White clothes have a way of losing their fresh look after enough trips through the washing machine. Sweat, body oils, detergent residue, stains, and washing whites with darker colors can leave shirts, towels, and sheets looking gray or yellow.
Before giving up on your favorite white pieces, try a few changes to your laundry routine. Depending on the fabric and its care instructions, these 10 tricks may help remove buildup, treat stains, and bring back some of that original brightness.
1. Add Baking Soda to the Wash
Baking soda can help freshen laundry and loosen some of the residue that makes white fabrics look dull. Try adding about 1/2 cup to a regular load along with your detergent, or use it in a presoak for washable whites that need extra attention.
Related: 16 Uses for Baking Soda in Your Garden
2. Try an Oxygen-Based Whitener
Oxygen bleach products, including OxiClean, can help lift stains and brighten white fabrics without using traditional chlorine bleach. For stubborn discoloration, soak the items according to the package instructions before putting them through a regular wash cycle.
Related: 10 Common Mistakes to Avoid When Painting Your Home Interior White
3. Use Hydrogen Peroxide on Compatible Whites
Standard 3% hydrogen peroxide can help with certain stains on washable white fabrics. Test it on a hidden spot first, follow the care label, and never mix it with vinegar or chlorine bleach.
Related: 15 Simple Tricks for Getting Your Toilet Sparkling Clean
4. Add White Vinegar to the Rinse
Detergent and fabric softener can leave residue on clothing and towels, making them feel stiff or look less bright over time. Adding white vinegar to the rinse cycle may help remove some of that buildup, but never combine it with chlorine bleach or hydrogen peroxide.
Related: Common Things People Accidentally Damage With Vinegar
5. Let the Sun Do Some of the Work
Try hanging freshly washed white clothes outside instead of putting every load straight into the dryer. Sunlight can help fade some stains and brighten certain white fabrics, although prolonged exposure may weaken fibers or cause damage.
6. Give Lemon Juice a Try
Lemon juice contains citric acid and may help brighten some washable white fabrics. Mix it with warm water for a soak, check that the material can tolerate acidic treatments, and wash the item afterward.
7. Boost Your Detergent With Borax
Borax can help laundry detergent work better, particularly in hard water or on clothes with stubborn soil and odors. Follow the amount listed on the package, since adding more than recommended won’t necessarily make your clothes cleaner.
8. Bring Back an Old-School Bluing Trick
Laundry bluing has been used for generations to make yellowish whites look brighter by adding a very slight blue tint that counteracts yellow tones. It needs to be diluted and used according to the instructions, since too much can leave blue marks on fabric.
9. Soak Dingy Whites Before Washing
A regular wash cycle may not be enough to loosen dirt and residue that have built up over time. Soak washable whites in water with laundry detergent or an oxygen-based cleaner, following the product directions, before washing them as usual.
10. Wash Whites Separately and Don’t Overload the Machine
Washing white clothes with darker garments can leave them looking gray over time, while an overloaded washer may prevent dirt and detergent from rinsing away properly. Wash whites separately when possible and leave enough room for water and detergent to move through the load.
