12 Genius Laundry Hacks to Make Your Whites Whiter Than Ever – No Bleach Needed!

In the past, if you wanted to keep your whites white you would probably have always reached for the bleach. If you’ve run out of bleach or have decided to keep away from bleach for whatever reason, how can you restore your whites to their former bright glory?

Well, it turns out there are several ways to get whites white without having to resort to chlorine bleach. In this brief article we’ll show you 12 ways to whiten your clothes without bleach. Keep reading to find out how.

How To Whiten Clothes

Unfortunately, it’s not as simple as one size fits all when it comes to restoring white clothes back to brilliant white. There are a few factors that need to be considered.

For instance; the fabric the clothes are made from and the type of stain you’re trying to remove. Blood and sweat stains which are protein based will need a different treatment to clothes that have greyed or been stained by colour bleed in the wash.

As we all know, bleach is a great whitener, but it might not suit all fabrics and stains and is also bad for your health and the environment (see below).

Let’s look at some natural and some commercial laundry products that can get your whites back to white again. But first, a quick word about preventing your whites from losing their whiteness during the washing process.

Separation Is Key

The absolute best way to prevent white clothes from becoming dull and dingy is to wash them on their own. You should always separate white clothes from clothes of other colours. We all know that whites and darks or brightly coloured clothes should be kept separate.

But did you know that washing white clothes with heavily soiled items can be just as bad? When you mix white clothes in the wash with heavily soiled items those stains and dirt particles can spread onto your white clothes.

Using Too Much Detergent

Being too liberal with the detergent might seem like a good idea. You might be thinking the more detergent the more likely the stain is to be removed. However, the opposite can be true.

Using too much detergent can mean it doesn’t all get washed out which leaves your clothes looking dingy and often, dirty as well. Always use the recommended amount of detergent for the amount of laundry in the drum.

Water Softness

If you live in a soft water area, you’ll need less detergent than someone who lives in a hard water area. But did you know that if you use a water softening agent in your washer like soda crystals or Calgon for example, you have effectively softened the water in your machine.

This means you’ll need to adjust the amount of detergents accordingly. Consult the packaging on your detergent for more details.

Overfilling The Drum

Overfilling the drum is another common mistake that some inexperienced home owners make. Your laundry needs room to move around the drum to allow each item to rub together with other items in order to get clean.

Cramming too much laundry into the drum can result in some items not even getting wet, never mind clean! Never add more than the recommended weight of laundry into the drum at any one time. Consult your washer’s user manual for more details.

The Best Ways To Whiten Clothes & Restore Their Brightness

Now that we’ve covered some of the basics regarding whitening clothes, let’s start looking into the best methods for getting your whites white again. They include;

Method 1. Use An Enzymatic Cleaner As A Pre-Soak

Dried on protein based stains can be difficult to remove. Which is why it’s a good idea to pre-soak them in an enzyme solution like Napisan. The natural enzymes in these products are ideal for removing protein based stains like blood, sweat, grease and even red wine.

They are even effective against yellowing of white items. Plus they have a number of benefits which include;

• They Are Safe For Sensitive Skin
  As these products are free from any harsh chemicals or synthetic additives, they are particularly gentle on the skin.
• They’re Less Likely To Damage Your Clothes
  As there are no harmful chemicals present, these products won’t damage or weaken fabrics.
• They Remove Stains & Odours
  Enzymatic products are great at removing stains and eliminating odours.
• Have Less Environmental Impact
  Natural enzymatic products are biodegradable and will not add to environmental pollution in the long term.

All you need to do is use the correct amount of enzymatic product (consult the packaging), apply directly to the stain and allow it to work for a few minutes before washing the garment in the usual way. 

Method 2. Use Soda Crystals

Soda crystals (sodium carbonate) is an effective cleaning agent. It has a relatively high alkaline level and will work as a detergent booster. All you need to do is add ½ a cup (125 ml) to your washer along with your regular detergent.

You need to be careful when using soda crystals if you have sensitive skin as it can cause skin irritation. If you are affected, rinse the area thoroughly with warm water.

Method 3. Use Hydrogen Peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide is effective at whitening clothes, disinfecting laundry and removing stains. You can pour it directly onto stains like blood or sweat.

Just add 1 cup (250 ml) to the machine when cleaning whites and wash in the usual way. For terry nappies, add 1 cup of hydrogen peroxide to whiten, disinfectant and deodorise.

Take care when using Hydrogen peroxide with darker colours as it could cause fading. Test on an inconspicuous area before use.

Method 4. Use Oxygen Bleach

Although it has the word “bleach” in its name, oxygen bleach is nothing like chlorine bleach.  Oxygen bleach (sodium percarbonate) is a natural, non toxic stain remover and whitening agent. It is a compound of  hydrogen peroxide and sodium carbonate which when dissolved in water releases oxygen bubbles.

The oxygen bubbles break down dirt, odours and stains leaving your clothes clean and fresh once again.

Method 5. Use Borax

Borax (sodium borate) is a naturally occurring mineral that helps to remove stains. It also helps to break down any minerals in the water allowing the detergent to work in a more efficient way.

All you need to do is add ½ a cup (125 ml) of borax at the start of the wash cycle and wash your clothes in the usual way. It can also be used as a pre-soak by simply mixing ½ a cup with a small amount of your regular detergent in water. Soak the clothes in this solution for around 10 to 15 minutes to remove coffee stains, sweat stains and more.

Method 6. Use White Vinegar

Distilled white vinegar is a great fabric softener, deodoriser and it will also help whiten stained fabrics. Especially those stained by a buildup of detergent residue. 

You can use white vinegar and warm water in a 50/50 mix to soak white clothes to help loosen dirt and grime. Or add 1 cup (250 ml) to the final rinse cycle in your washer.

You should never mix white vinegar and chlorine bleach as the gases released can be harmful. You should also never use white vinegar on silk, rayon or acetate items.

Method 7. Use Lemon Juice

Fresh, natural lemon juice is a great laundry whitener and freshener. Just add 1 cup (250 ml) to the washer along with your usual detergent. 

Wash in the usual way but remember to only ever use lemon juice on white garments because it is likely to bleach certain other colours.

Method 8. Use Citric Acid

If you don’t have any lemons and never usually use them, citric acid is a more practical alternative. It comes in a powdered form which means it will last for ages (as long as it’s stored correctly).

Citric acid uses the same whitening power of fresh lemon juice but in a higher concentration. To restore your whites to their former glory just mix 3 tablespoons of citric acid powder into 1 gallon (4.5 litres) of hot water.

Make sure the garments are submerged in this mixture and leave to soak overnight. Then wash in the usual way the following day for a bright white finish.

Method 9. Use Bluing Liquid

Bluing liquid contains ferric ferrocyanide (or Prussian blue) mixed with water. It works by adding a slight blue tint to white clothes. If the white garments have become slightly yellowed over time, the addition of the bluing liquid restores them back to bright white again.

Bluing liquid can be used in the wash or rinse cycle but in different quantities. When using in the wash, mix ¼ teaspoon of bluing liquid into a similar amount of water and add to the wash.

When using during the rinse cycle, mix ⅛ of a teaspoon with water and add to the rinse cycle. Bluing liquid is quite expensive, but as you only need to use really miniscule amounts, it lasts a long time.

Method 10. Use Bicarbonate Of Soda

Bicarbonate of soda (baking soda) is another cheap and cheerful household staple that can be used to restore the white in your clothes. All you need to do is mix 1 cup (250 ml) of bicarb into a bowl of warm water and let your whites soak for a few hours.

If you have the time, allow your clothes to soak overnight then wash in the usual way after adding another cup of bicarb to the wash cycle.

Method 11. Use Aspirin

This is a slightly unconventional method but we have had good results using this method. All you need to do is mix 5 or 6 dissolvable aspirin tablets in warm water and soak your whites for a few hours.

Then just wash your clothes in the usual way with your regular detergent.

Method 12. Use Dishwasher Detergent

While we’re on the subject of seemingly wacky ideas, here’s another. This one goes against everything you’ve ever been told about washing laundry and dishes.

However, if you’re looking for a bleach free way to whiten your white clothes, dishwasher detergent might become your new go to product. Just add 1 or 2 dishwasher pods in with your wash and wash on the usual cycle.

And It Doesn’t Stop With Washing Clothes Either…

It’s not just in the wash that you can boost the whiteness of your clothes, the way you dry them makes a difference as well.

Hanging Clothes Outdoors In Sunlight

If you want an extra burst of whitening power for your white clothes, hanging them on the line in full sunlight will also add to that bright whiteness. 

With the added bonus of them feeling and smelling fresh as well.

So, There You Have It

That’s our 12 ways to restore the whiteness to your clothes along with a few bonus hacks as well. Most use products that you’ll most likely already have at home.

Items like bicarbonate of soda, white vinegar, soda crystals and even aspirin! These household staples can all be used to help keep your whites white and prevent dirt, germs and bacteria from ruining your clothes.

Do you have any helpful tips that we haven’t included to get your whites white? Share them in the comments so we can all benefit.

SEE ALSO: The Weird Laundry Hack That Cuts Drying Time AND Makes Bedding Hotel-Fluffy

Frequently Asked Questions