How To Make White Clothes White Again

Say goodbye to stains and restore the brightness of your white garments.

Are you fighting a losing battle with your white clothes and linens? It’s possible to get them looking as clean and bright as the day you first wore or used them.

Bleach has long been the traditional method for restoring white clothes, but if you’ve got sensitive skin or simply prefer more natural ingredients, there are alternatives. In this guide, we’ve also included several non-bleach methods of whitening clothes that use ingredients you likely already have at home.

Related: How To Get Oil Stains Out Of Clothes

Before Getting Started

Not all white clothes and linens are made the same. Before you choose any of the effective whitening methods discussed here, read the labels to determine the best washing and drying methods. While the goal is whiter garments and linens, you’ll want to be careful not to shrink anything.

What You Need

In addition to your washer and dryer, here are some other helpful ingredients to brighten white clothing, many of which you might already have on hand.

All Methods

• Laundry detergent

• Stain remover

Method 1

• Bleach

Method 2

• Vinegar

• Tub or bucket

Method 3

• Baking soda

• Large pot

Method 4

• 4 lemons (or ½ cup of lemon juice)

• 1 gallon of hot water

• Bucket or other container for soaking

Method 5

• Hydrogen peroxide

Health And Safety Concerns

Some of the ingredients on this list are quite powerful, even deadly, so exercise the utmost caution when using them.

Here are some tips to keep you and the other members of your household safe when doing laundry:

• Bleach can produce toxic fumes, so avoid mixing it with other cleaning products and use only in a well-ventilated area.

• Use gloves and eye goggles when using bleach or vinegar and baking soda to avoid direct contact with skin, eyes, and open wounds.

• Follow all manufacturer’s labels and warnings on cleaning products to avoid personal injury or damage to clothing.

How To Make White Clothes White Again

If stains are present, pre-treat clothing with the stain remover of your choice first.

Tips

Read the bottle carefully to ensure that it can be safely used in combination with the ingredients in the method you are using.

Related: How To Get Yellow Stains Out Of Fabric

Method 1: Bleach

If you don’t have sensitive skin, bleach is likely the easiest method for whitening clothes. Use with caution in a well-ventilated area.

1. Check the care label to confirm you can safely launder the garment or linen using bleach.

2. Measure out the correct amount of bleach to the wash, per the manufacturer’s instructions.

3. Run a wash cycle; hot water is preferable to kill germs.

4. Line dry the clothing or put it in the dryer on a heat level appropriate for the fabric.

Method 2: White Vinegar

It helps to always have a bottle of distilled white vinegar on hand for its natural cleaning power.

1. Pour 1 cup of distilled white vinegar into a gallon of hot water.

2. Add clothing and let soak overnight or for at least an hour.

3. Hand wash or launder clothing on the appropriate wash cycle.

4. Line dry the clothing or put it in the dryer on a heat level appropriate for the fabric.

Method 3: Baking Soda

Baking soda is another common ingredient that can take care of many household tasks, including laundry.

1. Boil water in a large pot.

2. Once water is boiling, add a cup of baking soda and stir.

3. Turn off the stove and remove the pot from heat to a safe spot.

4. Carefully submerge clothing in baking soda solution and let soak overnight or for at least an hour.

5. Hand wash or launder clothing on the appropriate wash cycle.

6. Line dry the clothing or put it in the dryer on a heat level appropriate for the fabric.

Method 4: Lemon Juice

If you dislike the smell of vinegar, try lemons. The acid in the juice has natural bleaching properties and is especially good for linen, cotton, and polyester.

1. Squeeze four lemons to produce about ½ cup of lemon juice.

2. Add lemon juice to a gallon of hot water. Submerge clothing and let soak overnight or for at least an hour.

3. Hand wash or launder clothing on the appropriate wash cycle.

4. Line dry the clothing or put it in the dryer on a heat level appropriate for the fabric.

Method 5: Hydrogen Peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide has mild but natural bleaching properties. Choose the 3% version in an opaque bottle at the drugstore and store it out of the sunlight at home; otherwise, it will fizz out to just plain water.

1. Add a cup of hydrogen peroxide to the detergent dispenser.

2. Launder clothing on the appropriate wash cycle.

3. Line dry the clothing or put it in the dryer on a heat level appropriate for the fabric.
   

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should I wash white clothes to maintain their brightness?

If the white clothes come in direct contact with your skin, they should be washed after every use to remove the oils from your skin. You can last a bit longer if the white clothing is worn layered over clothing, provided you don’t have to deal with any stains. White sheets can be washed weekly. A hot wash cycle is ideal followed by air drying, preferably in the sunshine, as the sun has natural bleaching power.

Can I use bleach on colored clothes?

Not unless you love the tie-dyed look and want it for your entire wardrobe. Bleach will not only fade colored fabric, but it will also leave splotchy white stains.

Are there any natural alternatives to bleach for whitening clothes?

Yes. If you prefer natural ingredients to bleach, you could try these for whitening clothes: distilled white vinegar, baking soda, and hydrogen peroxide. The UV rays in sunshine also have bleaching and disinfecting power, so hang white linens on the clothesline. Do not use any of these ingredients or methods on colorful clothing.

How can I prevent yellowing of white clothes?

To avoid yellowing, launder white clothing separately from dark or colorful clothing, especially when you’re running wash cycles with warm or hot water. You could also sprinkle in some baking soda to the washer to preserve the brightness. You should also be careful not to overload the washing machine or use too much detergent.

Can I use these methods on delicate fabrics?

Always follow the instructions on the label to avoid damaging delicate fabrics. In general, it’s always best to hand wash or launder on a gentle cycle and line dry.

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