Snow-white linen without bleach: How to wash them to keep them looking like new

Washing white linen sometimes seems like fighting windmills. No matter how hard you try, you can’t get rid of grey or yellow stains. But you don’t have to give up, we’ve got simple laundry tricks to keep your clothes looking fresh and white without bleach, even after a few washes.

Clothes in white look fresh, elegant and symbolize cleanliness. But taking care of it can be a hassle. Sometimes all it takes is one wash and there’s no trace of white, instead you’re looking at a grey shirt, t-shirt and other types of outerwear. To prevent grey discolouration and yellow sweat stains in your underarms, you resort to using bleach. Adverts force you to buy a lot of products that often don’t work. But there is another solution, gentler and less stressful.

How to wash white clothes to keep them bright white?

First of all, you need to understand what happens to white fabric during washing. Especially when you combine hot water, detergent and everything that sticks to the clothes, i.e. sweat, deodorants, dirt, etc. You need to treat the stains gently before washing. It is also important to separate coloured clothes, which of course everyone knows. However, a common mistake is to take white garments together with light grey and other delicate shades.

Prevent yellow spots

It’s not unusual to sweat during the day. However, there are yellow stains in your armpits that you can’t get rid of because simply washing the clothes that sweat sticks to isn’t enough. This is due to chemical reactions between the aluminium salts in antiperspirants and the proteins in sweat. This ‘mixture’ eats into the fibres and if you wear your clothes too often or wash them at low temperatures, you encourage this process even more.

So it’s important to start changing before you wear your clothes. Start using a natural deodorant that doesn’t contain aluminium. It is also essential to let it dry before you get dressed. If stains have already appeared, prepare a simple mixture by mixing hydrogen peroxide (3%), baking soda and a mild detergent. Apply to stains and leave on for about 30 minutes. Then scrub the spot with a brush and wash as you are used to.

How to prevent greying of laundry?

You’re excited about your new white clothes and after a few washes, the joy wears off. Instead of a bright white colour, you’re looking at a greyish tint that has completely ruined the impression of the laundry. However, this problem is mainly caused by improper care. Many people use more detergent thinking that the laundry will wash and clean better. However, when combined with fabric softener and hard water, the detergent residue gets trapped in the fibers, which is what causes the grey coloration.

So the next time you wash white laundry, try using less detergent along with baking soda, which balances the pH and softens the water. You can also add lemon juice or white vinegar to some batches. These additives will prevent mineral build-up. It is then recommended to wash at 60°C, unless the label on the garment indicates a different temperature.

Some traditional advice, known to our grandmothers, states that you should use a combination of baking soda, lemon juice and aspirin to achieve whiteness. Simply dissolve five tablets in warm water and leave the garment to leach for a few hours. After washing, you should then enjoy a fresh whiteness.

Proper washing is the key

The common problems that come with laundry might not even arise. If you understand what’s happening to your clothes and the processes involved in washing them, you’ll have taken the first step towards getting it right. And if you want to combat the dullness and stains that have already formed, try these gentle ways to achieve whiteness.