Have you ever been frustrated when your white t-shirts come out of the wash looking dull and grey? It can be incredibly unfortunate to put in a load of laundry only to discover that your prized tee is now lacking its original vibrancy. The good news?
With just a few simple steps, you can easily keep your white tees looking their best for years to come. We'll provide some straightforward advice on maintaining those brilliant whites - from choosing the right detergent, pre-treating any spots or stains, and washing temperature settings - so that you don't have to worry about having discolored clothes anymore!
Keeping Your White Shirts White
Creating bright whites from dingy laundry can often seem like a challenging feat. However, with this detailed guide, you can get your whites looking brighter and whiter with ease.
Pre-Soak Heavily Soiled Items
Its recommended to pre-soak heavily soiled items that you wish to keep white. Let’s say, for instance, that has been worn for a sweaty workout or messy garden work. From there, its suggested soaking your items in an enzyme detergent or oxygen bleach before laundering them.
This extra step is not labor intensive, yet it effectively keeps items from becoming stained and dulled. More specifically, the enzyme detergent works by breaking down dirt particles and organic matter while oxygen bleach lifts out stubborn stains without damaging colors or fibers.
Soaking these items separately from other laundry can help to ensure that they are thoroughly cleaned without putting unnecessary strain on the washing machine.
Pretreat Areas With Stains
When it comes to pretreating clothes with stains, liquid detergent, dishwashing liquid, or a colorless shampoo should be used with a clean toothbrush. This will help to remove perspiration and other greasy stains from garments.
For food stains or underarm yellowing, undiluted liquid oxygen bleach should be applied to the fabric before placing the item in the washing machine. This process of pretreating clothes is essential for thoroughly removing hard-to-clean stains so that clothing looks like new after being laundered.
To ensure successful stain removal when pretreating clothes, you should be sure to use a clean toothbrush with the appropriate liquids and bleaches, depending on the specific stain you are trying to remove.
Always Wash White Clothes Separately
If you are like many individuals, you likely will not have a sufficient amount of white apparel to make up an entire load. So, its expected that you will usually combine white garments with colorful items like shirts or sweaters. We are here to tell you that it isn't a good idea.
Mixing colors and clothing unfortunately can cause staining on the white clothing, as many cloth materials are not colorfast and will bleed onto lighter shades when washed alongside them. To avoid this type of discoloration, it is highly recommended that white items be washed separately from all other garments, even if that means fewer items in the load.
Doing so will help keep those whites looking bright and sparkling for a much longer period of time. Moreover, it is important to remember that any stains on your white clothing should be treated immediately in order to prevent any permanent damage from occurring, which could be difficult or impossible to remove.
Additionally, when drying your whites, its important to keep them separate as well. Drying whites separately will be the safest way to ensure there are no running colors or further discoloration.
Always Measure Your Detergent Precisely
Overusing detergent can leave fabric gray and prevent stains from washing away as they should. It is essential to follow the instructions listed on your detergent in order to avoid dulling the clothing. Too many suds created by too much detergent act as a cushion for fabrics and dirt, trapping them within the fabric instead of being washed away.
It is important to remember that adding extra detergent beyond what is advised may seem harmless but can have a negative effect on clothes in terms of appearance and cleanliness. To ensure that your clothing remains white and vibrant, it is best to follow the instructions given on your detergent bottle.
To save time doing this, choosing a detergent that is pre-measured may be in your best interest. In this case, you should look to Tru Earth. We offer eco-friendly laundry detergent that comes in a pre-measured strip, making them the perfect solution for avoiding adding too much detergent to your load.
These strips are paraben-free, phosphate-free, and free of added dyes, chlorine bleach, and 1,4-dioxane. Additionally, they are hypoallergenic and vegan-friendly. Moreover, Tru Earth’s laundry detergent strips are as safe for the environment as they are for your clothes.
Use the Hottest Water Setting and Choose a Delicate Cycle
In order to properly clean a load of white clothes, it is important to check the care labels on each item and base the water temperature for the wash cycle on that information. Pay attention to the specific fabric type before deciding on a wash temperature; certain materials, such as delicate linen, may need to be washed in cooler temperatures than cotton.
To ensure brighter whites after a wash cycle, those with access to hot water should consider setting their washing machine at or below the recommended temperature listed on the care label of each garment.
Additionally, using a gentle cycle will be key. This works best because gentle cycles will cause less abrasion to fabric fibers. Which, wil not only keep your whites whiter for longer but will also keep your clothing in mint condition for longer.
Don’t Overload Your Washing Machine
Another great tip that many will overlook is not to overcrowd the washing machine. This is a key to keeping your white shirts looking as bright and vibrant as possible. When too many items are placed in the same cycle, it limits the detergent's ability to interact with the soil on the fabric and provide a thorough clean.
This can lead to dullness and discoloration of your clothing. It's best to only fill the machine up halfway, allowing adequate room so that clothes have enough space to move around and circulate throughout the cycle.
