially if swallowed in large amounts. Call the vet if ingestion happens.

Final Thought

Pine-Sol is a cleaning and disinfecting solution that is effective against many types of stains. It can also dispel pathogens that lurk on many surfaces with proper use. With all these abilities, does Pine-Sol have bleach in it? It does not contain bleach, but a potent combination of surfactants that work similarly. Thus, it is a safe cleaning solution for most household surfaces and colorfast fabrics.