When we buy white clothes, we want them to remain white after washing- not turn a darker shade of white (grey)! Most of us also want to completely avoid using bleach or optical brighteners to keep them white but we’re talking about the maintenance of white clothes here. How to naturally whiten white clothes is a different story.

We at Laundryheap know all the factors to consider when washing whites without the need of using chemical products. The secret? Wash them properly, of course! 

How To Keep Your Whites, White!

1. Wash whites with whites: A common mistake most of us make is that we mix our white colours with other light, non-colourfast colours. Why? Because most of us are lazy. What we should do is separate whites completely from other colours and wash with white clothes ONLY. If you’re already doing this, good job! *applauds*
2. Don’t overload the machine: Putting too much clothes in the machine will prevent your whites from being cleaned properly as the detergent will find difficulty in circulating through the load, which as a result will not give it’s optimal cleaning performance. When loading the machine, fill it about three quarters of the way to ensure it isn’t overloaded.
3. Don’t overload with detergent: Some of us may think that by putting a lot of detergent, we’ll certainly get cleaner clothes meaning whiter clothes, right? Wrong! Too much detergent can in fact add an extra layer to the garment which causes build-up, leading to discolouration.
4. Treat stains ASAP: Don’t delay in treating stains; for the longer you leave them, the tougher they are to remove! PLUS that’s how you get that awkward darker patch on your white clothes. With wine or ketchup stains, we are certain to treat them quickly, but we should also do the same for invisible’ stains such as sweat stains. Read here for natural methods of stain removal.
5. Wash in the hottest water (by care label): It’s best to wash your garments according to what it says on the care label. To get the most out of your whites, follow the set temperature that the label recommends you to wash them at- don’t go a temperature lower! That way, your whites will surely stay white and gleaming.
6. Wash whites regularly: With coloured clothes, it’s best to wash them after a few wears to keep the colours from fading. When it comes to whites, it’s a completely different story. The best time to wash them is after wearing them once or twice. Did you know that invisible body soils are one of the reasons why your whites start to turn a grey/ yellow colour? Yeah. That’s way it’s best to wash them regularly to avoid that.
7. Dry accordingly: Of course the label will know what the best method is in drying your whites. So, for garments that allow you to tumble dry (if you own a dryer or use one) don’t over dry your whites as it will cause it to look worn out.If you naturally air dry your clothes, then, no comment, that will do just fine!

BONUS: If you’re laundry smart, you’ll realise that all of these tips mentioned will not only make your whites glowing but can also be considered to promote longevity of the rest of your clothes too!

If you have some tips that you use to keep your white clothes white, share them in the comments section! 🙂