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Grey laundry back to white - I've done it! (pure OS)
tallulah_beaulah
Posts: 113 Forumite
I've been trying to find a way to bring faded grey, unsightly, cotton underwear back to white. The batch I wanted to fix are all white with coloured patterns. The next plan is to tackle dh's pale pink underwear which is meant to be white!
The tips on the mega index thread seem to suggest soda crystals (which I put in my wash anyway), or biological washing powder (which I don't use, so don't have).
I looked up the problem in Better Basics for the Home and that suggested lemon juice (I'm drinking this at the moment for a cold so don't want to "waste" it in my laundry).
I asked my mum, who said I should boil them, (whenever I've tried this in the past I end up boiling soap powder all over my hob and floor).
The answer is borax and a slow cooker!
The results have been amazing! The white is back to white - no hint of grey and the colour patterns look like bright proper colours! I used about two tablespoons of borax, filled up the slow cooker with boiling water and left it on low over night. Presto, in the morning - bright white pants!
PS there were a couple of failed experiments along the way before I found this method (!)
PPS all underwear was washed before it went in my slow cooker (!!)
The tips on the mega index thread seem to suggest soda crystals (which I put in my wash anyway), or biological washing powder (which I don't use, so don't have).
I looked up the problem in Better Basics for the Home and that suggested lemon juice (I'm drinking this at the moment for a cold so don't want to "waste" it in my laundry).
I asked my mum, who said I should boil them, (whenever I've tried this in the past I end up boiling soap powder all over my hob and floor).
The answer is borax and a slow cooker!
The results have been amazing! The white is back to white - no hint of grey and the colour patterns look like bright proper colours! I used about two tablespoons of borax, filled up the slow cooker with boiling water and left it on low over night. Presto, in the morning - bright white pants!PS there were a couple of failed experiments along the way before I found this method (!)
PPS all underwear was washed before it went in my slow cooker (!!)
"Then, when every last cent
Of their money was spent,
The Fix-it-Up Chappie packed up
And he went."
Dr Seuss
Of their money was spent,
The Fix-it-Up Chappie packed up
And he went."
Dr Seuss
0
Comments
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I'd have to try this when DH wasn't home! I don't think he'd eat anything out of it again if he caught me cooking my pants in the slow cooker Organised people are just too lazy to look for things
F U Fund currently at £2500 -
Well done tallulah - I'll have to try this. We have loads of grey/pink whites!
(What's the biggest slow cooker you can get?:rolleyes: )I have plenty of willpower - it's won't power I need.
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moggins wrote:I'd have to try this when DH wasn't home! I don't think he'd eat anything out of it again if he caught me cooking my pants in the slow cooker
LOL moggins! My dh did come home and say "ooh, the slow cooker's on, what are we having?" I said "pants" and he said "mmmm..."
Can't wait for him to see what's in there tonight - I'm using the slow cooker to dye some fabric in red cabbage water!"Then, when every last cent
Of their money was spent,
The Fix-it-Up Chappie packed up
And he went."
Dr Seuss0 -
wow all these new uses for the slow cooker i think my OH would never eat out of mine again if i did that also lol,would a boil wash in washing machine adding borax to the drum work do you think? sorry dont mean to hijack thread well done by the way:) :xmastree:Is loving life right now,yes I am a soppy fool who believes in the simple things in life :xmastree:0
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I often wonder how people get these fantastic ideas.
Like for instance, the first person who thought "I know, I'll pull those things hanging from that cow and drink whatever comes out"
I'd be interested to discover what made you think "I know, I'll bung my underwear in the slow cooker"
Very clever!A friend is someone who overlooks your broken fence and admires the flowers in your garden.0 -
LJM - a boil wash with borax might work, my machine doesn't do a boil wash, so I haven't tried it. Everything was washed normally before I put it in with borax in the SC, but probably wouldn't be necessary if you're using a washing machine.
I let my slow cooker run over night when I did this and I have a feeling that being in hot water and borax for such a long time helped with the whitening. Someone on OS (sorry can't remember who) swears by soaking laundry and recommends starting the machine, then once the drum is full of water, switch off at the mains and let everything soak for a while before switching the electricity back on. Perhaps that would help too...?
Jayar - I'm a compulsive experimenter! I love thinking "how can I solve this with the things I have around me?" ... it's not always successful - my dh is very long-suffering!"Then, when every last cent
Of their money was spent,
The Fix-it-Up Chappie packed up
And he went."
Dr Seuss0 -
hmmmmm thinks
wonder if i can melt soap in the SC instead of microwave - anyone tried this?I'm going to feed our children non-organic food and with the money saved take them to the zoo - half man half biscuit 20080 -
Well done, my washing basket needs doing soon, it's got puppy paw prints on from where Holly tried to get the washing, sod.
Got some Borax somewhere so will try that. It's cream which was probably the worst choice I ever made.One day I might be more organised...........
GC: £200
Slinkies target 2018 - another 70lb off (half way to what the NHS says) so far 25lb0 -
excellent will try it out xtallulah_beaulah wrote:LJM - a boil wash with borax might work, my machine doesn't do a boil wash, so I haven't tried it. Everything was washed normally before I put it in with borax in the SC, but probably wouldn't be necessary if you're using a washing machine.
I let my slow cooker run over night when I did this and I have a feeling that being in hot water and borax for such a long time helped with the whitening. Someone on OS (sorry can't remember who) swears by soaking laundry and recommends starting the machine, then once the drum is full of water, switch off at the mains and let everything soak for a while before switching the electricity back on. Perhaps that would help too...?
Jayar - I'm a compulsive experimenter! I love thinking "how can I solve this with the things I have around me?" ... it's not always successful - my dh is very long-suffering!:xmastree:Is loving life right now,yes I am a soppy fool who believes in the simple things in life :xmastree:0
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