How do you whiten stained white clothes?

Author: Prof. Amparo Leuschke  |  Last update: Monday, June 16, 2025

For overall whitening, dissolve one cup of baking soda in a basin of hot water and soak for at least one hour before laundering. Follow up with a distilled white vinegar rinse in your washing machine to enhance the effect.

How do you get dingy white clothes white again?

It helps to always have a bottle of distilled white vinegar on hand for its natural cleaning power. Pour 1 cup of distilled white vinegar into a gallon of hot water. Add clothing and let soak overnight or for at least an hour.

How do you get stains out of white clothes that have been dried?

Make a paste using baking soda and water, apply it to the stained area, and let it sit for a few hours before rinsing and washing the garment. It's important to avoid using hot water or drying the garment in the dryer until the stain is fully removed. Heat can set the stain and make it more difficult to remove.

Which is better to whiten clothes, vinegar or baking soda?

The baking soda makes your detergent slightly more effective and the vinegar softens fabrics and helps remove pet hair but neither will whiten anything in any amount.

How to whiten white clothes that have yellowed without bleach?

Use vinegar. Like baking soda, you can use distilled white vinegar as either a bleach-free pretreating solution or as an additive to a standard wash cycle. White vinegar is an acidic solution that can be used to brighten the appearance of white fabrics.

Baking Soda and Hot Water to Whiten Clothes | Filipina Housewife Vlog

Does hydrogen peroxide make white clothes whiter?

You can use hydrogen peroxide to whiten and brighten clothes, disinfect laundry, and remove stains. Pour it directly on stains such as blood. Add one cup of hydrogen peroxide to whites in the washing machine to brighten them. Add one cup to a load of diapers to whiten, deodorize, and disinfect.

How do you reverse yellowing on white clothes?

Create a soaking solution by dissolving half a cup of baking soda in a basin or sink filled with warm water. Submerge the yellowed clothes and let them soak for a few hours or overnight. Afterward, rinse the garments thoroughly and proceed with regular laundering.

How long does it take for vinegar to whiten clothes?

Get stained white socks and dingy dishcloths white again.

Add 1 cup white distilled vinegar to a large pot of water. Bring it to a rolling boil and drop in the articles. Let soak overnight. Some stains on clothing and linens can be soaked out using equal parts milk and white distilled vinegar.

How to get yellow stains out of white clothes?

White vinegar

This is great for a wide range of stains, including blood, sweat, and any general yellow marks on white clothes. Try gently rubbing the vinegar onto the stain before putting it straight in the wash. White vinegar can also be mixed with baking soda.

Is vinegar or baking soda better for whitening?

The only difference is that baking soda takes a bit longer to show effect but it's definitely a “greener” option. When using baking soda, all you need to do is mix it with water (maybe a bit of apple cider vinegar, if you have some at home) to create a paste-like texture.

How do you get old set-in stains out of white clothes?

Steps to get set-in stains out of whites
  1. Add water to the plastic dishpan. Use cold tap water and measure so you know you have 1 gallon (16 cups).
  2. Add ¼ cup Clorox® Disinfecting Bleach. Measure the bleach and add it to the water in the plastic dishpan. ...
  3. Add your clothes to the dishpan. ...
  4. Machine wash. ...
  5. Air dry.

What lightens stains better, lemon juice or vinegar?

Lemon juice breaks down stains, brightens whites, and provides a fresh result. Whereas vinegar and baking soda stain remover are quite effective for light-colored fabrics and for removing detergent residues.

Can you get stains out of clothes after they ve been washed and dried?

Yes, you should be able to. Soak the item of clothing in warm water, then apply a few drops of dish soap on the stain. Hold the material around the stain and start rubbing the sides against each other to work up a lather. This will help the fabric absorb the soap.

What is the best product to get white clothes white again?

Our Top Picks
  • Best Overall: SALE. OxiClean White Revive at Amazon $11 $9. ...
  • Best Eco-Friendly: AspenClean Oxygen Bleach Powder at Amazon $20. ...
  • Best Powder: Out White Brite Laundry Whitener at Amazon $26. ...
  • Best for Stains: Biz Stain and Odor Eliminator at Amazon $36. ...
  • Best Bluing: Bluette Laundry Bluing at Amazon $19.

Can you make off white clothes white again?

Brighten with Oxygen-Based Bleach

Typically, white garments should soak in an oxygen bleach and water solution, following the instructions provided by the bleach manufacturer. After this soaking period, you can wash the clothes in the washing machine with standard detergent in a regular wash cycle.

Does borax make clothes whiter?

Borax will make sure your whites stay white.

When using borax, there is no need for unnatural optical brighteners or even bleach in many cases. And borax isn't only for white clothes, it will naturally brighten all your laundry, including colors and dark clothes.

What is the best product to remove yellow stains from white clothes?

OxiClean, Shout or other enzyme-based stain removers may very well be the easiest way to remove yellowing from white clothes. Follow the instructions on the product label. Pre-treat the stain with the stain remover and let it sit for the recommended amount of time. Wash the clothing in the washing machine as usual.

How to make white clothes whiter without bleach?

Baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, lemon juice, white vinegar, and borax are all natural and effective solutions that can help keep your clothes looking bright and clean. By using these alternatives, you can avoid the harmful effects of bleach and keep your clothes looking their best.

Does OxiClean get yellow out of white clothes?

If your sheets are crisp white and you end up with yellow or brown sweat stains on them, OxiClean™ White Revive™ Laundry Whitener + Stain Remover is your best bet for removing the stains and reviving whites. One scoop of OxiClean™ White Revive™ filled to line 4 per gallon of water.

Is bleach or vinegar better for white clothes?

While chlorine bleach can be used in the wash to eliminate mold or mildew from clothing, towels, or bedding, it can only be used on whites. Vinegar can be used on colors, so it's a good choice for washing items that aren't white that are moldy.

How to whiten white clothes that have yellowed?

Distilled white vinegar is another remarkable option to make yellowed white shirts white again. Not only does it have brightening properties, but it also neutralizes odors in fabrics. You can use it as a bleach-free pretreatment or as an additive in a standard wash cycle.

Is distilled vinegar the same as white vinegar?

White vinegar, also known as distilled vinegar or spirit vinegar, is made by fermenting grain alcohol (ethanol) which then turns into acetic acid. Water is then added to the vinegar, so white vinegar is made of five to ten percent acetic acid and ninety to ninety-five percent water.

How to make dingy whites white again?

Refill sink (or bucket) with hot water and add about 2 tablespoons of white vinegar. Add clothes and allow to soak for about 15 minutes. Drain water and rinse whites in warm water.

How do you get old yellow stains out of white?

How To Remove Yellow Stains With Baking Soda
  1. In a small bowl, mix a paste of equal parts baking soda and water.
  2. Apply the paste to the stained area.
  3. Let sit for 20-30 minutes.
  4. Rinse and repeat the process if needed.
  5. Launder as usual.

What can I spray on white clothes to remove yellow stains?

Perspiration and deodorant can cause persistent yellow stains in fabrics. These stains cannot be removed with ordinary detergents or stain removers. HG Perspiration Stain Remover Spray is THE effective pre-treatment for removing such stains and is suitable for white and coloured fabrics.

Previous article
How do I increase the water pressure to my irrigation system?
Next article
Would you know if you were breathing in carbon monoxide?