How do you get whites, white?

Question

Some people can get them white like they came from the store and I can only do that when things are new. After a while, things are more 'off white'. They still get clean enough, but just not white like white from the store.
What's the secret?

Answer 1

I use a box of Rit Whitener (or Whitener & Brightener) every other time I wash my whites, and it seems to help. Large loads need 2 boxes, and you just add the powder with the detergent. Unlike bleach, the whitener does not make the colors fade. This is sold in a small box usually on the laundry care aisle. Hope this helps.

Answer 2

White.

Answer 3

Could be your water. Iron or magnesium in the water. Alkaline water and soap residue. You could be doomed. ....like me.

If the problem is iron, then adding bleach just makes the problem worse. Chlorine makes the iron fall out of suspension and onto your clothes. Use Yellow Out or OxyClean or other oxygen bleach, not chlorine bleach.

Alkaline water and soap scum.....use detergent, not soap. There is a big difference.

Also next time buy a cheaper detergent such as Sun. All these fancy detergents with their additives build up on the fabric. Using something simple, like Sun, every so often helps eliminate detergent residue.

If possible, give you clothes an extra rinse at the end. You'd be amazed what doesn't rinse out the first time.

Finally, when desperate, I'll soap the whole white load in a giant bucket with OxyClean then wash with detergent.

Answer 4

It's possible there is iron in your city's water lines. That's how your clothes look off-white after a while. Use "Iron-Out". You can get this at Wal-Mart or the hardware store. Use it every time you wash whites. It has a strong odor, so beware.

And don't ever use bleach!!! Bleach attracts the iron and makes things worse.

I use this all the time. Our city's water is horrible and I work for them!

Answer 5

In washing machine, I have found that if items are cotton, put appropriate amount of bleach in washing water, let sit for 15 to thirty mins, then add detergent, agitate, and when it's the rinse cycle add bluing agent. Many different names, but bluing rinse will work if asking. You can find it in grocery stores in detergent aisle by the rinses. Use as suggested. Too much and you have blue clothes for awhile, but in time will wash out. I have been able to whiten gym socks that played basketball without shoes outside. Good luck.

Answer 6

Use a half a cup of bleach (Chlorine) to a full washer of water.for all white materials.
If you are washing colored use Clorox Bleach (Blue powder) for colored material. Follow directions on labels.

Answer 7

I use Liquid Tide with Bleach Alternative, and I wouldn't trust my clothes to anything else. My whites are blinding my friends! :>)

Because it is not chlorine based like liquid bleach, it also is safe to use on colors too.

Answer 8

You have the option of soaking them first, and only wash the white items with other whites. This keeps them whiter for longer.

Answer 9

soak the clothes in the washing machine when it's full of water, and put in i'm guessing about 1/2 cup of bleach. don't put to much bleach, though. it will eat away at your clothes.
when i do my laundry, i do two batches. one batch is all my whites (underwear, socks, etc...) and my other batch is everything else.
This keeps my dark clothing from bleeding in the wash and making my whites darker and duller.

Answer 10

two washing cycles one inbleach the other with a laundry product called fabric blueing this gets my whites immaculate