I have heard from a dry cleaner company that Bleach weakens the threads and stitching in the fabric and that the color fast bleaches in laundry soap are better than regular bleach.
Liquid chlorine bleach should only be used on 100% cotton fabric and only if it is white. Chlorine bleach will permanently yellow anything made from a man-made fiber such as polyester, or a polyester/cotton blend. Even this is not recommended unless the article is severely stained or needs sanitizing for some reason. It will weaken the fabric and the stitching. Most of the time I do not use bleach at all, just the detergent. It is easier on the colors and fabric (no bleach spots), the clothes wear longer, they do not have a chlorine smell, and they are clean.
The dry cleaner is right! Chlorine bleach weakens and degrades fibers very quickly and can also yellow whites. All color bleach is much safer, more effective and easier to use.
