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Housekeeping

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Original poster

How to make white bedding white again?

67 replies

spilttheteaagain · 28/09/2015 11:09

I adore bright white bedding, but clearly me, DH and DD are sweaty buggers as the pillowcases, sheets around the neck to stomach area and tops of duvets go yellow really fast.

I am washing them at 40C with Lidl biological powder, no fabric softener, sometimes add soda crystals. Usually dry on airers inside next to dehumidifier, esp through the winter, don't have a tumble drier or outside line.

Is there some magic laundry bleach or trick that gets rid of yellow sweat marks?

OP posts:
JoandMax · 28/09/2015 11:10

I wash mine with Vanish in at 60 then dry in the sun, only way I've found to keep them white

Iwanttobeadog · 28/09/2015 11:12

my sheets shrink if i wash them at 60. various different shops, all 100% cotton. is this just me?

i'm also lurking as i want mine shiny white again too

Original poster
spilttheteaagain · 28/09/2015 11:25

Yes I did a 60 wash once and the fitted sheet never went over the bloody mattress again. Really irritating!

Will try vanish.

I wondered if anyone had some vinegar or lemon juice trick or something!

I had to buy new pillowcases the other week as we had guests and I was appalled at how yellowy the pillowcases had got (had them less than a year!) Obv this is not a very cheap or environmentally friendly solution!

OP posts:
LibrariesGaveUsP0wer · 28/09/2015 11:26

Soak them in a really strong solution of Napisan (disclaimer:will bleach colours )

Katiekinka · 28/09/2015 11:30

Dr Beckmann Glowhite Super Whitener works really well

bonzo77 · 28/09/2015 11:42

Dry them outside. Use a whitener in every wash. The dr Beckmann stuff is great but £££. I use it rarely, but use a scoop of Vanish white powder every time.

Original poster
spilttheteaagain · 28/09/2015 11:47

Right sounds like DH needs a job putting up a washing line in the garden Smile

Thanks for the product pointers, I shall experiment. Glad it's not just us, I thought you'd say we were foul!

We do all shower every day I promise

OP posts:
LibrariesGaveUsP0wer · 28/09/2015 12:03

Oh I assumed no space for a line. If you can then absolutely!

Pixi2 · 28/09/2015 12:05

Dr Beckman Glowhite. It is the only solution.

blibblobblub · 28/09/2015 12:08

Watching with interest as I just got some white bedding (I've wanted some for aaaages).

Thinking about it if sunlight can bleach the poo stains from DD's nappies I'm sure it can handle a sweaty pillowcase!

Muckogy · 28/09/2015 12:57

vanish is brilliant for whites.
i just washed two of my white cotton tops. both had yellow sweat stains in the armpits. (i know - nice.) i had been doing a lot of walking in the sunshine when i wore them.
i washed them at 40 degrees with some detergent and some vanish. the stains are completely gone.
pity vanish wasn't around years ago, as i think back to all my now long since binned teenage sweat stained white tops.

Original poster
spilttheteaagain · 28/09/2015 13:14

My god, my thread is a discussion of the day!

Right, vanish & sunshine it is.

Failing that napisan or the pricey Dr Beckmann!

OP posts:
LibrariesGaveUsP0wer · 28/09/2015 13:16

Napisan is cheap! Honestly, it is the best stuff ever. Will bleach school shirts and polos too.

Things look alarmingly blue when they come of the solution, but it washes out ( may take two washes).

Want2bSupermum · 28/09/2015 13:20

I have duvet covers with green stripes down them that are white in the background. If I use vanish or napisan will it ruin the green strips?

I hate that our bedsheets and towels are manky looking. I'm always thinking I should buy new but I can't bring myself to spend the money!

LibrariesGaveUsP0wer · 28/09/2015 13:22

Napisan - yes, it will fade the colours. You want a colour safe stain remover. Napisan is strictly for pure white stuff.

Aberchips · 28/09/2015 13:28

Ecover laundry bleach - they sel it in Waitrose but not found it anywhere else. Did my pillowcases with it yesterday & it's done the trick.

Aberchips · 28/09/2015 13:29

sell

ppeatfruit · 28/09/2015 13:46

Yes I 2nd Aberchips OR you can use percarbonate of soda with white vinegar but you do need to put them on a 60 wash or even 90 if it's really skanky (I use and reuse my microfibre cloths on an occ. 90 washes ) My sheets don't shrink and I use organic cotton ones.

ppeatfruit · 28/09/2015 13:46

Oh I always use a softener in the water.

montyandmabel · 28/09/2015 14:03

Vanish Gold is the way forward...the pink one with the gold lid...

If it can handle baby shitxplosions, it can handle a bit of yellowed bedding!!

Want2bSupermum · 28/09/2015 14:18

So what is truly colour safe? I'm in the Us and find the american stuff just doesn't do it for me. I can get nearly everything British from Amazon though or have my DH buy some on his next business trip.

lighteningirl · 28/09/2015 14:22

I wash all my white bedding at 90 none of it has ever shrunk noticeably and it stays lovely and white. T-shirts etc I use vanish in addition to washing powder

areyoutheregoditsmemargaret · 28/09/2015 14:41

Use non-bio

And your sheets shouldn't shrink at 60, mine have never shrunk in years of being washed at that temp.

goblinhat · 28/09/2015 16:02

Drying outside makes such a difference. UV light from the sun bleaches clothes and will even remove stubborn stains.

PigletJohn · 28/09/2015 18:51

the yellow is not sweat, it is skin oil which starts colourless and oxidises to yellow (cooking oil and decking oil will do the same). It seems to develop in the cupboard, when you put away things that seemed perfectly white, such as "best shirts."

On shirt collars, laundry spray and hot hot hot washes with powder will clean it off. I think bleach will not help. Washing soda crystals might because they break down grease, however once it has gone yellow, the oil has oxidised into gummy varnish and very difficult to remove (same as round the neck of cooking oil bottles, and on wooden worktops. It is easier to wash it off when new, which I think means cotton pillowcases and hot washes from the start.