OS way to brighter whites?

redlady_1

Oh my Lord...nappy stuff?? I cant be seen buying that?!?! Tongues will wag! However, I do have some Biotex and yes, it is 100% cotton. Will give that a go. I have washed it on a 90 degree wash too to try and restore it to it's former glory but not a chance.

for research purposes does that Napisan stuff work?

jackieglasgow

It does, yes. I put mine on a 90 degree wash, half biotex and half soap powder, then hang it in the sun all day. I have a smelly man in bed with me, and my sheets are lovely and bright - and even TOTM accidents don't leave any stains.

BitterAndTwisted

Oh, yes Napisan definitely works. I use it on fabrics that I don't want to use bleach on. Biotex is great for removing biological stains but I haven't used it to bring whites back to their shop-bought loveliness.

The idea of you having thrown out still-usable but dull whites in the past has broken my heart

dom300186

ive always put about a tea spoon of bleach in the condiotioner compartment and put on a higher temp wash and it normally does the trick i then put it on a rinse and spin again but with conditioner in this time.

zippychick

We have a fab existing thread on OS way to whiter whites. Have a read and I'll merge this later on

Zip

redlady_1

Thanks very much for your advice. It will be put to good use.

bbjohnny

My son has three white polo shirts for school. I've just bought yet another lot as they all keep wearing out really quickly. I spent £9 each for the 'proper' ones with logos on this time in the hope they last longer!

There aren't any other white items in the house, so how should I be washing these? Obviously I can't afford to run a white wash for just three shirts every week.

Can I put these in with light blues and things like I did the old lot or will they just wear out quickly again? I'm not sure if they wore out quickly because I mixed colours or because they were cheap items (from Tesco and Asda).

OR should I be handwashing them and if so - how?! Thanks if you can help.

Also any advice on making clothing last longer would be MUCH appreciated. I keep getting white splodges on my son's clothes (but never mine?!) out of the machine, plus I keep managing to get shiny patches on things when I iron them - even though I iron them inside out. I seemed to be cursed (or just incompetent) in the washing / ironing department.

rosie383

Thanks for asking this. I have some for my DD1 that were 2nd hand last year, but still loads of room in them.
I always just washed them in a 30 degree wash with other stuff which may be why they are a bit grey-looking now.
I am not going to buy more this year until she grows. I am going to buy some Glo-White and see if they come up nice. If it works, I will wash them as normal each week, and do them with glo-white maybe every month along with whatever other whites I can find.
Can't wait to see the genius ideas that you all come up with!!

YORKSHIRELASS

I find its a pain washing my sons white shirts. Like you we dont have much other white washing but we do have pale coloured towels and bedding so I usually end up chucking them in with those. I always wash them at 60 with Daz or Persil powder. Over time they do go a bit grey but DS has got some that have lasted a whole school year.

You should be OK washing them with light blues. How about buying some cheap ones as spares then you might have enough to make a load. If your son is anything like mine handwashing is just never going to get them clean!

As for making clothes last longer/marks on clothes? Maybe you need to clean your washing machine. I run mine with a good splash of bleach (usually with some towels and tea-towels) on a hot wash from time to time. There is lots of discussion on here about cleaning your machine if you dont want to put bleach in it.

I am also a big believer in using proper old fashioned bio-powder from time to time which also helps to keep the machine clean. I also dont wash everything at 30 because I find that it doesnt always get the kids clothes clean. I do use the liquid washing stuff but I think it builds up in your machine over time if you dont use anything else.

The only time I get shiny patches when I iron is if I have got the iron too hot, not sure what else it could be.

Hope this helps - sure others will be along with more advice!

tryingtobegood

I always wash whites and "lights" together on a 30 degree wash (unless REALLY badly stained) . I use Bio powder (own brand/ariel whatever is the cheapest) and 1 scoop of the White tub of Vanish Oxi Action crystal white. The pink tub does nothing for me!
My whites are always "persil" white to the extent that some mums in nursery asked what I was using on the polo shirts as their kids polo shirts were turning a creamy grey colour.
IMHO is believe it's the combinations of bio powder and white tub Vanish that is doing the trick.
My SIL also hand down lovely clothes for my DD but usually her whites are a bit "off" , again this combo brings most of the clothes back to life after a few washes....HTH