Laundry - whites

[TheWorstWeek]

What is your go to product to keep whites looking white? DS's school polo shirts are all starting to look a bit grey and I don't know what's best to get them white again. I'd like to avoid buying more new ones just yet!

Vanish

And going forward always wash whites by themselves, no mixing with any colours darks

I soak first if stained and only ever wash whites separately, never mixed.

I do only wash whites with whites. It's the general grubbiness of school that's turning them grey I think!

I just wash the Polos together, bio powder and no softner. Deffo no tumble drying. Ours are white still in July.

To rescue, try ace white bleach or soaking in vanish but I think once grey they're hard to get white again.

Bio-powder
Scoop of Astonish powder
Whites on the own wash
If you can , dry outside in sunlight

I can't use bio-powder unfortunately as DS is allergic and comes out in a horrible rash. I'll get some vanish though and see if it helps. If not I guess I'll just have to pick up a new set and continually wash them with vanish going forward. I have tumble dried them, maybe that's been the problem?

Try non bio powder then if you are using liquids
Powders contain bleaches that help keep white clothes white. And use an in wash product to keep them white too

There was an amazing thread on here about 9 months ago - a research scientist who worked for one of the major washing powder companies. I can't find it anywhere but iirc she said that bio powders only work at 30 degrees shock.

Always wash ONLY whites, use a scoop of vanish and always a colour catcher sheet - you'll be surprised how 'grey' it goes.

This is the post that @WinterDeWinter refers

www.mumsnet.com/talk/AMA/3308661-I-developed-laundry-detergents-AMA?page=4&reply=112565227

If you have a look on YouTube there are a couple of videos on stripping whites that have greyed or yellowed over time. Normally using soda crystals and borax. Works very well!

@MrsPerfect12 You are amazing!

What the fuck is borax?! I've never worked it out... is it just Amercan for bleach? and at what concentration?

Buy ones that are pure cotton, they don’t pick up colour residue so easily, and if they do discolour you can bleach them with eco bleach.
I never wash whites with anything other than whites, I am really careful with washing, but anything with a synthetic mix (eg underwear with elastic trims) will get duller eventually. My dds school shirts will go years staying white though, as they are all pure cotton.

Borax is a crystalline substance , it is not bleach, but has many uses for cleaning etc.
I have a feeling it may have been banned by the EU though ?

You can't get borax here and the substitutes are rubbish.

Ace bleach soak or vanish gold soak then wash with more ace bleach or vanish. Wash again in non bio if he's allergic to bio powder

I get borax on Amazon. I’m in the uk.
it’s a harmless natural substance. No idea why people think it’s banned.

The greyness could be caused by a build up of detergent. Try using less and pressing the 'extra rinse' button. Don't add fabric conditioner.