Any users of Reckitt's Blue?

Steel_2

I have some bedding that is taking on the dingy yellowing kind of look and want to try some Reckitt's Blue on it.

Does the bedding have to be pure white? What would happen if it had a pattern?

I have several 100% cotton white and red striped pillowcases and another few white with a small rose pattern that are donkey's years old now, but I don't want to ruin them.

Seakay

According to this:
http://www.starchsupplies.co.uk/reckitts-crown-blue-whitening.html
you can use Reckitts on coloureds as well as whites.

Topher

Didn't know Reckitt's blue still existed. I did notice that my Woolite was a Reckitts product though. I'm not sure what of the blue is picked up, I don't think it's quite like a dye.

Steel_2

Thanks Seakay, I was going to get it from here and it didn't mention about coloureds.

Topher - I wasn't sure about whether it had any bleaching properties but didn't want to put my favourite pillowcases in, do it wrong and end up finding out!

BitterAndTwisted

From what I remember there's no bleaching: the blue is so slight/pale that it creates an optical illusion of blazing whiteness. A bit like that Persil advert in days gone by.

I had no idea you could still get Reckitt's Blue. That's bringing back fond memories of childhood Mondays. Fond for me because I wasn't the one having to do it, of course.

auntymabel

Just de-lurking as this brought back the memory of being treated with the "blue bag" for a wasp sting sometime back in the fifties.

Nile

It used to be manufactured by Reckitts in Hull but it's now Holliday Pigments.

I went for an interview years ago and learned about the salary and the gate money. Gate money was paid for every day you turned up for work, so if you were on holiday.............no gate money.;)

The gate money was paid as compensation for ruining your shoes and clothes. This was obvious to anyone who walked down the road towards the premises........everything was blue.

There's an interesting clip on Youtube, if you'd like to see how it's manufactured:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ez4q1XF5GvU

I didn't get the job but I've never been a fan of the Smurfs anyway.:D

JayJay14

Funnily enough I too had an interview down Ann Watson street years ago though remember they called it ultramarine rather than blue.

I didn't get the job either.

It was also made at Backbarrow (known locally as dolly blue town) in the Lake District which is now a tourist village, hotels and timeshares, but some of the machinery is on display there.

Dolly blue does the same job as the blue specs in lots of wash powders, the optical brightening won't affect the colours unless you use too much.

newmee

What an interesting little thread! I have never heard of this product. Am I too young at 41? :rotfl: However, I am off to check it out now and I'm sure I'll find a use for it