Do you have a yellowed shirt, pants or sheets that you still don't want to part with? There are many techniques you can try to get your garments back to their original bright white. Some of them can damage delicate fabrics, so use the method that works best for the type of laundry you need to bleach. Read on for more detailed instructions, you can use chemical or natural products.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Bleach and Other Chemicals
Step 1. Use bleach on whites
It is one of the strongest whiteners, but it should only be used on white clothes. If you have a multicolored or embellished garment and want to revive it, avoid bleach. Here's how to use it:
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Check the label on the clothes to make sure they are bleach resistant.
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Set up the washing machine with your usual detergent.
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Add 180 ml of bleach to the water.
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Put on the laundry.
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Step 2. Use non-bleach-based stain removers for each washable fabric
These products exploit the whitening capacity of oxygen or hydrogen peroxide. It is a safer choice on delicate garments because it is less aggressive than bleach. Here's how to use them:
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Check the laundry label to make sure it is resistant to stain removers.
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Make a solution of water and stain remover by following the instructions on the package of the same.
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Leave the clothes to soak overnight.
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Wash as usual the next day.
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Add 120ml of distilled white vinegar to the washing machine to bring out the shine of the laundry.
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Step 3. Use bleach-free stain removers to treat individual stains
You can treat small spots with these products or with hydrogen peroxide. Try to act before the stain dries. Here is an effective technique:
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Pour the stain remover or hydrogen peroxide over the fresh stain, wetting it completely.
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Let it sit overnight.
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Wash your garment as usual the next morning.
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Step 4. Use a blue dye
It is a combination of water and ferric ferrocyanide. Enhance the white by adding small amounts of this blue dye that eliminates the yellowish hue of shirts, socks and sheets.
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The dye should be mixed with cold water according to the instructions on the package. The tip of a teaspoon should be sufficient depending on the wash cycle you intend to do.
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Method 2 of 2: Natural Products
Step 1. Try sunlight as a whitener
Wash cotton and linen sheets, tablecloths, and all white cloths. Then hang them out to dry in direct sunlight. You can also place them on the lawn waiting for the sun to do the work for you. UV rays will soon whiten the laundry.
Step 2. Lemon juice
Add 120ml of lemon juice to the washing machine during the wash cycle along with the detergent. But be very careful, it could discolor colored garments leaving them stained. It is best to use lemon juice only on white laundry.
Step 3. Add 100g of baking soda to your washing machine detergent
This is a fantastic natural whitener and you probably already have it in the kitchen or bathroom. To remove stubborn stains from whites, pre-treat the areas with a slurry of baking soda and water.
Step 4. Try borax
Sodium borate is a natural mineral that manages to break down the components that create yellow spots. Add 100 g to the washing machine at the beginning of the wash cycle to make the most of its effects.
Step 5. Try the distilled vinegar
Pour 240ml into the washing machine with your normal detergent. This is a great way to revive clothes that appear a little discolored.
Advice
- For best results, use a detergent designed to whiten laundry regularly.
- Wash white fabrics regularly using cold water to prevent stains from lingering and permanently yellowing your clothes.
Warnings
- Be careful not to mix different chemicals, you could cause dangerous fumes.
- Do not use blue dye with fabric softener or bleach.
- Never mix ammonia with bleach or a laundry detergent that contains it.
- Avoid pouring bleach directly on fabrics as they may discolour. Dilute it beforehand in water or use the washing machine compartment.
- Test the whitening product on a hidden corner of fabric beforehand and make sure it doesn't damage it.
