OS way to brighter whites?

Chris25

Every so often, I soak mine overnight in a diluted soda crystal solution then boil in a saucepan with a little washing powder added. I know you don't want to do that but I love the smell of them & it doesn't take long.
Never fails to take me back to my youth

building_with_lego

pigpen wrote: »

dye them brown lol

One of my earliest memories is of my mum making a set of white waffle tea towels with her brand new sewing machine. Not long afterwards I remember going to buy the brown dye as white just doesn't work for tea towels!


(Some of the- now pale brown- tea towels are still going strong 33 years later.)

bluebird

I keep my whites white by simply washing whites seperately from colours i also use Vanish crystal white in my wash as hubbys work shirts are white and can be a devil to clean when he spills something down them,but with vanish crystal white along with my normal washing detergent they come out clean.

Tea towels can harbour many germs so occasionally along with dish clothes they get a soak in baby sterilising tablets.which also work wonders on a Belfast sink.so i clean my sink and towels in one go.

ghostmadlittlemiss

bluebird wrote: »

Tea towels can harbour many germs so occasionally along with dish clothes they get a soak in baby sterilising tablets.which also work wonders on a Belfast sink.so i clean my sink and towels in one go.

I didn't know you were meant to sterilise babies! :eek: (Sorry, couldn't resist. )
Kayleigh

anguk

I wonder if soaking them in Biotex would work? I used to soak terry nappies overnight in that and it got rid of all the stains (and we know how bad nappy stains can be. )

Butterfly_Brain

I use biotex or napisan for whites.

Toxic_Lemon

I've soaked them in Vanish crystal white and it seems to have worked. No idea why domestos didn't work.

I'm leaving them in overnight just to be certain. Thanks all for tips.

ragz_2

Are you using bio or non bio? Bio doesn't work so well above 60 degrees apparently so no good for a hot wash (even though the stains on tea towels are biological and need the enzymes) so if you want a hot wash use non bio. You could soak in bio and luke warm water then wash on hot with non bio?

[Deleted User]

I always steep my tea towels no matter what the colour in the bath with some washing soda and a dollop of ordinary washing powder.I'm not fussed what brand ,in fact I have found that Tesco's own brand is as good as the posh ariels or persils and half the price.Once soaked overnight if possible then a nice hot wash in the machine usually brings them up to a good condition.When they really get past their best(like all of us we do have a time when we're past our best )then they get cut into four and sewn around the cut edges and used as cleaning clothes for mucky jobs indoors.I have a stash of clapped out tea towels that get a biol up now and again that are cheaper that J-cloths (i.e.free)and go on for ever until they finally fall apart.

zippychick

ive merged this with our whiter whites thread which has loads of ideas

Zip