Six pairings · two of them never
Conflicts
Almost everything sold for laundry is sold on what it does. Very little of it is sold on what it must never touch. These are the six pairings this site is built around: two that never happen at all, and four where two labels have to agree first.
The matrix, at index size
Rows are the nine product classes this site tracks. Columns are those same classes and then the five fiber families. Every cell is decided by one of the printed rules and says which one.
| Against another product class | Against a fiber family | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Product class | Chlorine bleach | Ammonia cleaners | Acidic cleaners | Oxygen bleach | Enzyme boosters | Detergent sheets | Stain sprays | Fabric softener | Dye traps | Cotton and linen | Wool and silk | Synthetics and technical | Elastane blends | Mixed loads |
| Chlorine bleach | Same — Same class. Rule P0. One class against itself is not a pairing. | Never — Never together. Rule P1. Opens Chlorine Bleach and Ammonia. | Never — Never together. Rule P2. Opens Chlorine Bleach and Other Cleaners. | Never — Never together. Rule P2. Opens Chlorine Bleach and Other Cleaners. | Never — Never together. Rule P2. Opens Chlorine Bleach and Other Cleaners. | Never — Never together. Rule P2. Opens Chlorine Bleach and Other Cleaners. | Never — Never together. Rule P2. Opens Chlorine Bleach and Other Cleaners. | Never — Never together. Rule P2. Opens Chlorine Bleach and Other Cleaners. | Never — Never together. Rule P2. Opens Chlorine Bleach and Other Cleaners. | Labels — Check both labels. Rule F3. University of Georgia Extension sends the reader to the care label of the garment in every case, including the fabrics it does name. | Never — Never together. Rule F2. University of Georgia Extension names the fabrics chlorine bleach is used on and names lycra as an exception. This fiber is not on that list, and this site does not read an absence as a permission. | Labels — Check both labels. Rule F3. University of Georgia Extension sends the reader to the care label of the garment in every case, including the fabrics it does name. | Never — Never together. Rule F2. University of Georgia Extension names the fabrics chlorine bleach is used on and names lycra as an exception. This fiber is not on that list, and this site does not read an absence as a permission. | Labels — Check both labels. Rule F3. University of Georgia Extension sends the reader to the care label of the garment in every case, including the fabrics it does name. |
| Ammonia cleaners | Never — Never together. Rule P1. Opens Chlorine Bleach and Ammonia. | Same — Same class. Rule P0. One class against itself is not a pairing. | Never — Never together. Rule P3. CDC opens its ammonia fact sheet with an instruction not to mix household cleaners. This site does not mix them either. | Never — Never together. Rule P3. CDC opens its ammonia fact sheet with an instruction not to mix household cleaners. This site does not mix them either. | Never — Never together. Rule P3. CDC opens its ammonia fact sheet with an instruction not to mix household cleaners. This site does not mix them either. | Never — Never together. Rule P3. CDC opens its ammonia fact sheet with an instruction not to mix household cleaners. This site does not mix them either. | Never — Never together. Rule P3. CDC opens its ammonia fact sheet with an instruction not to mix household cleaners. This site does not mix them either. | Never — Never together. Rule P3. CDC opens its ammonia fact sheet with an instruction not to mix household cleaners. This site does not mix them either. | Never — Never together. Rule P3. CDC opens its ammonia fact sheet with an instruction not to mix household cleaners. This site does not mix them either. | Never — Never together. Rule F1. This is not a laundry product. It does not go into a wash with any fiber. | Never — Never together. Rule F1. This is not a laundry product. It does not go into a wash with any fiber. | Never — Never together. Rule F1. This is not a laundry product. It does not go into a wash with any fiber. | Never — Never together. Rule F1. This is not a laundry product. It does not go into a wash with any fiber. | Never — Never together. Rule F1. This is not a laundry product. It does not go into a wash with any fiber. |
| Acidic cleaners | Never — Never together. Rule P2. Opens Chlorine Bleach and Other Cleaners. | Never — Never together. Rule P3. CDC opens its ammonia fact sheet with an instruction not to mix household cleaners. This site does not mix them either. | Same — Same class. Rule P0. One class against itself is not a pairing. | Never — Never together. Rule P3. CDC opens its ammonia fact sheet with an instruction not to mix household cleaners. This site does not mix them either. | Never — Never together. Rule P3. CDC opens its ammonia fact sheet with an instruction not to mix household cleaners. This site does not mix them either. | Never — Never together. Rule P3. CDC opens its ammonia fact sheet with an instruction not to mix household cleaners. This site does not mix them either. | Never — Never together. Rule P3. CDC opens its ammonia fact sheet with an instruction not to mix household cleaners. This site does not mix them either. | Never — Never together. Rule P3. CDC opens its ammonia fact sheet with an instruction not to mix household cleaners. This site does not mix them either. | Never — Never together. Rule P3. CDC opens its ammonia fact sheet with an instruction not to mix household cleaners. This site does not mix them either. | Never — Never together. Rule F1. This is not a laundry product. It does not go into a wash with any fiber. | Never — Never together. Rule F1. This is not a laundry product. It does not go into a wash with any fiber. | Never — Never together. Rule F1. This is not a laundry product. It does not go into a wash with any fiber. | Never — Never together. Rule F1. This is not a laundry product. It does not go into a wash with any fiber. | Never — Never together. Rule F1. This is not a laundry product. It does not go into a wash with any fiber. |
| Oxygen bleach | Never — Never together. Rule P2. Opens Chlorine Bleach and Other Cleaners. | Never — Never together. Rule P3. CDC opens its ammonia fact sheet with an instruction not to mix household cleaners. This site does not mix them either. | Never — Never together. Rule P3. CDC opens its ammonia fact sheet with an instruction not to mix household cleaners. This site does not mix them either. | Same — Same class. Rule P0. One class against itself is not a pairing. | Labels — Check both labels. Rule P5. Both of these go into the wash water, so both manufacturer labels have to be read together before either goes in. | Labels — Check both labels. Rule P5. Both of these go into the wash water, so both manufacturer labels have to be read together before either goes in. | Labels — Check both labels. Rule P5. Both of these go into the wash water, so both manufacturer labels have to be read together before either goes in. | Labels — Check both labels. Rule P5. Both of these go into the wash water, so both manufacturer labels have to be read together before either goes in. | None published — No known conflict published. Rule P6. No published conflict was found for this pairing. That is an absence of evidence, not a permission, and this site does not recommend combining products. | Labels — Check both labels. Rule F5. University of Georgia Extension recommends testing perborate bleach on colored fabric before use, which applies whatever the fiber is. | Labels — Check both labels. Rule F4. Opens Oxygen Bleach and Wool or Silk. | Labels — Check both labels. Rule F5. University of Georgia Extension recommends testing perborate bleach on colored fabric before use, which applies whatever the fiber is. | Labels — Check both labels. Rule F5. University of Georgia Extension recommends testing perborate bleach on colored fabric before use, which applies whatever the fiber is. | Labels — Check both labels. Rule F5. University of Georgia Extension recommends testing perborate bleach on colored fabric before use, which applies whatever the fiber is. |
| Enzyme boosters | Never — Never together. Rule P2. Opens Chlorine Bleach and Other Cleaners. | Never — Never together. Rule P3. CDC opens its ammonia fact sheet with an instruction not to mix household cleaners. This site does not mix them either. | Never — Never together. Rule P3. CDC opens its ammonia fact sheet with an instruction not to mix household cleaners. This site does not mix them either. | Labels — Check both labels. Rule P5. Both of these go into the wash water, so both manufacturer labels have to be read together before either goes in. | Same — Same class. Rule P0. One class against itself is not a pairing. | Labels — Check both labels. Rule P5. Both of these go into the wash water, so both manufacturer labels have to be read together before either goes in. | Labels — Check both labels. Rule P5. Both of these go into the wash water, so both manufacturer labels have to be read together before either goes in. | Labels — Check both labels. Rule P5. Both of these go into the wash water, so both manufacturer labels have to be read together before either goes in. | None published — No known conflict published. Rule P6. No published conflict was found for this pairing. That is an absence of evidence, not a permission, and this site does not recommend combining products. | None published — No known conflict published. Rule F6. No published conflict was found for this product class against this fiber. That is an absence of evidence, not a permission. | Labels — Check both labels. Rule F4. Opens Enzymes and Protein Fibers. | None published — No known conflict published. Rule F6. No published conflict was found for this product class against this fiber. That is an absence of evidence, not a permission. | None published — No known conflict published. Rule F6. No published conflict was found for this product class against this fiber. That is an absence of evidence, not a permission. | Labels — Check both labels. Rule F4. Opens Enzymes and Protein Fibers. |
| Detergent sheets | Never — Never together. Rule P2. Opens Chlorine Bleach and Other Cleaners. | Never — Never together. Rule P3. CDC opens its ammonia fact sheet with an instruction not to mix household cleaners. This site does not mix them either. | Never — Never together. Rule P3. CDC opens its ammonia fact sheet with an instruction not to mix household cleaners. This site does not mix them either. | Labels — Check both labels. Rule P5. Both of these go into the wash water, so both manufacturer labels have to be read together before either goes in. | Labels — Check both labels. Rule P5. Both of these go into the wash water, so both manufacturer labels have to be read together before either goes in. | Same — Same class. Rule P0. One class against itself is not a pairing. | Labels — Check both labels. Rule P5. Both of these go into the wash water, so both manufacturer labels have to be read together before either goes in. | Labels — Check both labels. Rule P5. Both of these go into the wash water, so both manufacturer labels have to be read together before either goes in. | None published — No known conflict published. Rule P6. No published conflict was found for this pairing. That is an absence of evidence, not a permission, and this site does not recommend combining products. | None published — No known conflict published. Rule F6. No published conflict was found for this product class against this fiber. That is an absence of evidence, not a permission. | Labels — Check both labels. Rule F4. Opens Enzymes and Protein Fibers. | None published — No known conflict published. Rule F6. No published conflict was found for this product class against this fiber. That is an absence of evidence, not a permission. | None published — No known conflict published. Rule F6. No published conflict was found for this product class against this fiber. That is an absence of evidence, not a permission. | Labels — Check both labels. Rule F4. Opens Enzymes and Protein Fibers. |
| Stain sprays | Never — Never together. Rule P2. Opens Chlorine Bleach and Other Cleaners. | Never — Never together. Rule P3. CDC opens its ammonia fact sheet with an instruction not to mix household cleaners. This site does not mix them either. | Never — Never together. Rule P3. CDC opens its ammonia fact sheet with an instruction not to mix household cleaners. This site does not mix them either. | Labels — Check both labels. Rule P5. Both of these go into the wash water, so both manufacturer labels have to be read together before either goes in. | Labels — Check both labels. Rule P5. Both of these go into the wash water, so both manufacturer labels have to be read together before either goes in. | Labels — Check both labels. Rule P5. Both of these go into the wash water, so both manufacturer labels have to be read together before either goes in. | Same — Same class. Rule P0. One class against itself is not a pairing. | Labels — Check both labels. Rule P5. Both of these go into the wash water, so both manufacturer labels have to be read together before either goes in. | Labels — Check both labels. Rule P4. Opens Color Catcher and What It Does Not Do. | Labels — Check both labels. Rule F4. Opens Color Catcher and What It Does Not Do. | None published — No known conflict published. Rule F6. No published conflict was found for this product class against this fiber. That is an absence of evidence, not a permission. | None published — No known conflict published. Rule F6. No published conflict was found for this product class against this fiber. That is an absence of evidence, not a permission. | None published — No known conflict published. Rule F6. No published conflict was found for this product class against this fiber. That is an absence of evidence, not a permission. | Labels — Check both labels. Rule F4. Opens Color Catcher and What It Does Not Do. |
| Fabric softener | Never — Never together. Rule P2. Opens Chlorine Bleach and Other Cleaners. | Never — Never together. Rule P3. CDC opens its ammonia fact sheet with an instruction not to mix household cleaners. This site does not mix them either. | Never — Never together. Rule P3. CDC opens its ammonia fact sheet with an instruction not to mix household cleaners. This site does not mix them either. | Labels — Check both labels. Rule P5. Both of these go into the wash water, so both manufacturer labels have to be read together before either goes in. | Labels — Check both labels. Rule P5. Both of these go into the wash water, so both manufacturer labels have to be read together before either goes in. | Labels — Check both labels. Rule P5. Both of these go into the wash water, so both manufacturer labels have to be read together before either goes in. | Labels — Check both labels. Rule P5. Both of these go into the wash water, so both manufacturer labels have to be read together before either goes in. | Same — Same class. Rule P0. One class against itself is not a pairing. | None published — No known conflict published. Rule P6. No published conflict was found for this pairing. That is an absence of evidence, not a permission, and this site does not recommend combining products. | None published — No known conflict published. Rule F6. No published conflict was found for this product class against this fiber. That is an absence of evidence, not a permission. | None published — No known conflict published. Rule F6. No published conflict was found for this product class against this fiber. That is an absence of evidence, not a permission. | Labels — Check both labels. Rule F4. Opens Fabric Softener and Technical Fabrics. | Labels — Check both labels. Rule F4. Opens Fabric Softener and Technical Fabrics. | None published — No known conflict published. Rule F6. No published conflict was found for this product class against this fiber. That is an absence of evidence, not a permission. |
| Dye traps | Never — Never together. Rule P2. Opens Chlorine Bleach and Other Cleaners. | Never — Never together. Rule P3. CDC opens its ammonia fact sheet with an instruction not to mix household cleaners. This site does not mix them either. | Never — Never together. Rule P3. CDC opens its ammonia fact sheet with an instruction not to mix household cleaners. This site does not mix them either. | None published — No known conflict published. Rule P6. No published conflict was found for this pairing. That is an absence of evidence, not a permission, and this site does not recommend combining products. | None published — No known conflict published. Rule P6. No published conflict was found for this pairing. That is an absence of evidence, not a permission, and this site does not recommend combining products. | None published — No known conflict published. Rule P6. No published conflict was found for this pairing. That is an absence of evidence, not a permission, and this site does not recommend combining products. | Labels — Check both labels. Rule P4. Opens Color Catcher and What It Does Not Do. | None published — No known conflict published. Rule P6. No published conflict was found for this pairing. That is an absence of evidence, not a permission, and this site does not recommend combining products. | Same — Same class. Rule P0. One class against itself is not a pairing. | Labels — Check both labels. Rule F4. Opens Color Catcher and What It Does Not Do. | None published — No known conflict published. Rule F6. No published conflict was found for this product class against this fiber. That is an absence of evidence, not a permission. | None published — No known conflict published. Rule F6. No published conflict was found for this product class against this fiber. That is an absence of evidence, not a permission. | None published — No known conflict published. Rule F6. No published conflict was found for this product class against this fiber. That is an absence of evidence, not a permission. | Labels — Check both labels. Rule F4. Opens Color Catcher and What It Does Not Do. |
Three columns read the same all the way down, and that uniformity is the finding rather than a gap: chlorine bleach, ammonia-based cleaners and acidic cleaners are never combined with anything on this site. The six columns for products that go into a wash vary cell by cell, which is where reading a row is worth the effort.
Never = Never togetherLabels = Check both labelsNone published = No known conflict publishedSame = Same class
Rules for a product against a product
- P0 A class compared with itself is not a pairing. That input is turned off rather than answered.
- P1 Chlorine bleach with ammonia-based cleaners is Never together, and it has a page of its own.
- P2 Chlorine bleach with anything else is Never together, following the second half of the published instruction.
- P3 Ammonia-based or acidic cleaners with anything else is Never together. Household cleaners are not mixed on this site.
- P4 A dye trap with a stain spray is Check both labels, and it has a page explaining what a dye trap is not.
- P5 Two products that both go into the wash water is Check both labels.
- P6 Anything else is No known conflict published, which is not the same as permission.
Rules for a product against a fiber
- F1 Ammonia-based or acidic cleaners against any fiber is Never together. These are not laundry products and they do not go into a wash.
- F2 Chlorine bleach against wool and silk, or against elastane blends, is Never together. Neither is among the fabrics the published source names it for, and elastane is named as an exception.
- F3 Chlorine bleach against any other fiber is Check both labels, because the published source sends you to the care label in every case.
- F4 Where a conflict page on this site covers that product class and that fiber, the answer is Check both labels and the cell links to the page.
- F5 Oxygen bleach against any other fiber is Check both labels, because the published source recommends testing on colored fabric before use.
- F6 Anything else is No known conflict published, which is not the same as permission.
Six pages
Never together
Chlorine bleach · Ammonia-based cleaners
Chlorine Bleach and Ammonia
CDC instructs never to mix bleach with ammonia or any other cleaner, and lists chlorine bleach among the substances ammonia reacts with.
Never together
Chlorine bleach · Any other cleaning product
Chlorine Bleach and Other Cleaners
CDC instructs never to mix bleach with ammonia or any other cleaner. University of Georgia Extension states that mixing chlorine bleach with other cleaning products may produce noxious fumes.
Check both labels
Oxygen bleach powders and paks · Wool and silk garments
Oxygen Bleach and Wool or Silk
Two labels have to agree before this goes ahead: the care label on the garment and the directions on the product. Where either is silent, the answer is no.
Check both labels
Enzyme boosters and enzyme detergents · Protein fibers
Enzymes and Protein Fibers
A published review of wool processing states that protease enzymes degrade proteins and have been applied deliberately to wool fiber, in one case with substantial fiber damage. The garment care label decides whether an enzyme product goes near it.
Check both labels
Fabric softener · Technical and performance fabrics
Fabric Softener and Technical Fabrics
This is the one pairing on the site with no government or academic document behind it. The care label on the garment is the authority, and under the FTC Care Labeling Rule that label has to be there.
Check both labels
Dye-trapping sheets · The job people hand them
Color Catcher and What It Does Not Do
A dye-trapping sheet is not a stain remover and is not a cleaning product. Where a garment care label says wash separately, the sheet does not overrule it.