Content

• To step
• Part 1 of 3: Sort and separate white garments
• Part 2 of 3: Wash white clothes
• Part 3 of 3: Drying white clothes
• Necessities

White items of clothing often get dirty and yellow more quickly and discolour more quickly than light and dark colored clothing. It can be quite a challenge to keep your white clothes nice and white. With the right attention and care, you can ensure that your white garments stay radiant white without damaging them and making them look less beautiful.

To step

Part 1 of 3: Sort and separate white garments

1. Separate white garments from light and dark garments. Always wash white clothes separately from colored clothes to prevent the colored clothes from transferring to and staining the white clothes.
2. Separate white garments with colored areas from completely white garments. For example, the colored areas cannot stain completely white garments, no matter how small those colored areas may be. For example, separate a white shirt with bright red stripes from all-white T-shirts.
3. Sort white items into different piles based on how dirty they are. For example, very dirty white garments cannot transfer mud, food and other dirt to other white garments. For example, if you've spent an afternoon in the garden and your white shirt is covered in mud, separate that shirt from cleaner items of clothing that are whiter in color.
4. Sort white items according to washing instructions. Washing labels contain washing instructions regarding the water temperature, the washing program and whether you can use bleach. For example, put all the white items to be washed with the delicates program in a pile, and items that are to be washed with a normal washing program and do not need to be ironed in another pile.
5. Separate white items that shed lint from white items that attract lint. This prevents large amounts of fluff from sticking to fabrics that are difficult to remove fluff from. For example, do not wash white towels together with white corduroy pants to prevent lint from sticking to the pants.

Part 2 of 3: Wash white clothes

1. Wash white items with hot water whenever possible. Hot water is more effective at killing germs and bacteria, and keeps white clothes looking radiantly white.
   • If necessary, adjust the water temperature according to the care label instructions to prevent garments from shrinking and deforming. For example, garments made of nylon, spandex, lycra and certain cotton blends can shrink when washed with hot water.
   • Use cold water to wash stained white garments. Stains caused by wine, chocolate and tea are more easily removed with cold water. The cold water will also keep the stains from transferring to other white items of clothing.
2. Put the correct amount of detergent in the washing machine according to the directions on the package. How much detergent you need to add depends on how much laundry you have and how strong the detergent is.
   • Do not add more detergent than the amount stated on the package. Using too much detergent can create a film on your clothes that attracts more dirt and is more visible on white clothes.
3. Use the correct type of bleach or natural alternatives to bleach. Bleach helps bleach white items, but it can be toxic and irritate sensitive skin. Consider using chlorine bleach to help remove stubborn stains, or mix one part bleach with one part baking soda to neutralize the toxicity of pure bleach.
   • Use the bleach according to the directions on the package to avoid overuse and your clothes from turning gray or yellow.
   • Do not use bleach on delicate garments as chlorine bleaches and oxygen bleaches can weaken garments so that they tear and fray.
   • Instead of bleach, use household products with natural bleaching properties, such as lemon juice, white vinegar, baking soda, and hydrogen peroxide. These products whiten white garments without being toxic and irritating the skin.
4. Consider using bluing to neutralize yellow spots in white fabric. Bluing whitens white garments by adding a small amount of blue dye to the water and removing it during rinsing.

Part 3 of 3: Drying white clothes

1. Put white items in the dryer immediately when the washing machine is ready. This prevents mold from growing in your white clothes because they have been in the washing machine for too long.
2. Check all items of clothing for stains before putting them in the dryer. For example, stains that are not completely removed during washing cannot be permanently absorbed by the heat of the dryer.
   • If necessary, wash items with stains in the washing machine again before putting them in the dryer.
3. Dry white items according to the care label instructions. Some items of clothing will have to be laid flat to dry or with a specific drying program. Fabrics like nylon and acrylic may need to be tumble-dried at a lower temperature because these fibers often absorb less water.
4. Hang all white items to dry outside in the sun when possible. The UV rays from the sun have a natural bleaching effect on clothes, keeping white clothes white. It is also often cheaper to hang your clothes on the clothesline than to use your tumble dryer.

Necessities

• Laundry detergent
• Bleach
• Lemon juice
• Baking soda
• White vinegar
• Hydrogen peroxide
• Washing line