How I can I get my whites from grey to gleaming?

[PreHeatedOven]

I know I sound like a washing powder advert but I've noticed my whites are no longer really white anymore.
Annoyingly some of them have little coloured pictures on- baby vests so I couldn't just bleach them.

Any ideas? Google has completely overwhelmed me over what does and doesn't actually work.

Thank you

[OliviaSeaBornInAMangerMumsnet]

Biological powder good for this ime, but not for baby's skin imo
Also napisan/biotex and also that stuff for net curtains whose name escapes me
Usual MNHQ disclaimers about other products being available apply

[nancy75]

agree with olivia, britewhite or something like that, it's for net curtains.

[chinup2011]

I too have noticed this, I always wash whites together, so it is not colour transfer that has caused it. I do however perhaps have a theory. My teenage daughter shops at the cheaper shops ( thank goodness) and it is her tops etc. that tend to suffer. I have a theory, I think that White fabric is dyed with an optical brightener ( which is blue, so makes your whites appear whiter) after many washes this dye has washed out, leaving your washing grey. Am I correct? So I fear we are possibly fighting a lost cause maybe?

[Seona1973]

you could try Dr Beckmann Glowhite sachets that you put in the wash. Or try Vanish oxi action crystal white powder that you put in the powder dispenser. I found bio powder was fine for my lo's and started using it within a few weeks of birth.

[Fluffycloudland77]

First divide your white wash, one of pure white and one of baby stuff with colours on it. Wash the stuff with colours on a seperate wash with a colour catcher sheet.

Wash everything on a 60 intensive wash, no pressing the quick button. Greyness lies that way.

Wash using twice the usual amount of detergant, and 6 dessertspoons of washing soda.

Dolly balls can be bought from lakeland and sometimes aldi, they pound against the wash and get more dirt.

Use a dylon or dr beckman whitening product (homebargain do dylon 4 for a £1.

Do not put anything in that isnt white, none of this "oh I've had it years and its cream so it wont run" it will.

I only use sains basics bio powder and soda crystals with a dylon sachet every few washes and my whites are very white, I have white bed sheets, towels, tea towels, napkins (you get the idea, I like white).

If you get any stains put basic cheap bleach into a spray bottle and spray it on, cheapest quickest way to get red wine, tea, curry stains out.

[PreHeatedOven]

Thank you all.
DP is annoyingly allergic to biological washing powder, so selfish when I want white whites damn it!
I think vanish, bi carb and a hot wash is the way to go.

[PreHeatedOven]

Great advice fluffy

[lisianthus]

And chuck half a lemon in the drum with the wash.

[peachybums]

Dr beckmann 79p from home bargains if you have one, works wonders! Just wash a few times after in non bio to be on safe side :)

[PreHeatedOven]

What does the lemon do?
I don't have a home bargains near me, darn it!

Thanks for the setting stain on hot wash mm

[Beamur]

My Mum has recently been converted to the Dr Beekman stuff - I'm going to get some and try it and my white towels are looking very murky.

[stickyLFDTfingers]

soda crystals do work very well, and are very cheap. Will also clean your washing machine, dishwasher, use for soaking and a whole host of other things.

[JarethTheGoblinKing]

Just separate your laundry and dry it in the sun (when there is any )

[Seona1973]

the supermarkets sell the dr beckmanns glowhite sachets too

[PigletJohn]

persil really does wash whiter

the non-bio not quite as white, but mat suit you better

[2blessed2bstressed]

I always chuck in a colour catcher sheet, and am amazed at how mucky it looks when it comes out, even when its a load of nothing but white sheets!
I don't know if I've been conned by the advertising, but I now use the Comfort fabric conditioner that is just for whites. I think it works.....
I do know that ds2 and one of my friends ds's have the same t-shirt that they were both given in the summer - ds2 wears his one all the sodding time, and it still looks gleaming white compared to friends ds's one

[Maggie42]

I have some white cotton sheets and pillow cases that have gone grey. Only ever wash white cotton sheets and pillow cases alone so no cross colour. Always wash them at 90 deg so why are they not brillient white any more. All egyption cotton . I add the pro white stuff si at a loss.
Is there a concoction to bring them back. Read somewhere white vinegar and kemon juice. Anyone know is this any good please