News flash. You don’t need commercial bleaches and pre-treatment sprays to get your whites shining bright again. In fact, sweat stains and faded whites are easily fixed using just two simple ingredients you should already have at home.
Just follow our super easy steps to take charge in the laundry using all-natural products.
What’s the Best Way to Whiten Whites and Linen?
1 All you need to do is add about half a cup of white vinegar to the next load of washing you do. If your favourite white clothes are looking a little beige, here’s what you do. Boil some water, pour into a tub or sink and let it cool, add a few lemon slices and soak the item for about half an hour.
2 Put your things through the normal clothes wash cycle and you’re done! We love vinegar in the laundry for a couple of reasons. The acidity levels in white vinegar break down alkaline soap residue, helping to balance PH levels. White vinegar can also naturally soften clothing and towels and works wonders on your washing machine too. Try putting half a cup in the machine for your next load to help dissolve soap scum lodged in your pipes as the water drains out.
How Can I Get Rid of Sweat Stains?
In the past, I’ve thrown several of my husband’s work shirts out because nothing seems to get the sweat stains out. Thanks to the bacteria in sweat and the chemicals found in many deodorants, colourless sweat marks up our clothing in a very unattractive yellow hue.
Here’s how to tackle the stains:
1 Create an equal parts mix of cold water and vinegar, pop your item in and let it sit for half an hour. We use cold water because warm or hot water can set the stain. Always use white vinegar and not coloured varieties.
2 With an old toothbrush, rub the stain about 15 minutes into the soaking period to work the vinegar into the area. Put the item into the machine for a normal load.
3 Prevention is always better than cure. You can stop these stains from happening if you ensure that good-quality deodorant is being used and that the deodorant is dry before you get dressed. You could also wear a singlet under a collared shirt to absorb perspiration. Like all stains, cleaning them as soon as possible is important.
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