Over time, clothes inevitably become dirty and frayed, and it usually becomes necessary to treat, throw away or donate them. This is even more true for whites, as they are prone to yellowing and highlight even more stains and signs of wear. White garments, however, even if stained, can usually be recovered. Read the article to learn how to get even whiter whites and still be able to wear them like new.
Steps
Step 1. Wash the whites regularly
The less time you leave the stains on the garment, the less difficult they will be to remove. This is especially true for yellow halos in the armpits due to sweat and deodorant
Step 2. Apply a stain removal treatment to each faded area before washing
Step 3. Add diluted bleach to your regular wash and follow the proportions with water indicated on the package
Too much bleach can damage or yellow your whites, so measure it in proportion to water carefully
Step 4. Add the diluted bleach 5 minutes after the start of the wash cycle
Many detergents contain degreasing enzymes which take several minutes to activate and the bleach would stop this reaction. Don't add it too late, however, as it needs at least 5 minutes to become active
Step 5. Add 110ml of baking soda with the detergent and bleach in your regular wash
When using baking soda, cut the amount of bleach in half
Step 6. Add distilled white vinegar (110 to 220 ml) to the detergent
The vinegar smell is felt when clothes are wet, but it fades and disappears when they are dry
Step 7. Add hydrogen peroxide (110 ml) to the detergent in your normal wash
Use a 3% solution that is readily available in grocery stores or pharmacies
Step 8. Add some dish soap (110ml) to the detergent in your regular wash
If you are looking for a more environmentally friendly option, make sure the dish soap does not contain phosphates or chlorine
Step 9. Add lemon juice (110 to 220ml) to the detergent in your regular wash
Step 10. Mix 110ml of lemon juice with 4L of very hot water
Step 11. Soak socks or other heavily soiled whites in the solution for about 30 minutes
Soak the laundry overnight to whiten it more thoroughly
Step 12. Let your clothes dry in the sun, as it is a natural whitener, and the air gives your clothes a fresh, clean smell
Advice
- Many bleaching agents (baking soda, lemon juice, and others) can be used as general pre-treatment stain removers or whiteners in the wash cycle.
- Bleach can whiten whites in both hot and cold water, but for better results it should be combined with laundry detergent, with hot water.
Warnings
- Be careful not to mix ammonia and bleach. The combination of these two products causes strong toxic fumes. As a general rule, whenever you clean with chemicals, make sure the area is well ventilated.
- Baking soda, lemon juice, hydrogen peroxide, and other bleaching agents should not be mixed with each other. They work best when simply added to regular detergent.
