How can I whiten dingy fabric?

Question

I have a black sweater that has white collar and cuffs. The white is no longer white but very very dingy. How can I whiten the white?

Answer 1

If you use Oxy Clean you run the risk of bleeding your black onto you white!! Awesome works well but regular Vinegar work good too and do not try the bleach unless you want to go shopping for a new sweater!!

Answer 2

Bleach is not a good idea at all unless you'd like your black sweater to turn brown (at best). Bleach also weakens fibers and will accelorate the "worn" look, not the best if you like the crisp look!

You need to get a product that indicates it is color safe, because you're dealing with a garment with two distinct issues - whitening the white and protecting the black. Oxy Clean may work in the wash, but DON'T soak in it!

You can also try lemon juice carefully applied only to the white parts.

Once you get it brighten up, I'd recommend tossing in one of those color magnet cloths every time you wash it - the dingy look on the white is caused by "loose" dye from the black. The color magnet cloth attracts the dye (molecularly) and keeps it off the white. The brand I've used the past is called Shout Color Catcher but there are other brands that are just as good.

Answer 3

Buy the bleach pen, before you begin, take large masking tape and tape all around the collar so that no bleach gets on the sweater, Now do this over the sink, use the bleach pen as if you were painting and do all the collar, let that hang over the sink for 15 to 20 Min's. then rinse try not to get the water on the sweater. Once you get it clean, the next time you wash your sweater, use tide and do it by hand.

Answer 4

OMG don't use bleach, you'll wind up ruining the black parts or turning the white parts yellow. OxyClean or Borax by hand on the white parts in warm water, and a really good rinse should do it. Not sure how the black will do in the sun, but whites brighten right up when hung out in the sunlight.

Answer 5

particular, any shade secure, non-chlorine bleach + soak clothing for a a million/2 hour in a diluted answer of the bleach and water and then wash on stain cope with cycle. this ought to brighten them up! additionally, RIT has a whitener and brightener for whites to get rid of a bluish solid. wish that helps ~

Answer 6

Use Tide with Bleach alternative and oxy-clean in Warm water. Should solve the problem.

Answer 7

Use Oxy Clean.

Whites get dingy or yellow when you use bleach and you have hard water.

Answer 8

Try a product from the Dollar Tree called Awesome. I used it in my laundry regularly.

Answer 9

i find using oxyclean just on the collar and scrubbing by hand will do the trick.

Answer 10

the dry cleaners or one of those bleach pens