Laundry question ...

[mrssmooth]

Can anyone recommend a powder/liquid (anything!) to brighten my whites? Ironing my dds white school shirts yesterday I could really see how grubby they looked (they've only ever been washed with other whites). I usually wash most things at 40 degrees (except for bedding and towels). Any recommendations would be great!

[inmyheadimthequeen]

A scoop of vanish (the pink tub) in every wash along with your regular powder. However, it's easier to keep them white from new than it is to try and re-whiten them (sorry, no help at all, I know). I normally only use non-bio but every so often I run a load through with bio as well, to keep it 'properly' clean. I just give it an extra rinse cos my DH and DS have eczema.

[inmyheadimthequeen]

A scoop of vanish (the pink tub) in every wash along with your regular powder. However, it's easier to keep them white from new than it is to try and re-whiten them (sorry, no help at all, I know). I normally only use non-bio but every so often I run a load through with bio as well, to keep it 'properly' clean. I just give it an extra rinse cos my DH and DS have eczema.

[valiumredhead]

I use Ariel acti lift bio for whites.

[Feelslikea1sttimer]

I use one of the plastic ball things off the top of surf liquid and chuck some bleach in it alongside the surf with all my white loads and whack them on a 90 degree cycle... It works a treat and can bring them back from the depths of grey hell!

[Alanna1]

You could try dying them white again. Then drying in sun. But once they have greyed is hard to fully recover it.

[FattyMcChubster]

Feelslike, what kind of bleach do you use?

[Feelslikea1sttimer]

Just normal asda's own thick bleach and put about half way up the ball and it works. Just make sure nothing else sneaks in the washer by mistake as thats a pain.

[Rikalaily]

I soak white school tops in a weak bleach solution in the sink for an hour or so now and then to brighten them up.

[FattyMcChubster]

Thank you!
Would it work if I added it in on it's own? Don't have a ball to put it in.

[valiumredhead]

Of you put bleach in the washer what happens when you wash a dark load afterwards, don't you get bleach spots all over your clothes? Or are you talking about laundry bleach?

[valiumredhead]

If not of

[Feelslikea1sttimer]

No it is normal bleach and it all gets rinsed away, I have never had any problems with loads that follow on.

If you don't have one of the little ball things, then stick it on a cycle with a pre-wash and put it in the drawer at the top with the 1 on, that has always worked too.

[fallenempires]

I pre-soak my dcs school shirts in Napisan for a couple of hours prior to a normal wash.

[valiumredhead]

It doesn't get caught in the seal?

[Feelslikea1sttimer]

valium I've never had a problem, it could be worth if you do want to try it with your whites, then to follow that load with a lights load just to put your mind at rest. But I have done it for ages as the kids now have to have logo'd school shirts which cost a fortune so I can't afford to keep replacing them when they start to go grey! (and teenage boys are pretty gross and have manky tide marks around the neck EVERY BLOODY DAY!!!)

[ChippingInWiredOnCoffee]

You can get sachets at the supermarket, in a green & white box, for whitening whites - they work really well :) (much less risky than putting bleach in the machine - for me anyway!! LOL).

[valiumredhead]

Ha ha ha ha yes that is exactly why I am considering doing it, school shirts, urghhhhh!

[PestoSwimissimos]

I don't understand, wouldn't bleach rot your clothes?

[OldBeanbagz]

Don't your clothes smell if you use bleach? And isn't it a bit harsh?

I use Ecover on my whites.

[Feelslikea1sttimer]

I stick loads of fabric conditioner in and that hides the smell and I probably wouldn't recommend using it on silk or delicate fabrics as that could be the case, but its been fine on school shirts and occasionally on my bedding to brighten it.

I am sure there are lots of other options available, I've just found that this works as I always have bleach in the house and don't have to remember to buy a separate product whilst in the supermarket.

[mrssmooth]

Thanks folks, I will give the Vanish stuff a go. Am also up for giving the bleach a go too, but will do a bedding wash rather than clothes first just so's I don't ruin my tops! Thanks for the tip about the extra rinse inmyhead, dd2 has eczema and I don't want it to get any worse than it already is (although it doesn't seem to be affected by washing powder). Fingers crossed I'll be dazzling everyone with my sparkly whites!