How did chlorine bleaching change the production of cloth and paper?

Before the discovery of chlorine’s bleaching properties by Claude-Louis Berthollet in 1785, the primary method for whitening textiles and paper was exposure to sunlight, a slow and weather-dependent process.1

Berthollet’s demonstration that chlorine compounds could effectively remove natural color revolutionized these industries by providing a faster, more reliable chemical alternative. This innovation allowed for the efficient production of white cloth and prepared fabrics for further finishing. In the paper industry, the application of chlorine enabled the bleaching of paper stock, which eventually became a standard technique for achieving high brightness.213

While early attempts at using chlorine for paper were initially hindered by a lack of chemical knowledge—leading to inferior products—the process was later refined and became essential to modern manufacturing. The subsequent development of bleaching powder in 1799 further transformed these industries by creating a stable, easily transportable form of the agent, which remained the industrial standard for over a century.31