How do I wash my white shirts to keep them really white?

Question

I have a Top Loader and I've used Oxiclean and Bleach on my shirts before....but I still can't get them to be really white?
What's the problem?

Answer 1

There could be a few reasons why you can't get your shirts to be as white as they could be. Let me list some ideas:

1. You have hard water. Hard water will reduce the effectiveness of your detergent, and it will cause the deposit of minerals and detergent residue on your clothing, dulling the color. If this is the case for you, use a water softener in your wash. Such products include Calgon, White King, borax, or washing soda. If you have very hard water, such that it yellows glassware or sinks or other objects, then you may need to add water softener to your rinse cycle too.

2. Oxygen bleaches, like Oxiclean and Clorox 2, work best if the clothes can soak awhile, for about 30-45 minutes. Try starting the wash cycle, allow the clothes to agitate for 5 minutes. Then shut the washer off, and allow clothes to soak for 30-45 minutes. Then resume wash cycle. This works well for me. Do not do this with chlorine bleach, and do not soak your clothes more than 45 minutes, or you could damage them.

So: Normal amount of detergent, + water softener + allow to soak for 30 minutes. I think you'll notice a big improvement in just a couple washings.

Answer 2

Bleach works well on cotton.
Most sheets and shirts now are blends with cotton. The man made blends tend to yellow from bleach.

Add granular water softener (I use Calgon) in the wash. Oxiclean is still effective on these blends.

I still like to use bleach on occasion, but not as often to avoid the yellowing.

Answer 3

Only wash white items together Use a biological washing powder if you have no skin allergies Don't cram a lot of items in your machine You don't need a hot wash, just a long wash For stubborn stains, soak in a bowl overnight in an Oxy washing powder, before washing in the machine

Answer 4

This one is easy... When washing your whites apply perioxide to the load along with your usual washing stuff... put 2 bottles for a small, 3 for a medium.. ect... This will not damage your clothes of anything of the sort. I guarantee that this will help you whiten your items :) You can even test it on a stained item before you wash it and the stain will start to dissolve! l/m/k & best wishes

Answer 5

Buy new shirts.

Bleach and Oxiclean can only do so much. If your shirts are THAT dirty that neither of them can resolve your issue, just stop wasting water and products and buy new shirts. =D

Answer 6

It's probably the quality of the water. The water probably has a lot of calcium or iron content. If you know someone who has relatively soft water, ask them if they will let you wash your shirts at their place, just the way you wash them at yours. If they come out cleaner, it is definitely the water.

Answer 7

Add 20 Mule team Borax along with detergent.

Answer 8

you can try something like white wash or a white dye to get them back white. I use a white was on my kids uniforms and it makes a difference..good luck

Answer 9

i have iron in my water. if i wash my whites one time they are yellow. i have two kids belive me you need to get some iron out at wall mart. my clothes stay white and gets all the stains out. you fill washer let sit for 10 min then wash them. they will stay white as long as you keep washing them in iron out

Answer 10

You can try to put some baking soda in the machine. It's suppose to not only take out the stain but any odors also.