Content

• Steps
• Part 1 of 4: Wear your clothes neatly
• Part 2 of 4: Sort and Preclean White Items
• Part 3 of 4: Use a suitable wash cycle
• Part 4 of 4: Use Complementary Whitening Products
• Tips
• Warnings

There is nothing worse than watching your whites gradually take on different shades of yellow, then turn brown and gray. Over time, white fabrics take on the color of the items with which they come in contact, including during washing. While it can be tricky to keep your garments whitewashed, there are ways to do this, including washing them thoroughly using the appropriate modes and wearing whites carefully.

Steps

Part 1 of 4: Wear your clothes neatly

1. 1 Don't wear white clothes on days when you have to be outside. If you know you will be spending a lot of time outside, especially in rainy or windy weather, go for less branded clothing than white. While you shouldn't hide white items in the far end of your wardrobe and forget about them, they should be worn with care and under suitable conditions so that they retain their original color.
   • White clothing is suitable for the summer heat, however inclement weather can catch you. In such cases, try to wear white only on top, as white pants, skirt or shoes can quickly get dirty.
2. 2 Pay attention to what you eat. White clothes don't go well with pizza. The same applies to almost any dish with tomato or some other sauce. Instead, try to choose fresh foods (such as vegetables and salads) that contain fewer dirty ingredients.
   • If you leave the house in white and have to eat dishes that may leave stains, use a napkin: tuck it behind your collar or lay it on your knees to protect your clothes from drops and splashes.
3. 3 Try not to wear white clothes on children. Surely kids look adorable in smart white clothes. However, the snow-white clothing is likely to soon become stained with dirt and food. Children quickly get their clothes dirty. The easiest way to prevent this is to avoid wearing white clothes at all.
   • If you have to dress your child in something white, try to remove the stains as soon as the child changes.
   • Yellow saliva stains often appear on white shirts and T-shirts. Cover your clothing with bibs or handkerchiefs to protect your clothing from these stubborn stains.
4. 4 Wash white items after each wear. Many items of clothing can be washed after wearing them 2-3 times, but this does not apply to white items. They should be washed after each wear. Even if you don't notice any dirt, sweat and deodorant contain substances that can give white fabrics a dirty yellow or gray tint. Do not take too long with washing white items.
   • Jeans and skirts can be washed after wearing them 1-2 times, as they are usually made from a denser and more durable material.

Part 2 of 4: Sort and Preclean White Items

1. 1 Remove stains immediately. If you are out of the house, gently blot the stain, but do not scrub it. If you have a stain removal marker with you, use it. If not, immediately remove the stained clothing when you return home and pre-clean it with a stain remover or a toothbrush and regular detergent.
   • To pre-clean clothes, blot them with a white cloth, as colored cloths can leave dye behind.
2. 2 Separate white and colored items. It is even possible to separate more soiled white items such as underwear and socks from other white clothing such as dress shirts, blouses, and the like. Be that as it may, this is an absolutely indispensable measure.
   • While you might be tempted to pair white clothes with light or even light gray clothes, don't do it.
   • You may have accumulated a small amount of white clothes and need to wash them in small batches. In this case, set the appropriate mode on the washing machine: too much water can reduce the effectiveness of the detergent.
3. 3 After pre-cleaning with detergent or stain spray, soak white clothing in hot water. Each time you remove stains, rinse the garment and soak it in hot water for 30-60 minutes. The water will absorb the remaining dirt and dissolve the detergent.
   • If you've used a lot of soap, you may need to repeat this step twice. Squeeze the garment gently after each soak.
   • If the material is sensitive to hot water, you can soak the garment in warm or cool water, although this is less effective.
4. 4 Sort items according to material. The optimal wash cycle is determined by the type of fabric: some fabrics can tolerate very hot water, while others shrink or lumps. Sort items according to color and material to prevent fabric discoloration or deterioration.
   • Cottons can handle high temperatures well, while wool and linen can shrink and should be washed in cold or warm water. Synthetic fabrics are very diverse and require different washing conditions.

Part 3 of 4: Use a suitable wash cycle

1. 1 Examine the labels. The washing cycle depends on the fabric and style of the garment. Instead of just putting all the white items together and loading them into the washing machine, wash and dry them according to the recommendations on the labels.
   • While it may seem easier to wash all delicate items together, different materials require special care and different washing modes. If you neglect the recommendations on the labels, you can damage the item, discolor it or lose the right to take advantage of the manufacturer's warranties.
2. 2 Use the hottest wash cycle. Hot water removes dirt and disinfects the fabric. To preserve the white color, wash items in as hot water as possible, as far as your washing machine and fabric will allow. Naturally, this rule does not apply to delicate materials such as silk, linen and wool.
   • While hot water is good on its own, you should disinfect your washing machine regularly to prevent deposits from accumulating on your clothes. Fill your machine with hot water and vinegar once a month and run an idle wash cycle to remove dirt and deposits.
3. 3 Rinse your clothes thoroughly. The rinse cycle is necessary to remove any residual detergent, dirt and debris from the fabric. If clothes are not rinsed well, dirty water can be absorbed into the white fabric. If possible, rinse white items twice to make sure they are free of detergent residues and dirt.
   • A second rinse cycle may incur additional costs. To avoid this, you can not rinse things twice, but just carefully monitor the cleanliness of the washing machine and use the appropriate amount of detergent. Never exceed the recommended dosage of detergent.
4. 4 Do not use a tumble dryer. The heat from the tumble dryer can cause stains to penetrate even deeper into the fabric. Avoid the tumble dryer if possible and air dry your garments.Among other benefits, whites will last longer, as too high temperatures in the tumble dryer will damage the fabric and wear out faster, which will result in you having to buy new clothes more often.
5. 5 Dry your clothes in the sun. If you can, dry white items in the sun. Sunlight is an excellent natural bleach and helps to maintain the pure white color. In addition, when dried in the fresh air, the garment takes on a fresh clean smell.
   • In summer, check dry items for insects before bringing them into your home. It will be unpleasant if, already at home, you find that a large beetle or spider is lurking in clean white clothes.
   • If you cannot dry your clothes outside, you can hang them near a sunlit window.

Part 4 of 4: Use Complementary Whitening Products

1. 1 Pour vinegar into the washing machine. Acetic acid is a natural disinfectant and removes stains and unpleasant odors such as mold and sweat odors. If your white clothes have a stale smell, you can easily get rid of it with vinegar. Simply add 1 tablespoon to ¼ cup (15-60 milliliters) white vinegar to the detergent drum or container.
   • Don't use too much vinegar as it contains acid that can damage the fabric over time.
2. 2 Add pure lemon juice to the water. Lemon juice is a natural bleaching agent. You can use lemon essential oil or freshly squeezed lemon juice. If you've squeezed lemon juice, strain it through cheesecloth or a fine sieve to prevent any pieces of pulp from getting on your clothes.
   • If you decide to use lemon juice, you can squeeze two lemons, pour the juice into a bowl or bowl, add 4 liters of warm water and soak your clothes in it for 30-60 minutes.
   • If you are using lemon essential oil, simply add 2-3 drops directly to the washing machine.
3. 3 Make a baking soda paste. Stains can be removed with a baking soda paste and warm water. Prepare a paste and apply it directly to the stain using a toothbrush or clothes brush. Wait 10-15 minutes for the paste to absorb the dirt, then rinse it off with warm water.
   • This method, which is gentle enough, can be used several times to get rid of stubborn stains. However, rinse the fabric thoroughly after each use, as leftover baking soda can make the fabric brittle.
4. 4 Apply hydrogen peroxide to the stains. It is a wonderful and safe way to get rid of stubborn stains. Hydrogen peroxide is especially good at removing blood stains and other dark stubborn stains. After you've pretreated the stain, pour warm water into a basin or tub, add hydrogen peroxide, and soak your clothes. Hydrogen peroxide disinfects and cleans fabrics and is a safer alternative to bleach.
   • Hydrogen peroxide is often used instead of bleach because it has a similar effect, not just brightens and cleans the material. If you do not want to bleach your clothes, do not use hydrogen peroxide on them.
5. 5 Use bleach as a last resort. While bleach can help disinfect and lighten clothing, it can be unsafe. Bleach is a powerful reagent and can weaken and damage tissue fibers.
   • If you are using bleach, keep it out of the reach of children and pets. Keep bleach away from heat or open flames (stove, tumble dryer, etc.).

Tips

• The less often you wear white garments, the lower the risk of them being damaged or discolored.
• Store white items correctly: Try to keep them in a sunny place, not in a musty and dark closet.

Warnings

• If you spill something on your favorite white item and get it dirty, do not dry the fabric until you remove the stain.