Struggling to keep your white laundry brilliantly clean? You’re not alone. Caring for white clothes can be challenging, but with the right methods and products, you can achieve outstanding results. In this article, we’ll share proven washing techniques to prevent yellowing and stains on your white garments.
Sorting and Preparing Laundry
Before washing white clothes, it's crucial to sort them correctly. To avoid colour transfer, separate white laundry from coloured items, especially from dark and vibrant colours. Also, check the care labels and sort your laundry by fabric type.
Choosing the Right Laundry Detergent
To maintain brilliant white clothing, selecting the right detergent is crucial. You can go for a laundry gel specifically designed for white laundry. However, if you don’t have many white items and often wash light or cream-coloured clothes together, a high-quality, gentle universal detergent that effectively removes stains and is kind to fabrics will be beneficial.
The gel is suitable for all types of laundry, including whites only, and leaves it clean and fresh. At the same time, it is effective at low temperatures, which helps save energy and extends the lifespan of your laundry.
Some white fabrics may yellow after using fabric softener; however, if you like your clothes to smell nice, you can use laundry perfume instead of traditional fabric softener. It adds fragrance to your laundry while being gentle on the fabric.
Appropriate Temperature and Washing Programme
Wash white laundry at a temperature between 40–60°C for more effective removal of dirt and bacteria. For delicate fabrics and synthetics, choose a lower temperature, a gentle cycle, and a lower spin speed. For white towels, sheets, or cotton items, you can set a higher temperature. Always follow the instructions on the care labels.
Taking care of your washing machine also plays an important role in maintaining white laundry. Limescale can cause clothes to become grey, so don't forget to keep your washing machine hygienically clean by regularly using specialised cleaners.
How to Wash Stains Out of White Items
When washing white items, it is essential to start removing stains as soon as possible. As soon as you notice a stain, treat it immediately. The longer it stays on the fabric, the harder it will be to remove. Use cold water and gently blot the stain. Avoid hot water, as it can set the stain.
For tough stains, use a stain remover designed for white laundry and apply it according to the instructions. You'll find several warnings there, such as not washing white clothes treated with stain remover together with items of other colours. The stain remover could transfer to the other clothes and cause colour bleeding. Also, remember to test the product on a discreet area to avoid damaging the fabric.
You can remove yellow sweat stains by soaking the laundry for a few hours in warm water with a bit of vinegar. Gall soap works great for stains on the collars of white shirts. Wet the collar, rub it with the soap, let it sit, and then wash it in the washing machine as usual.
ou can read more about how to get rid of yellow sweat stains in this article.
Drying White Laundry
If possible, dry white clothes outside in the sun after a regular wash. Sunlight has a natural bleaching effect that helps keep white clothes bright. If you need to use a tumble dryer, set it to a low temperature to prevent excessive wear and yellowing.
If you have used bleach during washing, also avoid drying the clothes in the sun.
Where to Store White Clothes in the Wardrobe
This question isn't as trivial as it might seem at first glance. If you use plastic bags to store larger or winter items, be careful with white clothes. They can turn yellow in plastic bags. Instead, use fabric bags or boxes that allow the fabric to "breathe." To keep clothes smelling fresh for as long as possible, you can place a scented sachet in the box or organiser with them.
Keep white clothes separate from coloured ones on shelves to avoid accidental staining.
By following these recommendations and using quality products suitable for white clothes, you won’t have any trouble keeping your favourite pieces brilliantly clean.