Getting something REALLY white?

Question

I have a shirt that has gotten kind of off white looking and I want to make it look really white. I've tried bleaching it but its not doing much. I know that's probably the only way to get it white, but does anybody know of some alternatives that might do the trick?

Answer 1

Try a blueing agent.

http://www.cadie.com/laundry.html

Answer 2

1. Let your clothes soak in the detergent/LCB for some approx. 15 minutes, if you can with your washer.

2. Wash your clothes with a few household products: white vinegar, hydrogen peroxide (active ingredient for OxiClean), lemon juice, or ammonia (never mix it with LCB). Or, purchase Borax. I would suggest performing a trial & error to see which product works best for you.

3. Clean your washer out by running a complete cycle with detergent and LCB (or rust stain remover) in case you have rust stains, or washed something that left a stain (start using SHOUT ColorCatcher for your colored loads).

OR

you could also use bluing....http://www.mrsstewart.com/
it helps with the dingy grey & yellowed whites. a bottle is less than $3 and will last a lifetime....or at least for the life of the clothes

Answer 3

If its cotton try boiling it in a large pan for 2 mins then turn it down to simmer for another 5 to 10 mins- if the buttons are dark you'll have to remove them first, you could try getting some denture tablets and soaking it all night in a dish, covered with hot-ish water -put about 4 tablets in before you add the water.good luck!

Answer 4

Don't use bleach on synthetic blends or it will turn yellow. Hang out in the sun to dry as the sun is a natural whitener!

Answer 5

If you have hard water, bleach will make your clothes yellow.

Use Oxy Clean instead of bleach.

Answer 6

baking soda