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How to whiten and brighten your clothes

How to whiten and brighten your clothes

Garments so white that it almost hurts your eyes: we love it! But white clothes are the worst when it comes to staining. White clothing immediately absorbs anything and everything - from common stains to a vale of grey and yellow whilst wearing. But don’t get discouraged and throw out a good piece of clothing! At PB, we love to help you sustain a durable wardrobe by giving tips on how to remove difficult stains, get rid of a greyish coating or yellowy armpit stains. Follow these tips and become an expert in keeping your white clothes radiant. Spoiler alert: most of the items used are probably sitting in your kitchen cabinet. 

image with artdirection

1. Act immediately

1. Act immediately

The most important thing to remember: take action as soon as you spot a stain. The longer you wait, the more time the stain has to permanently set into the fabric. Apply a special stain removal product directly on the stain. When you don’t have anything at hand, a small amount of dish detergent also does the trick. Note: never rub or dap, but just apply on the stain and leave it to do its work. 

The most important thing to remember: take action as soon as you spot a stain. The longer you wait, the more time the stain has to permanently set into the fabric. Apply a special stain removal product directly on the stain. When you don’t have anything at hand, a small amount of dish detergent also does the trick. Note: never rub or dap, but just apply on the stain and leave it to do its work. 

2. Always wash inside out

2. Always wash inside out

You’ve probably heard that colored garments are best washed inside out. This also goes for white clothes! The rubbing of clothes during wash cycles always leaves traces of damage, which increases the probability of fading. Actually, our advice is to wash all your clothes inside out from now on.

You’ve probably heard that colored garments are best washed inside out. This also goes for white clothes! The rubbing of clothes during wash cycles always leaves traces of damage, which increases the probability of fading. Actually, our advice is to wash all your clothes inside out from now on. 

3. Use the power of the sun

3. Use the power of the sun

Yep, you’re reading it correctly: the sun’s ‘bleaching’ works miracles on white clothes. While we often experience its effect to be negative – think of faded curtains – it’s actually an advantage for white pieces. Simply leave to dry in the sun and even a greyish or yellow coat will fade over time. Now this is what we call double sustainable! Note: remove your clothes from the sun’s light just before it dries at the core, to prevent yellow staining from overexposure. 

Yep, you’re reading it correctly: the sun’s ‘bleaching’ works miracles on white clothes. While we often experience its effect to be negative – think of faded curtains – it’s actually an advantage for white pieces. Simply leave to dry in the sun and even a greyish or yellow coat will fade over time. Now this is what we call double sustainable! Note: remove your clothes from the sun’s light just before it dries at the core, to prevent yellow staining from overexposure. 

4. Don’t use chloride but opt for these household alternatives

4. Don’t use chloride but opt for these household alternatives

You would think that bleach works perfectly on white clothes. This is true to some extent but the harshness of chloride also damages fabrics. There are so many better alternatives on the market now. But your kitchen cabinet contains some effective ingredients as well. Mix a royal amount of water with lemon juice, aspirins, baking soda or vinegar, leave your garment(s) to soak overnight and watch stains and a greyish vale disappear. 

You would think that bleach works perfectly on white clothes. This is true to some extent but the harshness of chloride also damages fabrics. There are so many better alternatives on the market now, like the All-Purpose Bleach Alternative by The Laundress. But your kitchen cabinet contains some effective ingredients as well. Mix a royal amount of water with lemon juice, aspirins, baking soda or vinegar, leave your garment(s) to soak overnight and watch stains and a greyish vale disappear. 

5. Use special whites detergent

5. Use special whites detergent

We’ll keep repeating this until you get sick of us: using special detergents for different types of clothes really pays off. Especially when it comes to your white items. White detergents contain optical brighteners (not to be confused with bleach) that guarantee that every wash acts as a radiance boost, restoring the fresh look you want from your whites.  

We’ll keep repeating this until you get sick of us: using special detergents for different types of clothes really pays off. Especially when it comes to your white items. White detergents contain optical brighteners (not to be confused with bleach) that guarantee that every wash acts as a radiance boost, restoring the fresh look you want from your whites.  

Totally into shopping white clothing now? Shop all white clothing here

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