Worried about your white garments and linens losing their sparkle? Have no fear—with the proper care, you can avoid all of the classic pitfalls of white laundry. Whether your concern is removing stains, rectifying yellowing, avoiding color transfer, handling white-and-color blends, caring for special fabrics, brightening home linens, or all of the above, you’ve come to the right place.
Start with sorting
White fabrics require different treatment according to their type. Referring to the care label, sort your white items according to the recommended temperature, taking care not to mix together pure whites and white-and-color blends.
Consider a dedicated detergent
In most cases, an all-purpose detergent is sufficient to clean your white laundry. However, you may wish to choose a dedicated detergent formulated specifically for whites. These have the additional benefits of enhancing whiteness and avoiding yellowing.
To bleach or not to bleach?
We often associate chlorine bleach with impeccable whiteness, but bleach comes with its own share of risks, including yellowing. Mild bleach suited to white fabrics is a good compromise, as are laundry boosters. If stain removal is your concern, try soaking your clothes in a mixture of white vinegar and water for one hour prior to washing. For targeted stain removal such as yellow sweat stains, nothing beats baking soda. Make a paste using a bit of water, apply to the stain, and allow to sit for 30 minutes. Gently scrub with an old toothbrush or clean cloth, then launder as usual.
Blue to the rescue!
If your white laundry has become gray or yellow for any reason, don’t lose hope. Bluing, or laundry blue, is a whitening agent that counteracts yellowish tints and dinginess, restoring white clothing to its original purity. Add sparingly (it is a pigment, after all), according to the instructions, via the fabric softener tray.
Choose the proper cycle
Certain washing machines propose a “white” cycle, which generally involves a higher temperature and longer wash. However, whether this cycle suits your whites depends on the care instructions on the label, so be sure to check before choosing. If the label indicates a gentle cycle or lower temperatures, then proceed accordingly. Fragile items such as lace may need to be washed by hand.
Dry it right
White laundry loves to be dried in the sun, whose bleaching properties add an extra dose of sparkle (just don’t overdo it, as excessive sun exposure can lead to yellowing). If you don’t have access to an outdoor clothes line, you can either dry your whites on an indoor rack or use low-heat tumble drying if the instructions printed on the care label permit it. Be sure to dry thoroughly before storage.
For more tips on how to care for your favorite clothes and linens, visit our special fabrics section.