How To Keep Your White Clothes Bright (+ other hacks)

White clothing is a look, but keeping whites vibrant and bright and caring for them over time is a challenge that many people have yet to master. If you struggle caring for your clothes so they last then here are a few tips to keep them white, plus a few other laundry hacks.

Preventing Yellowing With Baking Soda & Lemon

White clothes and sweat don’t mix, and will usually result in unsightly yellow stains. If you start to see any yellowing under the arms or on the collar of white items, simply apply a paste of baking soda and lemon to the area and then let the item sit for an hour before washing as usual. The lemon and baking soda mixture will lift away the yellow stain without the need for expensive stain removers.

Only Wash Whites With Whites

Although it seems obvious, it’s essential that you only ever wash white clothes with other white items. Even a small amount of color on an item can run in the wash tainting your white outfits. If you don’t have enough white clothing to fill a full wash cycle or just have one white sweater, then wash your white items by hand instead.

Add White Vinegar to Keep Things Bright

Another cheap and eco-friendly hack is to add a half-cup of white vinegar to your white clothes washing load. White vinegar acts as a brightening agent, helping to keep your whites dazzling white and will also make your clothes softer too. Don’t worry about the smell, this disappears with the wash, just be sure to use white vinegar and not any other variety.

Wash at a Higher Temperature

To remove the sweat, grime, and oils from white clothing that often cause them to fade and become yellow, always set your washing thermostat to the highest setting for the type of material that you are washing. Hot water is more effective at removing grime than cold water, so leave cold washes for your colored loads.

Dry Outside When You Can

Drying white clothes outside can also help to make them appear brighter. The UV rays from the sun help to bleach the fabric and the slower drying process also prevents any remaining stains from developing. If you don’t have access to an outside line, then dry on a low setting in your dryer or dry inside on a drying rack.

Clean Your Washing Machine

If your whites are consistently coming out of the wash discolored then you may find that your washing machine is the one to blame. Although your washing machine may appear clean, the inner workings can fill up with mold and grime over time. To keep your washer clean, run a cleaning cycle at least once every three months, and wipe around the door seal and the detergent drawer to remove any build-up of residue.

So there you have it, a few simple tips to help you keep your whites bright and to look after your laundry. Do you have any other hacks to add? Let me know in the comments.

“Always Remember You’re Beautiful!”

-Lola