White clothes look great when they are new, then slowly turn gray, yellow, or just a little dull after enough washes. Sweat, body oils, detergent buildup, stains, and washing whites with darker colors can all contribute to that not-so-white look.
Before replacing your favorite white shirts, towels, or sheets, try giving them a little extra attention in the laundry room. Depending on the fabric and care label, these 10 tricks can help brighten whites and remove some of the buildup that regular washing leaves behind.
Add Baking Soda to the Wash
Baking soda can help freshen laundry and loosen residue that makes white fabrics look dull. Add about 1/2 cup along with your usual detergent, or use it in a presoak for particularly dingy washable whites.
Try an Oxygen-Based Whitener
Oxygen bleach, including products such as OxiClean, can help lift stains and brighten whites without relying on traditional chlorine bleach. For heavily soiled items, soaking them according to the product directions before washing can give the cleaner more time to work.
Use Hydrogen Peroxide on Compatible Whites
Standard 3% hydrogen peroxide can help treat certain stains and brighten washable white fabrics. Test it first on a hidden area, follow the garment’s care instructions, and never combine hydrogen peroxide with vinegar or chlorine bleach.
Add White Vinegar to the Rinse
Too much detergent and fabric softener can leave residue behind that eventually makes white laundry look gray or stiff. Adding white vinegar to the rinse cycle can help remove some of that buildup, but keep it separate from bleach and hydrogen peroxide.
Related: Common Things People Accidentally Damage With Vinegar
Let the Sun Do Some of the Work
Instead of putting freshly washed whites straight into the dryer, hang them outside when the weather allows. Sunlight can naturally brighten white fabrics while also leaving laundry smelling fresh.
Give Lemon Juice a Try
Lemon juice contains citric acid and can be used as a mild brightening soak for some washable white fabrics. Add lemon juice to warm water, soak the items for a while, and then wash normally after checking that the fabric can tolerate acidic treatments.
Boost Your Detergent With Borax
Borax can help detergent work more effectively, particularly when you’re dealing with hard water, odors, or stubborn soil. Follow the package directions rather than pouring in extra, since more product doesn’t necessarily mean cleaner laundry.
Bring Back an Old-School Bluing Trick
Laundry bluing has been used for generations to make yellowing white fabrics appear brighter by adding a very slight blue tone. A little goes a long way, so dilute and use it exactly as directed, or you could end up with blue streaks instead.
Soak Dingy Whites Before Washing
Sometimes a normal wash cycle doesn’t give detergent enough time to loosen years of buildup. Soaking washable whites in water with an appropriate laundry detergent or oxygen-based cleaner before washing can help lift grime that has settled into the fibers.
Wash Whites Separately and Don’t Overload the Machine
White laundry can gradually take on a gray cast when it is repeatedly washed with darker clothing or packed into an overloaded washer where dirt cannot rinse away properly. Wash whites separately when possible and leave enough room for the clothes to move freely so detergent and water can circulate properly.
