OS way to brighter whites?

maypole

Well, I did the pillowcases on a hot was then I soaked them in a bleach and cold water solution, then another shorter wash and they are now a lovely white, as they are meant to be.:j

skim

Sometimes your whites may look off colour because they actually have to much optical brightening agent in them.

Best thing I know of for good whites is Sodium Dithionite - possibly get it from a chemist.
Use 2g per litre of water, preferably with some sodium carbonate - again 2g per litre of water & get it as hot as you can.

BettiePage

I am a student nurse and my uniform consists of white tunics plus grey trousers. These have to be washed at 60 degrees at the lowest. They're now 18 months old and are getting slightly dingy. Any idea's how I can get them dazzling white again?

Bellie_2

Hi there, I know it isnt very os but I use oxy white to get my white stuff really white. Its the only thing I have found so far that works. I do buy it from makro though so it is much cheaper than buying it in the supermarket. Maybe also bleaching but I have never tried that yet.

bertiebots

I have the same problems with my sons school shirts..:eek: .I am going to try some soda crystals I purchased today for £1.00 ..It says to put half a cup in the drum with the wash so fingers crossed. It's cheap anyway so worth a try. The laundry powder I got was only £1.00 too!:D

cg1982

hi i am just wondering instead of buying all the fancy stuff you get in sainsos or wilkos is there anything i can use to whiten my husband chef whites like anything around the house?
does anyone know if i can bleach them propberly a stupid quiestion
also anyone know of anything household wise that will get rid on stains which have been there a while ?

thank you

Pink.

Hi cg1982,

There's an earlier thread that should help so I've added your post to it. Try these older threads too:

Grey laundry back to white - I've done it! (pure OS)

Can you do anything with grey clothing

OS way to brighter whites?

Brightening whites (well, greys at the mo)

keeping whites white?

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jasmine_from_the_north

Hi everyone, I am new to this forum and looove it!!! Could do with all your help please. How do I get my whites white without buying expensive whiteners (e.g. the oxi stuff ...) and bio tabs.
I tried saving money by buying cheap washing tablets from Asda and Tesco but they don't get the clothes clean and the whites white as my bio washing tabs used to do. I found with other stuff such as bleach, washing up liquid, soaps, shampoos and conditioners especially that the cheaper they are the worse they are (most noticable on fabric and hair conditioners).
Please help. Thank you all. xxx

Pink.

Hi Jasmine,

Welcome to MSE :hello:

There's an earlier thread with lots of ideas that should help so I've added your post to it to keep the replies together.

Pink

bumble-bee_3

I have white bathroom towels they are a few years old now and not in too bad condition, but I found they looked alot brighter after adding some borax powder to the washing powder.