TAED and hydrogen peroxide react to form peroxyacetic acid, a more efficient bleach, allowing lower temperature wash cycles, around 40 °C (104 °F).

[1] Currently, TAED is the main bleach activator used in European laundry detergents and has an estimated annual consumption of 75 kt.

[7][8][9] Powdered TAED is stabilized by granulation with the aid of the sodium salt of carboxymethylcellulose (Na-CMC),[10] which are sometimes additionally coated blue or green.

Despite the relatively low solubility of TAED in cool water, (1 g/L at 20 °C), the granulate dissolves rapidly in the washing liquor.

The peroxyacetic acid formed has bactericidal, virucidal and fungicidal properties, thereby enabling TAED with percarbonate to disinfect and deodorize.