This article was co-authored by Susan Stocker and by wikiHow staff writer, Hannah Madden. Susan Stocker runs and owns Susan’s Green Cleaning, the #1 Green Cleaning Company in Seattle. She is well known in the region for outstanding customer service protocols — winning the 2017 Better Business Torch Award for Ethics & Integrity —and her energetic support of green cleaning practices.
There are 8 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.
wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. In this case, 100% of readers who voted found the article helpful, earning it our reader-approved status.
This article has been viewed 1,561,668 times.
You go to put on your favorite white tee, when you notice it’s not looking so white anymore. White clothing, sheets, and other garments are a staple in the household, but keeping them looking white can be tough, especially over a long period of time. Fortunately, we’ve got the stain-fighting tips you can use to brighten your whites and make them look brand-new again. Keep reading to learn how to pre-soak, wash, and dry your whites to get them back to their original shade.
Things You Should Know
- Pre-soak your garments in Oxi Clean or dishwashing powder to remove discoloration. For tough stains, soak them in chlorine bleach.
- Blot individual stains with hydrogen peroxide or fabric rust remover.
- Add natural products, like baking soda, vinegar, and lemon juice to your wash cycle to brighten up whites in the washer.
- Dry whites outside to use the natural bleaching power of the sun.
Steps
Community Q&A
-
QuestionHow do I get grey out of white clothing?Community AnswerIt can be quite difficult to get the grey removed from white clothing. Try "Vanish".
-
QuestionAre carb soda and baking soda the same thing?Community AnswerYes, they are the same.
-
QuestionHow do I get armpit stains out of white clothes?Community AnswerScrub with Fels-Naptha laundry bar and warm water. It works on my whites and colors.
References
- ↑ https://www.esquire.com/style/mens-fashion/news/a55689/how-to-clean-white-t-shirts/
- ↑ https://www.esquire.com/style/mens-fashion/news/a55689/how-to-clean-white-t-shirts/
- ↑ https://www.today.com/home/how-remove-colors-bleed-whites-t108135
- ↑ https://www.cleaninginstitute.org/cleaning-tips/clothes/detergents/using-bleach-laundry
- ↑ https://www.today.com/home/how-remove-colors-bleed-whites-t108135
- ↑ https://www.cleaninginstitute.org/cleaning-tips/clothes/stain-removal-guide
- ↑ https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/how-to-whiten-white-sheets-36765736
- ↑ https://www.thekitchn.com/lemon-juice-laundry-bleach-alternative-22932256
- ↑ http://www.marthastewart.com/267832/the-wash-cycle
About This Article
To get white clothes white again, soak them overnight before washing them in a tub filled with hot water and a scoop of oxygen bleach, such as Oxi Clean. For extra tough stains, try using a scoop of dishwashing powder instead. The next day, launder your clothes the way you normally would. You can also soak your clothes in a tub of water with about 2 tablespoons (30 mL) of chlorine bleach mixed in for 15-30 minutes, then launder them. However, keep in mind that bleach can be hard on many fabrics. To tackle individual stains, pre-treat the stained area with 3% hydrogen peroxide or a rust remover before tossing the item in the laundry. You can also brighten dingy white items by adding baking soda, vinegar, lemon juice, or commercial color remover to your washing machine along with your regular detergent. If possible, hang your items out to dry in the sun, which has a natural bleaching effect. Keep reading for tips from our Cleaning co-author, like how to keep your whites bright with a pre-soak!