Everything Your Mom Didn’t Tell You about Getting Your Clothes White

Brightening white clothing is a little more than dumping a bunch of bleach in the wash. Chlorine bleach can brighten white laundry and works especially well on some cotton fabrics, but it can also damage clothing when it is used incorrectly.

White clothes can become dingy, gray, yellow, or stained for many reasons. Body oils, detergent residue, minerals in the water, stains, and repeated washing can all affect how white fabric looks. The best way to brighten whites depends on the fabric, the care label, and what caused the discoloration.

There are several ways to brighten white laundry, including chlorine bleach, oxygen-based laundry boosters, and borax. These products work differently, so it is important to choose the method that is appropriate for the clothing you are washing.

Before washing, separate whites from colors to reduce the chance of dye transfer. Also check the fabric care label before using any whitening product.

How to Brighten Whites with Chlorine Bleach

Liquid chlorine bleach contains sodium hypochlorite. It is a strong oxidizing agent that can help remove certain stains and discoloration from washable white fabrics. It can also disinfect laundry when used according to the product label.

Chlorine bleach can be very effective, but it is not appropriate for every fabric. I personally avoid using chlorine bleach unless it is really needed and is an appropriate choice for the item. Sometimes, however, it is the best product for the job.

Important Chlorine Bleach Safety Tips

Chlorine bleach is a strong chemical and should be handled carefully.

• Always follow the bleach manufacturer’s directions and the clothing care label.
• Never pour full-strength bleach directly onto clothing.
• Use the bleach dispenser on your washing machine when one is available.
• If your machine does not have a bleach dispenser, follow the bleach manufacturer’s instructions for adding it safely to the wash water.
• Never mix chlorine bleach with ammonia, acids, vinegar, or other cleaning products. Dangerous chemical reactions can occur.
• Avoid getting bleach on your skin or in your eyes.
• Provide good ventilation when using chlorine bleach.
• Keep bleach away from metal surfaces when possible. It can damage or discolor some metals.
• Do not use chlorine bleach on fabrics that the care label says should not be bleached.
• Chlorine bleach is generally unsuitable for wool, silk, spandex, and many other delicate or specialty fabrics.
• Repeated chlorine bleach use can weaken some textile fibers over time.
• Repeated use can also contribute to yellowing or fabric damage in some circumstances.
• Check for colorfastness when appropriate, even when an item appears to be white.
• Never assume that more bleach will produce whiter clothes. Using too much can damage fabric and may actually make the problem worse.

How to Use Chlorine Bleach in the Washing Machine

The safest method is to follow the directions on your particular bleach product and washing machine.

For machines with a bleach dispenser:

1. Measure the bleach according to the product instructions.
2. Add it to the bleach dispenser up to the manufacturer’s recommended level. Do not overfill.
3. Add detergent as directed.
4. Wash the clothing according to the fabric care label.

If your washing machine does not have a bleach dispenser, follow the bleach manufacturer’s instructions for when and how to add it. Never pour concentrated bleach directly onto dry clothing.

Chlorine bleach is generally most useful for washable white fabrics that are labeled for chlorine bleach use. If the stain or discoloration remains after washing, you may need to identify the stain and use a stain-removal method designed for that particular substance.

Brightening Whites with Oxygen-Based Cleaners

Oxygen-based laundry products are another option for brightening white clothing. They are often sold as oxygen bleach, non-chlorine bleach, or color-safe bleach.

These products use oxygen-releasing compounds rather than sodium hypochlorite. They can help loosen stains and brighten dingy laundry and are often a gentler choice than chlorine bleach for washable fabrics.

Oxygen bleach is not the same thing as chlorine bleach, and it should not be treated as a direct substitute for disinfecting when a product specifically needs to be disinfected.

Follow the directions on the product you are using. Some oxygen-based products work best when dissolved in warm or hot water, while others are formulated to work in cooler temperatures.

How to Use Oxygen Bleach

The exact amount depends on the product, so follow the manufacturer’s directions rather than automatically using a specific amount for every load.

Depending on the product and washing machine:

• Add the recommended amount to the wash water or the compartment specified by your machine.
• Some powdered products may need to be dissolved before use.
• Do not put a non-chlorine bleach product into a dispenser unless the product and washing machine instructions say it is appropriate.
• Wash according to the clothing care label.

For badly dingy whites, an oxygen-based presoak can sometimes be more effective than simply adding the product to the wash. Follow the soaking directions on the product label.

How to Brighten Whites with Borax

Borax is a laundry booster that can be added to the wash along with regular laundry detergent. It can help improve cleaning in some laundry situations, particularly when water conditions or residue are contributing to dinginess.

To use borax in the washing machine, follow the directions on the package for the amount to use and add it according to the product instructions.

Borax is not a magic whitening product, and it will not remove every type of stain or discoloration. If your white laundry is dingy because of a specific stain, treating the stain itself may give you better results.

Using Borax as a Presoak for Dingy Whites

A borax soak can be useful when white laundry needs some extra cleaning before it goes through the washing machine.

For a simple presoak:

1. Fill a clean plastic container with enough water to completely cover the clothing.
2. Add borax according to the product directions.
3. Stir until the borax is well distributed.
4. Add the white laundry and allow it to soak.
5. Launder the clothing according to the care label.

For heavily soiled or dingy laundry, a longer soak may be helpful. However, always consider the fabric before soaking and follow the garment manufacturer’s care instructions.

Why White Clothes Turn Gray or Yellow

If your whites are becoming dingy even though you wash them regularly, the problem may not be a lack of bleach.

Common causes include:

• Body oils and perspiration
• Stains that were not completely removed
• Detergent or fabric softener residue
• Minerals in the water
• Washing whites with colors that bleed
• Overloading the washing machine
• Using too much detergent
• Using the wrong wash temperature for the fabric and soil
• Fabric damage caused by repeated use of strong chemicals

Keeping white laundry looking its best starts with good washing habits. Sort whites from colors, avoid overloading the washer, use the correct amount of detergent, and treat stains as soon as possible.

Which Whitening Method Should You Use?

There is no single best whitening product for every load of laundry.

Chlorine bleach: Best reserved for appropriate washable whites when the care label allows it and stronger whitening or disinfecting is needed.

Oxygen-based bleach: A good option for many washable fabrics when you want to brighten dingy whites without using chlorine bleach.

Borax: Primarily a laundry booster that can help improve cleaning and can also be used as a presoak when appropriate.

Stain treatment: Often the best choice when a particular stain is making a white garment look dirty. Whitening the entire garment will not necessarily remove the substance causing the stain.

Laundry 101: Part 3 – Brightening Whites -Tips for Whiter Whites

The biggest mistake people make is assuming that more cleaning product means cleaner, whiter clothes. It doesn’t. Too much bleach, detergent, or another laundry product can leave residue, damage fabric, or create new problems.

Instead, choose the product based on the fabric, the care label, and the reason the clothing needs brightening.

And remember, you do not have to use chlorine bleach every time you wash white clothes. Good laundry habits, proper stain treatment, and occasional use of an appropriate whitening product can go a long way toward keeping white laundry looking fresh.

Now that you know how to brighten whites, let’s move on to Laundry 101: Part 4, Laundry Boosters and Water Softeners

Clothing and Laundry