topic Re: White whites without using bleach. in Home

White whites without using bleach.

Capri — Sat, 07 Mar 2015 16:41:23 GMT

Looking for something to get my whites white without chlorine bleach. Any suggestions appreciated. Thank you.

Re: White whites without using bleach.

Shelbelle — Sat, 07 Mar 2015 16:44:26 GMT

Adding Oxyclean powder to the wash comes to my mind. Also, use a deteregent that contains a bleach alternative.

Re: White whites without using bleach.

gardensla — Sat, 07 Mar 2015 17:14:00 GMT

borax or bluing liquid. Both found on amazon or at grocery store

Re: White whites without using bleach.

Still Raining — Sat, 07 Mar 2015 17:33:21 GMT

I have always felt that whites that are not pure cotton will never get that white, white look. They always get sort of grey no matter what.

Re: White whites without using bleach.

Capri — Sat, 07 Mar 2015 17:46:09 GMT

Thanks for the suggestions, I am checking them out on Amazon now. I do think once they have grayed they probably can't be revived but good ideas for the future.

Re: White whites without using bleach.

FranandZoe — Sat, 07 Mar 2015 18:26:36 GMT

Oxiclean Versatile Stain Remover; they have a whitener too but I've never used it. My whites are whiter than white and I haven't used chlorine bleach for 7 years. I add it to every wash load and soak for a short while - longer if need be. It's a miracle product.

Re: White whites without using bleach.

Madisson — Sat, 07 Mar 2015 18:30:32 GMT

I toss a sheet of Color Grabber into each load of wash. My whites stay very bright.

Re: White whites without using bleach.

Loveac — Sat, 07 Mar 2015 18:56:02 GMT

I use Cascade dishwasher detergent....my cousin told me about this and it does work! No more bleach for me.

Re: White whites without using bleach.

queendiva — Sat, 07 Mar 2015 19:26:34 GMT

FYI: Cascade likely contains some bleach. I would never use DW detergent in my h/e washing machine.

Re: White whites without using bleach.

wildcat fan — Sat, 07 Mar 2015 19:31:31 GMT

I have a couple of black sweaters with white trim. Would Oxyclean brighten the white trim without fading the black?

Re: White whites without using bleach.

Silver Lining — Sat, 07 Mar 2015 19:52:12 GMT

On 3/7/2015 wildcat fan said: I have a couple of black sweaters with white trim. Would Oxyclean brighten the white trim without fading the black?

I wouldn't try it.

Re: White whites without using bleach.

Clover29 — Sat, 07 Mar 2015 20:54:49 GMT

I think it depends on what you're washing., and how often. I have a white towel that gets washed every day, and after six months it's really grey. Bedlinen that only gets washed once a month (because I have several sets in rotation) stays pretty white.

Nothing I've tried will restore the towel to its pristine new white color, whatever the commercials say about how it gets little girls' karate robes like new.

Re: White whites without using bleach.

pinkcrystal — Sat, 07 Mar 2015 21:50:19 GMT

Borax.

Re: White whites without using bleach.

Kachina624 — Sun, 08 Mar 2015 00:01:37 GMT

Hang them on a clothesline in the sun. The sun is the original bleaching agent.

Re: White whites without using bleach.

PeterDM — Sun, 08 Mar 2015 01:15:51 GMT

I have a very white bathroom with lots of white hand towels and a white, cotton shower curtain. I've found that using Oxyclean will get the fabrics very white at first, however, I've found that the fabric would get very yellow within a couple of weeks. I stopped using the Oxyclean and moved to Gain Flings, and the whites stay white and don't yellow after time.

Re: White whites without using bleach.

Mominohio — Sun, 08 Mar 2015 02:20:38 GMT

On 3/7/2015 Kachina624 said: Hang them on a clothesline in the sun. The sun is the original bleaching agent.

This is absolutely the truth. My whites are much brighter after a few weeks on the outside clothes line when the weather breaks.

One thing turning whites dull could be your water. It doesn't matter if you have a well or city water, the iron, chemicals and minerals vary from place to place, and treating your water might be a first step. Iron filter, water filter, and water softener (and using the right kind of salt in it) are the first place to start. You can't keep lights and whites looking good if your water is bad. Sometimes it is the fact that your water heater is really dirty, and needs flushing or even replaced.

Also, I'm not at all insinuating that you don't know how to sort or do laundry, but proper sorting is really important if you don't want color transfer, which often just shows up as dulling of whites and brights.

I find bleach doesn't whiten, in my water (well with iron issues) even with filters, softeners etc. I have used Oxy, but not impressed with that either.

I used to take my whites to the laundromat, which had much better water than we did at that time, every month or so, and it seemed to wash some of the dull out. Just getting them in some better water once in awhile helps.

Re: White whites without using bleach.

Shelbelle — Sun, 08 Mar 2015 15:00:29 GMT

On 3/7/2015 Silver Lining said:
On 3/7/2015 wildcat fan said: I have a couple of black sweaters with white trim. Would Oxyclean brighten the white trim without fading the black?
I wouldn't try it.

I would not either, in fact I would wash them in Woolite for Darks.

Re: White whites without using bleach.

wildcat fan — Sun, 08 Mar 2015 16:03:38 GMT

On 3/8/2015 Shelbelle said:
On 3/7/2015 Silver Lining said:
On 3/7/2015 wildcat fan said: I have a couple of black sweaters with white trim. Would Oxyclean brighten the white trim without fading the black?
I wouldn't try it.

I would not either, in fact I would wash them in Woolite for Darks.

Thanks! I'll try Woolite for Darks.

Re: White whites without using bleach.

dex — Sun, 08 Mar 2015 16:24:53 GMT

If I get a stain on a white fabric then I just keep it dampened in the sun and voila it's gone.

Re: White whites without using bleach.

Lotus — Sun, 08 Mar 2015 16:30:50 GMT

Years ago I stayed a B & B and they had the WHITEST sheets. I asked the inn owner if she laundered them herself or sent them out. She said she did them herself and took me into her laundry room and showed me what she used: