Sodium perborate tetrahydrate is used widely in detergent and cleaning formulations to provide a bleaching actions which maintains fabric whiteness and colour brightness while effectively removing wine, fruit, coffee, tea and other stains without damaging fibres. Sodium perborate tetrahydrate is most effective when used above 60⁰C.

At lower washing temperatures, either the washing time or the perborate concentration should be increased (e.g. soaking for several hours). For more active bleaching systems for low temperature washing sodium perborate should be combined with bleach activators, such as tetra acetyl-ethylene-diamine (TAED), which generate peracids in situ.

The ability of sodium perborate tetrahydrate to generate an alkaline solution of hydrogen peroxide is also used in the textile industry for the bleaching of cotton and to fix VAT and sulphur dyes onto textiles fabrics for customers who prefer to handle a solid form of hydrogen peroxide.