Getting whites white again

(NOTE: This is a laundry discussion, not a racial one! )

We own a gorgeous white waffle weave duvet cover and pillow shams that have become pretty dull over the four years or so that we've had them. We wash them regularly, of course, using bleach, but it has been years afterall. Before I go out and replace the set with something similar, I'd like to see just how white I can get them again. They're 100% cotton, and it's not like they've got hard stains from blood, oils, etc. I know I can't get them like-new again, but anyone have suggestions on how I could get them as white as possible without completely degrading the fabric?
[Edited 11/7/09 21:18pm]

yikes, I hate white laundry. I have like 2 or 3 white shirts for about a year, it's all I can handle

I hear baking soda helps get whites white again. You might wanna look this up before you take my advice but a 50/50 mix will boost the bleach's effect on your laundry.

errant said:

Hydrogen peroxide


http://www.associatedcont...oxide.html

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lazycrockett said:

Lammastide said:

This is a laundry discussion, not a racial one! )

Detergent with bleach

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ZombieKitten said:

Lammastide said:

This is a laundry discussion, not a racial one! )

oh boy, imagine!!!

I only just started using Fabric softener it smells nice!

oops, upon reading this thread.


OK, Oxi-clean does a great job. It really does make a difference.
Tide also does a good job, but it uses a chemical that reflects light and fools you into thinking your fabric is cleaner than it is--I wouldn't use it.


Direct sunlight for a few hours also bleaches whites. It's also the only real way to kill bad smells like cat urine--really intense, direct sunlight works miricles.

However, I think it damages fabric too, but I'm not certain.

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Imago said:

Nikademus said:

Dr Beckmann Glowhite powder sachets.

Another vote for Oxiclean.

oxiclean took smoke stains straight out of some vintage bark cloth curtains from the 40's, it made the silver and gray tones silver and gray instead of yellow/ivory

I thought it was racial so I clicked here. At least you cleared that up

purplecorvette1 said:

Too much bleach will shred the cotton.
IF the Oxiclean or hydrogenperoxide (same stuff) doesn't work... then do this.

Soak a new navy t-shirt (or if you are brave a pair of dark wash blue jeans) in warm water and allow that water to darken from the dye.

Take out said blue jeans or t-shirt and stir the water up and place comforter in to soak for like an hour.
Wash the comforter in cold water after.

The blue dye from the t-shirt or jeans will make you whites look whiter. That or this stuff called Tri-zyme from Amway. WITHOUT tearing up the fabric.

Thanks for this thread...I've been thinking of how to whiten my clothes for days. Clorox-bleach doesn't work...My whites turned yellow some how. can't get rid of black marks on my white socks....

paintedlady said:

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Imago said:

paintedlady said:

Imago said:

guRRL, it's funny you said that. Whenever I try to whiten or lighten something in photoshop, I end up basically changing the hue towards the blue-end of the spectrum. It makes clouds, eyes, teeth--anything that needs to be more white practically pop the fuck out.

So you know what I'm talking about.
I learned that from working as a colorist in a salon. un-yellowing gray hair.

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Borax.

RubyButterfly said:

peacenlovealways said:

RubyButterfly said:

RubyButterfly said:

I have used borax to make snowflakes with pipe cleaners when my babies were little... It makes crystals form on the pipe cleaner!

angel345 said:

I thought it was racial so I clicked here. At least you cleared that up