White clothes require special care and specific detergents to maintain their brightness. Here's a guide on effective household products, with lemon salt at the forefront, for cleaning and brightening white garments. These include white distilled vinegar, baking soda, lemon juice, borax, and hydrogen peroxide, all of which are great for hand washing.
Effective Household Materials for Washing White Clothes
Lemon Salt (Citric Acid)
Lemon salt, or citric acid powder, is a natural whitener and can be easily kept on hand as it doesn't spoil. To use, add 3 tablespoons of citric acid to a gallon of hot water in a large enough container to hold your white clothes. Let the clothes soak for at least 4 hours or overnight, then wash as usual.
White Distilled Vinegar
Add one cup of white distilled vinegar to a gallon of hot water and soak your white clothes overnight. Alternatively, you can add one cup of vinegar to the rinse cycle in your washing machine when washing both white and colored clothes. This helps remove detergent residues that can cause whites to appear dull.
Lemon Juice
Lemon juice works effectively on white clothes made of cotton, linen, or polyester, thanks to the citric acid in it. Mix half a cup of lemon juice with a gallon of hot water and add it to a hand-washing basin. Let the clothes soak for at least an hour, or overnight, before washing as usual.
Baking Soda
To clean white clothes with baking soda, add one cup of baking soda to a gallon of hot water in a basin and soak the clothes for at least an hour or overnight. For yellow armpit stains, you can create a paste using equal parts baking soda, lemon juice, and water. Apply the paste with a toothbrush and let it sit for 30 minutes, then wash as usual.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is safe for use on washable fabrics, both by hand and in the washing machine, and is a mild form of oxygen bleach. You can use the 3% hydrogen peroxide solution sold in pharmacies for first aid or add one cup to the bleach dispenser in your washing machine. Since hydrogen peroxide decomposes quickly, make sure it's fresh and still foams when poured into a cup.
Dishwasher Detergent
Many dishwasher detergents contain sodium hypochlorite, a bleaching agent that works well on natural fibers. Add half a cup of dishwasher powder to a gallon of hot water in a basin, ensuring the powder dissolves completely. Then, add the white clothes and soak them for at least 30 minutes before washing them as usual.
Borax
Borax is a natural mineral that can replace chlorine bleach and helps remove stains. Add half a cup of powdered borax to each gallon of warm water, then soak the white clothes for at least 30 minutes (or longer) before washing as usual.
How to Wash White Clothes in the Washing Machine
To wash white clothes effectively in the washing machine, follow these steps:
Separate White Clothes from Colored Clothes: Always separate whites from colors to prevent any color transfer.
Check Care Labels: Review the care labels on your clothes to follow the recommended washing temperature.
Pre-Treat Stains: Apply an enzyme-based stain remover or spot treatment directly to visible stains. Let it sit for a few minutes before washing.
Use Oxygen Bleach or Non-Chlorine Bleach: If the care label allows, use oxygen bleach or non-chlorine bleach to tackle tough stains on white clothes.
Set the Washer to Hot Water: For most white fabrics, set your washing machine to hot water if recommended by the care label.
Don’t Overload the Washer: Ensure the washer isn’t overloaded, as this can hinder the cleaning process.
Drying: After washing, dry your white clothes in the sun. The sun can naturally bleach fabrics. If using a dryer, follow the care instructions or use a low heat setting if unsure.
By using these natural and household products, you can keep your white clothes bright, fresh, and stain-free.
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