Whitening sheets in the sun - do they need to be wet??

[FusionChefGeoff]

Do sheets need to be wet to get the UV bleaching effect??

Got a load here and working out if I should hang now as would be dry by bedtime or rinse it through again in the morning to bleach it??

I must admit I’ve never heard of anyone doing this, but I have known white clothes on the line in bright sun to come in looking stained or bleached in places. Not something I would have aimed for. It’s not an even effect. Be careful.

I put a stained baby grow out when dry earlier this week and the stain was gone when I fetched it back in.
So I'd say it works when dry - if you put it out wet it will eventually dry so should also work.

No they dont need to be wet, Ive got many a stain out of white shirts by hanging in the conservatory in direct sun

It works.

I haven't done it with sheets as I don't have the hanging space for them outdoors, but sunshine is brilliant on stains. Great for food stains on clothes etc etc and definitely the best way to get washable nappies looking sparkling fresh without strong chemicals.

I used to supply textile mills in the Vosges region in France. Many had started life as bleachers of fabric by leaving it on the mountainsides to bleach in the sun. So I guess it does work.