How can I get clothes white without bleach?

Question

I'm trying to find an eco-friendly way of getting an old christening gown white again. Right now I'm using lemon but it may take a few applications. I was wondering if anyone else had some good old fashion "remedies" too.

Answer 1

Be careful switching ideas. Some cleaning agents won't play nice with others and can ruin the gown or even create poisonous fumes. Fortunately you are avoiding bleach and so far ammonia (you already used lemon juice so avoid this) so you should be relatively safe.

One alternative nobody mentioned [edit: well it wasn't mentioned while i was first typing this] is hydrogen peroxide (safe to use after using lemon juice). Use a pray bottle to mist DILUTED peroxide. Make sure you're using peroxide meant to treat wounds, not bleaching your hair. The latter stuff is far more potent and might damage the gown. Mist, let sit for a few minutes, rinse, repeat until done. (BTW, peroxide is great for removing blood stains from clothes if you get a but or bloody nose).

One last extremely important point:
You used lemon juice to clean which is acidic. Over time the remant acids can break down the fibers in the dress. You can remedy this by soaking it in a baking soda solution to neutralize any acid that didn't come out while washing.

Answer 2

I had a First Communion veil that had been smoke damaged in a house fire and my friend went to a local pharmacy and got a cup of something from the pharmacist that I mixed with water and gently dipped the veil repeatedly until it was the white I wanted. I can't remember the name of it but try talking to a pharmacist. It really worked!

Answer 3

Soak it in salt and lemon overnight.... rinse it thouroughly the next morning, hang it out in the sun.... add tequila to your bucket and drink margarita's until its dry. Well the last part wont whiten the gown, but the first part will. Good luck!

Answer 4

As i live in the country with an arriated tank I can't use bleach or purex., so i too was looking for a safe whitner for the laundry. i was told to use a cup of vinegar per load of wash for my whites. I just got the vinegar today so here goes.

Answer 5

you can boil your lemon in a big pot of water and soak the gown in that.

you can try soaking it in a big bowl with baking soda, dawn dish soap and water.

you can use something called blueing, it is what alot of nurses use to keep their uniforms white.

try dissolving some whitening toothpaste in a big bowl of water and soak it in that. not only will it help clean it but it will smell good also.

good luck.

Answer 6

Keep using the lemon, but try placing it in the sun.

Answer 7

Oxi-Clean

I used to work at a coal plant. The fines would get into my boots and turn my socks black. Bleach did nothing for them but eat them up.

Oxi, and that was the first time I used it, whitened them like new.

Answer 8

Try using your regular detergent in your washer(normal amount),add one scoop of oxy clean and one cup of powdered dishwasher detergent.Let the agitater run to mix the laundry aids well,then toss in the garments,let agitate long enough to get them wet,soak for five minutes(without agitating),agitate again(for one minute),and let soak for 10 minutes(without agitating),then let the cycle finish.When the washer stops, run them through another complete cycle( without any detergent) to rinse them thoroughly,add softener to freshen them,if desired.

Answer 9

Try Shout Stain Remover and wash it with Gain w/ bleach in it

Answer 10

I heard that using a 1/2 cup of peroxide works.....