Let’s talk about bleach pens. Aren’t they one of the handiest home cleaning helpers? I mean, want your grout spick and span? Whip out the bleach pen. Spot clean a white area on a shirt? Bleach pen. Add some designs to your plain jane t-shirts? Hellooooo bleach pen. And what’s even better than a bleach pen? A homemade bleach pen. (And also, how many times can I say the word bleach pen in one paragraph?) Bam.
The best part is, making your own is super simple and only requires 3 ingredients. Seriously, this is as easy as its gets.
Ingredients for Homemade Bleach Pen
1 cup cold water
5 tablespoons cornstarch
5 tablespoons regular bleach
Directions for Making Homemade Bleach Pen
Mix cold water and cornstarch together in a medium sized saucepan. It’s important that the water is cold so that the cornstarch doesn’t cause any lumps in the gel. Over medium high heat, stir the mixture continuously until it is very thick and pasty. Remove from heat and let cool completely.
You can see what the gel should look like at this point below.
Add the bleach to the gel and blend well. Carefully pour the gel mixture into container of choice. I have a bunch of these clear condiment bottles from Walmart that work great. An empty glue bottle would be even better if you need the nozzle to be a tad smaller.
When working with bleach, it’s always a good idea to wear gloves to protect hands, and clothing that you’re not too worried about in case of any splashing.
Use in the same way you would use a regular gel bleach pen. I made my version with regular strength bleach, so make sure to compensate if you are using an extra strength formula.
Below, you can see how I used it to take out a stubborn stain in my favorite white pants. Seriously, before this I had tried adding bleach to the wash cycle, but it still didn’t take the stain out. Whipped out this gel pen, and whalah! All things white again.
I also wanted to show you the consistency of the gel and the bleach power this homemade bleach pen has.
Pretty amazing, right?
Water: Free
Cornstarch: $0.14
Bleach: $0.11Total Price for Homemade Bleach Pen: $0.25
The store bought version costs about $3 or more, so our version is 92% cheaper!! Isn’t that the best? It also took little to no time to make. This homemade hack is totally worth it!
Instructions
Notes
When working with bleach, it’s always a good idea to wear gloves to protect hands, and clothing that you're not too worried about in case of any splashing. Use in the same way you would use a regular gel bleach pen. I made my version with regular strength bleach, so make sure to compensate if you are using an extra strength formula.
If you love this post, be sure to check out some of my other homemade laundry recipes below:
Homemade Liquid Fabric Softener Recipe
Homemade Fabric Softener Crystals Recipe
Homemade Laundry Detergent Recipe
DIY Recipe for Liquid Laundry Detergent
What are your favorite ways to use bleach pens? Have you tried a homemade version? I’d love to hear about it!
I had to make this 3 times to get the right combo. Following the recipe it was so thick I couldn’t mix bleach in and when putting in bottle it would clog. I found 1 cup of water, just under two tbsp of corn starch, then added three tbsp of concentrated bleach. It is a little runny but prefer that!
I loved the Clorox bleach pen, now that it’s discontinued, this recipe is great and doesn’t have all the plastic from the pen. Thank you!
So happy it works for you!
Awesome:)
Hey I made this and it worked fantastically, do you have any tips for washing it out so it doesn’t bleach the rest of the shirt. I used it to make a design in a black shirt
Hydrogen peroxide neutralizes and stops the bleaching process.
From what I’ve read from the author and past comments, i chose to use a reusable hair dye bottle (purchased from my local Sally’s), as it’s much thicker and ment for harsh chemicals. Also, I use concentrated, splass-less, Bleach. So, I used 2.5 Tbs, as opposed to the 5 Tbs it called for using standard strength. Used my concoction on those unsightly red-ish stains along the insides edges of lunch boxes(which appear, no matter how clean you keep them!) Applied, let stand 5 min., rinsed with warm water, wipe out, hang dry. Store left over gel in bottle-UNCAPPED, in a gallon ziplock(sealed 3/4 of the way- it needs to release gases). I second past comment..Clorox pens need to come back!
My tap water has it causing stains to show up on any thing that’s washed and put away for a season.
Your recipe is great and a money saver. Thanks
Used this for a few spots on white shoes. Literally tried everything else and this worked in minutes!
How long can you keep a recipe batch and how should you store it?
I’ve heard u r suppose to neutralize…or something after ur shirt is rinsed. Just to prevent the bleached sections from disintegrating sooner. Bc my denim shirt fell apart about two weeks after just in the bleached areas
While I can confirm that this recipe definitely works, as far as stain removal; I can also, very emphatically, state that a condiment bottle (or at least the ones sold at Michael’s) is not the best dispenser for such a viscous substance, as I just had one such condiment bottle explode all over my washer, myself, a laundry basket three feet away and the wall, four feet away, despite me holding the lid onto the bottle, while trying to use it. It may, perhaps, be sufficient if the neck of the bottle is cut off to allow for a larger surface for the substance to travel through, but I DO NOT recommend it, just the way it’s made.
It’s the gases the homemade pen releases. Releasing the gas once in a while will help.
I give it fiive starts because every time I get involved with bleach, I make a huge mess. This should help
hey what are the nutrition facts for this recipe?
I certainly wouldn’t suggest doing something so harmful for your health such as ingesting bleach, contrary to what Donald Trump has once suggested.
🤔 think that was sodium chlorite (~22.4% BTW) keep watching that MSM 🍿🍿😜)
I’m curious as to whether or not this recipe/pen would be suitable to set bleach type designs. Your sample showing consistency is hopeful, but I’m wondering if you have any input on the matter.
Thank you, Cathy
I’m sure it could work for that, yes!
How long did it take to bleach that line on the dark pink shirt? My son is making a bleach design on a shirt, and it doesn’t seem to be working. . . Any hints?
Turned out too thick. Needs way more water. Should have described or shown consistency of how it should look before you put it in a tube. Mine was so thick it wouldn’t squeeze out so I had to dork with taking it out and adding more water. Not fun to play with stinky bleach! Wish chlorox would just make their pre made bleach pens again. This is to much of a time consuming pita.
I made this recipe, a few hours later it turned into a liquid. Yes I also wish Clorox would bring back their bleach pens..
I agree! I love the clorox bleach pen! Why did they discontinue? I am going to attempt this recipe to make my own…hope it works.
Hi so I made this because I use about 2-4 bleach pens a month. I wear a white coat at my job that needs to be white all the time. Is there anything I can do to keep it from breaking down and becoming watery after 24 hours? Either way I will still use this recipe because it’s cheaper and better on the environment and gets crazy food and oil stains off my shirt.
Hmmm… I’m wondering if maybe a small shaker bottle would work or if you keep the mix in a container you can quickly and easily stir?
Hello thank you for you reply. I found that making smaller batches and shaking together before each use helps the effectiveness of the bleach on stains. Although it does thin out after 24 hours. I make a half batch about once a week so it’s worth the ten minutes it takes because this gets out pen, protein, oily food residue, wine stains, pretty much anything I encounter at work.
So so happy you let me know that!!! Much appreciation!!!