Keeping whites white?

[SophiaWinters]

I seem to have a problem keeping white school shirts and white socks looking clean and white. I use a non-bio washing powder due to sensitive skin so I'm not sure if this perhaps is part of the problem, maybe the washing powder isn't powerful enough to lift the dirt properly. My daughter's white socks look dirty and no matter how hot I set the water to they just won't come clean. They smell fresh but look stained. White school shirts after about six months start looking dull and off-white. I do sort the washing so that whites are only washed together and not mixed with darker colours. Should I try doing a pre-soak with another type of soap before putting it through the usual wash? Other children seem to have pristine looking white shirts, is there a knack to keeping them white or are parents buying new every few months?

Don't know about the other parents but hanging them in direct sunlight after washing will get rid of most organic dirt (food stains, sweat and grime) not so easy with socks but it works ok ish.

If you usually dry indoors then it may take a couple of wash days to get them looking really white.

failing that "Vanish" spray is good.

however i am wary of using products as all my DCs and I am sensitive to lots of things too!

Ecover laundry bleach and Comfort Bright Whites helps a lot.

My DS also has sensitive skin but I soak his shirts periodically in nappy soak. It was initially an experiment with left over soak and it works a treat. Wash out well with your normal washing powder and they are fine.

Thank you for all the tips :) I'll try the Ecover laundry bleach first I think, I'm a fan of the Ecover products but had never thought about using the bleach. Sun would be great - if we ever got any! lol

I use Glo White on my white bedlinen, t-shirts and shirts and wash only at 40 degrees. Any hotter turns them grey and dull permanently.

Glo white doesn't seem to make me itch, but you could always re-run the load if you were worried.

socks do pick up stains from the inside of shoes, especially when wet or sweaty. could it be that?

Here are some tips (I used to work on one of the big laundry brands):

• to get things white, bleach is the best thing. In terms of detergents, only powder and tablet detergents have bleach. Liquids and capsules can't contain bleach. Or you can use a separate one like was suggested above.

• to give extra whiteness, products contain optical whiteners (they give a bluish tint to make things seem whiter) Examples are Glo White, but you already get it in Bio powders and Vanish Crystal White

Here are some good combinations:

• for whiteness:

* use Ariel or Persil Bio Powder (Bio means it has enzymes to help take out stains like food or blood). Other brands use less bleach and cleaning ingredients, so aren't as good for whitening * use a scoop of Vanish crystal white powder * don't wash in a temperature above 50 degrees (above 50 degrees, the cleaning ingredients start to breakdown and not work as well) * Comfort Whites fabric conditioner can also add to the effect * if you live in a hard water area like London, you need to use a water softener product or it will decrease the effectiveness of your detergents (sainsbury's has a loose powder one that is cheap versus Calagon)

You'll see a difference within three washes! If you use this approach when things are brand new, they will stay pretty white!

• for colour clothes

* don't use detergents with bleach. Stick with liquids or capsules. * use fabric conditioner - it will keep fabrics looking newer for longer * wash jeans inside out to keep looking newer for longer

I think my problem is because I'm not using bio powders, I use Fairy Non-Bio Powder. Going to try doing pre-soaks with a bio powder or bleach and see how that goes. I usually do a cold wash but have tried hotter temps to see if that will shift the dirt but it doesn't help.

PigletJohn, yes I think you're right about the sock stain thing. Daughter often gets her socks wet because she nips outside with the dog onto wet grass/pavement etc. Socks are by far the worst trying to keep clean but white school shirts are looking dull too after time.