How to Wash White Clothes (2024)

You're probably familiar with the need to separate the whites and colors. The reason is simple; you don't want any of the coloring from one batch to leak in the wash and stain your whites. To maintain bright laundry, you need to wash whites in a completely separate load from your colored clothing.

Sometimes, despite your best efforts, a colored item can accidentally end up in a load of white clothes. This can cause the white clothes to appear slightly grey.

Pulling your clothes out of the wash to find that they're nowhere near as white as they were when you first put them in can be pretty frustrating. Don't fret, though; there are ways that you may be able to refresh your white clothes and prevent discoloration.

You might also like: How To Make Life Simpler with Wash and Fold Delivery

Wondering how to wash white clothes effectively? Follow this guide to learn whether to use hot or cold water to remove stains, how to bleach clothes, and tips to get your clothes whiter.

White Clothes Wash Temperature: Do You Wash Whites in Hot or Cold Water?

Generally, it is best to wash your whites in warm or hot water. Washing your white clothes in a higher temperature helps to remove dirt, grime, and stains more effectively. Just make sure to avoid adding any colored fabrics, as warm water might cause the colors to bleed.

It's a good idea to check the care label on clothes before deciding what temperature to wash your white clothes. Delicate fabrics may need cold water to avoid shrinking or damage. Also consider using laundry detergent for white fabrics such as Tide Brights + Whites Rescue.

Continue reading to learn how to get stains out of white clothes with bleach.

How to Bleach White Clothes

Washing with regular detergent alone is not always enough to remove stubborn stains and yellowing. Adding 1/3 cup of bleach to your washing machine's bleach dispenser or directly to your load of white clothes can help restore clothing whiteness. To bleach clothes safely, follow these tips:

  • Make sure to follow directions on the label of your products.

  • Only use bleach on white clothes to avoid discoloration and damage to colored fabrics.

  • Before using bleach on a whole garment, test a small area first to make sure it won't damage the fabric.

  • Be sure to use bleach in a ventilated area and don't mix the bleach with other cleaners to avoid dangerous fumes.

By following these tips and using bleach properly, you can effectively remove stains from your white garments.

Want to learn more about how to get a stain out of a white shirt? Check out: Does Dry Cleaning Remove Stains?

How to Brighten White Clothes: Tips on How to Keep White Clothes White

  • Add a cup of baking soda:

    You may be wondering how to keep clothes white without bleach. Baking soda is a natural whitening agent that can help to remove stains and odors from your clothes. Simply add the baking soda to the washing machine along with your regular laundry detergent and wash as usual. Or consider soaking your whites in baking soda and hot water for a couple of hours before washing.

  • Use white vinegar:

    Vinegar is also a great alternative to chlorine bleach. Add half a cup of white vinegar to your white laundry. This can remove the grey or yellow hues from your white clothes and restore their original color.

  • Fabric whitening products:

    Specially designed fabric whitening products keep white clothes looking bright and fresh. These laundry boosters remove stains, brighten fabrics, and restore the original whiteness of your clothes. Tide has a variety of whitening products that can help you achieve brighter laundry.

  • Dry your clothes outdoors:

    Drying your white clothes outdoors is a great way to keep them looking bright and white. Air drying in the sunlight can help to naturally bleach and brighten the fabric, giving your clothes a fresh and clean appearance. Additionally, hanging your clothes outside might help to remove any lingering odors and give them a pleasant, fresh scent.

Choose a Cleaner You Can Trust

This guide answers how to whiten clothes, what temp to wash whites, and how to use bleach in laundry. While these are great tips to whiten clothes at home, sometimes it is necessary to turn to the professionals.

To keep your clothes in great condition, consider using a trusted dry cleaner and laundry service to clean them for you. Tide Cleaners has the tools and expertise to keep your white clothes white and your colored clothes bright. We are also knowledgeable in how to wash white dress shirts and other delicate types of fabric.

Learn more about Tide Cleaners dry cleaning and laundry services or find a location near you.

How to Wash White Clothes (2024)

FAQs

How to Wash White Clothes? ›

Generally, it is best to wash your whites in warm or hot water. Washing your white clothes in a higher temperature helps to remove dirt, grime, and stains more effectively. Just make sure to avoid adding any colored fabrics, as warm water might cause the colors to bleed.

How to make white clothes white again in washing machine? ›

Add a cup of hydrogen peroxide to the detergent dispenser. Launder clothing on the appropriate wash cycle. Line dry the clothing or put it in the dryer on a heat level appropriate for the fabric.

How do you get perfect white laundry? ›

We added half a cup of distilled white vinegar to the washing machine drum with a white load. We washed as normal using detergent and following the care label instructions. It's not only simple, it also won't bleach anything with colour in it.

How to get yellowed white clothes white again? ›

Fill a large bucket or basin with warm water. Add one cup of distilled white vinegar to the water and mix well. Place the yellowed garments into the solution and let them soak for 3-4 hours. After soaking, rinse the clothes with cold water and wash them as usual.

Should you wash whites in hot or cold? ›

When to Use Hot Water – For whites, typically dirty clothes and diapers, use hot water (130°F or above). Hot water is best to remove germs and heavy soil. However, hot water can shrink, fade and damage some fabrics, so be sure to read your clothing labels before selecting the hot option.

What liquid makes white clothes white again? ›

To pre-treat, mix hot water and white vinegar and allow your garments to soak. For an in-wash solution, simply add vinegar and detergent to your washing machine and select your desired setting. Read more: How to use your washing machine.

Does vinegar whiten clothes? ›

Vinegar whitens, freshens, and softens fabrics. Add 1/2 to 1 cup of distilled white vinegar along with your regular laundry detergent. Don't worry about the vinegar scent- it will dissipate after drying. Vinegar may also be sprayed on spot stains and collar and underarm stains.

How do you wash white clothes perfectly? ›

Simply add the baking soda to the washing machine along with your regular laundry detergent and wash as usual. Or consider soaking your whites in baking soda and hot water for a couple of hours before washing. Use white vinegar: Vinegar is also a great alternative to chlorine bleach.

What can I add to my laundry to make whites whiter? ›

Use vinegar. Like baking soda, you can use distilled white vinegar as either a bleach-free pretreating solution or as an additive to a standard wash cycle. White vinegar is an acidic solution that can be used to brighten the appearance of white fabrics.

What whitens laundry best? ›

Hydrogen Peroxide

Add one cup of hydrogen peroxide to whites in the washing machine to brighten them. Add one cup to a load of diapers to whiten, deodorize, and disinfect. Take care when using the product on darker colors; test it on a swatch of fabric before using.

How to get the whitest whites? ›

Oxygen bleach and hydrogen peroxide are good at whitening and are more gentle and less dangerous than chlorine bleach. You can add a cup of hydrogen peroxide to brighten your whites in a wash cycle.

How do you get dingy white clothes white again without bleach? ›

Stir one cup of baking soda into one gallon of boiling water, then remove from heat and add the dingy white clothes. Let them soak for at least an hour or overnight. The sodium bicarbonate will help cut through the soil on cotton clothing that leaves them dull. Wash as usual.

Does baking soda whiten clothes? ›

To help whiten white and light-colored items like clothing, sheets and towels, you can use baking soda instead of bleach for a natural laundry boost. Adding baking soda along with your detergent can also help brighten colorful fabrics and may prevent white garments from yellowing.

How to make old white clothes look new? ›

To get white clothes white again, soak them overnight before washing them in a tub filled with hot water and a scoop of oxygen bleach, such as Oxi Clean. For extra tough stains, try using a scoop of dishwashing powder instead. The next day, launder your clothes the way you normally would.

What washing machine setting for white clothes? ›

For the most part, in the case of heavily soiled clothes, towels and bedding, whites should be washed in warm or hot water, but there are some exceptions: Sheer or delicate fabrics, such as lingerie and swimwear, require lower temperatures, while stains like blood, wine, and coffee might set if washed in warm or hot ...

How to get grey clothes back to white? ›

To whiten your grayed clothes, just add half a cup of vinegar to the washing machine drum. Wash your clothes as usual using your favorite detergent. Don't worry—the laundry won't smell of vinegar.

How do I get my washing machine white again? ›

For a homemade option, you can try cleaning your washing machine with vinegar. Just pour two cups of distilled vinegar into your detergent drawer. You can also use soda crystals (or baking soda) to clean your washing machine. Sprinkle half a cup into your drum and then let your washing machine run on a hot setting.

Can you make off white clothes white again? ›

If your white clothes have lost their bright appearance, you can help to bring them back to life by adding a whitening agent, oxygen bleach or bleach-free products like baking soda or vinegar. Always consult each item's laundry care label to avoid damaging the garment.

Why are my white clothes still dirty after washing? ›

If you have never cleaned your washer, dirt, grime, and soil can build up in the drum. This might be the residue you are seeing on your clothes. There is a clogged water pump. The water might not be draining fast enough, which means grime settles on your clothes rather than flowing out of the drum.

How to make white clothes white again with baking soda and vinegar? ›

Using 1/2 a cup of baking soda and 1/2 a cup of vinegar. I then set my washing machine to hot. and let it do its thing. Once it's done, let it hang dry, and you're done.

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