How to keep whites white?

[Eesha]

Hi,

I’m not exactly great with washing clothes, at bunging them all in but I have recently purchased some nice white bras and tops which I’d like to keep clean. Any ideas how I’d keep them pristine? Would Vanish oxy work, or net laundry bags? And with Vanish, does it go in with detergent or straight onto clothes? Again, pretty basic questions....

[EcoCleaner]

Wash whites separately to dark colours on a 60 degree wash with a powder detergent (not liquid). Powders contain oxygen based bleaching agents, whereas liquids don’t. Whilst liquids are fine for colours, they’re no good for whites, kitchen cloths, bedsheets etc where hygiene is important. Also avoid using quick wash to give the detergent longer to work.
Stick to that and you won’t need any additional stain removers.

[HeyMicky]

And hang outside whenever you can - even on overcast days the iV light helps bleach stains and discolouration out

[HeyMicky]

*UV

[Eesha]

Great advice, and recs for powder detergents and do I add softener as well?

[Doilooklikeatourist]

I use Persil bio powder , a 60 oC hygiene wash , and hang ooutside whenever possible

I don’t use fabric conditioner , but put T shirts and pants etc in the tumble dryer for 15 minutes or so to soften them

However , I would not wash bras that way !

Hand wash them ( or on a delicates cycle in the machine )

[Seeline]

I also do just a completely white wash and my whites stay white. Usual liquid detergent with a scoop of Vanish for whites powder in the liquid dispenser. Hang out when I can, but not throughout the winter.
I really think the most important thing is to not wash with any other colours (easy with DHs work shirts and two teen DCs with white school shirts!).

[Scoopofchaff]

Only wash whites together. And I have two piles of whites too. One for delicates (bras, tops etc) that I wash at 30 degrees. One for cotton sheets, towels etc that I wash between 60 and 90 degrees.

[littlecabbage]

I agree - separating whites from other colours is most important. I only wash clothes at 30'C as trying to be environmentally conscious. I do add a scoop of the Sainsbury's own whitener, but more for stain removal purposes on the kids' clothes. Towels and bedding I do on 60'C for hygiene/dust mite removal.

[HeyMicky]

I use Daz + Tesco's own brand whitening powder. Cheap and cheerful but it does work.

[Eesha]

Does powder go in the dispenser or straight into the drum with the clothes?

[hmmwhatatodo]

Powder goes in the drawer.