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It happens in an instant. You’re carrying a glass of red wine and it sloshes onto your new cream carpet. Or your toddler scribbles with a Sharpie on the kitchen counter. Oil drips on your patio furniture cushions while grilling burgers. Before you know it, you have a stain disaster on your hands!
Luckily the stain removal gods at Clorox have created a miracle-working tool – the Clorox bleach pen. This powerful little stain fighter makes it easy to treat and erase tough stains in hard-to-reach spots all over your home.
In this comprehensive guide, you’ll learn everything about using Clorox bleach pens to erase stains from carpets, tile, bathtubs, toilets, grout and more. Let’s take a deep dive into proper usage, stain-removing power, safety, where to buy, and pro tips and tricks for getting maximum staining fighting action from each pen.
What’s in the Magic Wand?
Clorox bleach pens function like a magic wand for making stains disappear. But what makes these pens such a powerhouse cleaning tool? Here are the key ingredients:
- Sodium hypochlorite – This concentrated bleach solution is the active stain-removing component. It breaks down and eliminates pigments that cause staining.
- Thickening agents – Turns the bleach into a viscous gel for better adhesion and clinging to surfaces.
- Valve and applicator – The pen applicator provides controlled delivery right to the stain. No spills or drips.
The combination of high-strength bleach, gel texture, and precision applicator gives you the power to easily zap stains on a wide variety of materials.
How to Use Clorox Bleach Pens
Using a Clorox bleach pen is simple. Just follow these steps whenever you have a stain situation:
- Put on gloves – The bleach can irritate skin so wear moisture-resistant rubber gloves.
- Click to dispense gel – Firmly click the pen tip until a small amount of bleach gel comes out. Take care not to get bleach on your hands.
- Apply directly to the stain – Use the applicator to gently spread gel completely over the stained area.
- Let dwell for 5-15 minutes – This gives the bleach time to penetrate and start working on the stain.
- Wipe away gel – After dwelling, use a clean damp sponge or cloth to wipe the area and remove any remaining bleach gel.
- Rinse – Rinse the area thoroughly with clean water to eliminate all bleach residue.
- Air dry – Let the area fully air dry before using or touching. Avoid scrubbing or rubbing wet area.
For tough, set-in stains, repeat steps as needed until the stain has lifted. But take care not to over-apply or over-scrub to avoid damage.
Stain-Fighting Superpowers
From red wine to permanent marker, here are just some of the stubborn stains that Clorox bleach pens can conquer:
Carpets and Rugs
- Red wine, coffee, juice, soda, pet stains
- Food spills like ketchup, pasta sauce, oil
- Dirt, grime, mold or mildew
Tile, Grout and Bathrooms
- Soap scum on tile, showers, tubs
- Grungy grout lines
- Toilet bowl stains
Kitchen Surfaces
- Countertop spills – wine, oil, coffee, food
- Stained sinks, appliances, trash cans
Outdoor Furniture
- Mold, mildew, and dirt on cushions
- Weather stains on plastic straps
Miscellaneous
- Permanent marker on surfaces
- Scuffs on white walls and baseboards
- Stains on plastic containers
As you can see, Clorox bleach pens can be used throughout your home to pre-treat stains and restore surfaces to a like-new condition.
The Power of Portability
One of the key benefits of Clorox bleach pens is their compact size and portability. Some advantages include:
- Easily kept in your cleaning caddy – Always have bleach on hand for stain emergencies.
- Convenient for travel – Toss one in your suitcase to tackle stains in hotels and rental properties.
- Perfect for small spaces – Easily maneuver into tight spots like countertop edges or between appliances.
- Discreet storage – Stash pens in bathrooms, laundry rooms, kitchens for on-the-spot stain removal.
Unlike large, messy bleach bottles, the bleach pen’s portable applicator makes it easy to quickly treat unexpected stains anywhere around your home.
Clorox Bleach Gel Pens vs. Liquid Bleach
How do Clorox Bleach gel pens compare to good ol’ liquid bleach when battling stains? Here’s the rundown:
- Concentration – Clorox pens provide around 6% bleach concentration, more powerful than the 3-6% bleach concentration in liquid varieties.
- Control – The pen applicator gives you more control vs. pouring liquid bleach from a bottle. No more bleach splashes and drips.
- Portability – Compact pen shape is easier to carry and store than bulky bleach jugs.
- Vertical surfaces – Gel clings nicely to walls, shower doors, tile, and more compared to drippy liquid bleach.
- Scrubbing power – Pen tip allows gentle scrubbing to work gel into set-in stains.
While liquid bleach is useful for some applications, the portability, control, and targeted scrubbing power of the pen make it the #1 choice for tackling unexpected stained surfaces throughout the home.
Using Bleach Pens Safely
While extremely effective, it’s crucial to take proper safety measures when using concentrated bleach. Follow these guidelines:
- Wear gloves and eye protection – The bleach solution can irritate and damage skin and eyes. Protect yourself fully.
- Check if surfaces are bleach-safe – Know what materials can and cannot be safely bleached before use.
- Work in a well-ventilated area – Never use bleach products in enclosed, non-ventilated spaces due to toxic fumes.
- Take care around fabrics – Avoid over-bleaching fabrics and test in an inconspicuous spot first.
- No mixing chemicals – Never mix with ammonia or acids, which creates toxic gases.
- Keep out of reach of children and pets.
- Wash hands after use – Avoid touching eyes or mouth to prevent ingestion.
By carefully following usage and safety instructions, Clorox bleach pens can provide powerful stain removal safely and effectively.
Where to Stock Up on Clorox Bleach Pens
Clorox bleach pens are widely available at supermarkets, home improvement stores, online retailers and more. Here are some of the top places to find them:
- Grocery stores – Walmart, Kroger, Safeway, Publix, Albertsons and more carry Clorox bleach pens in the cleaner aisle.
- Dollar stores – Dollar Tree, Dollar General and Family Dollar sell individual pens for just $1-2 each.
- Home improvement – The Home Depot, Lowes, Ace Hardware and True Value hardware stores.
- Warehouse clubs – Shop value packs at Costco, Sam’s Club and BJ’s Wholesale Club.
- Online – Find multipacks on websites like Amazon.com, Walmart.com, Target.com, and Clorox.com.
- Office supply – Staples, Office Depot and Office Max stock with office and school cleaning supplies.
Standard pricing ranges from $3.50-$5 for a 2-pack up to $10-$15 for a 4-6 pack of pens at major retailers. Shop sales and bulk packs to get the best value.
Pro Tips and Tricks
Take your Clorox bleach pen staining fighting skills to the next level with these useful tips:
- Stick pens in small zip top bags to prevent drying out between uses.
- Set wet stains by dabbing with a towel before bleaching.
- Use an old toothbrush for extra scrubbing power on tough stains.
- Mix a paste of bleach gel and baking soda to boost cleaning power.
- Refresh grout lines by “drawing” bleach gel into them with pen tip.
- Whiten dingy caulking by applying bleach gel and letting it sit for 15-20 minutes before rinsing.
With the right techniques, you can get the most juice from each pen. Test these pro tips the next time your bleach pen duty calls.
The Magic of Clorox Bleach Pens
Armed with the unmatched staining fighting combination of concentrated bleach, precision applicator and portability, the Clorox bleach pen is set to tackle stains in every corner of your home. Just remember – use bleach pens safely by wearing gloves, never mixing chemicals, working in ventilated rooms and keeping bleach away from kids and pets.
With the proper care, this mighty stain-zapping wonder can erase spots, spills and oops marks to restore and refresh surfaces throughout your living space. Don’t let impossible stains get you down! Let the magical Clorox bleach pen whisk them away.
