How to whiten vintage bedsheets

ripplyuk

These are from approx 1950 and are lovely cotton but they’re a horrible cream colour and I like bright white. I’ve tried a hot wash with vanish but that made little difference. Should I try pouring a bottle of bleach in and letting it sit for a while? I was also wondering about laying them out on the lawn in the sun, like the old bleachgreens but I’m not sure if that actually works or is just an old wives tale. Any ideas appreciated. 

theoretica

Have they yellowed, or do you think they were always cream?

I would try oxygen bleach rather than chlorine based.  Sun does work, but it isn't a huge effect.  Laundry blue was another old way of counteracting yellowing.

ripplyuk

theoretica said:

Have they yellowed, or do you think they were always cream?

I would try oxygen bleach rather than chlorine based.  Sun does work, but it isn't a huge effect.  Laundry blue was another old way of counteracting yellowing.

I think they were always cream but they’ve also yellowed with age because some parts are more yellow than others. 

What’s oxygen bleach? Is that not what vanish is? I’ll try to find laundry blue. 

Spendless

I once lifted a curry (possibly korma) stain from an old pale blue tablecloth by putting it out in the sun. I'm not convinced you'll get something to white that was originally cream though. 

Gers

ripplyuk said:

theoretica said:

Have they yellowed, or do you think they were always cream?

I would try oxygen bleach rather than chlorine based.  Sun does work, but it isn't a huge effect.  Laundry blue was another old way of counteracting yellowing.

I think they were always cream but they’ve also yellowed with age because some parts are more yellow than others. 

What’s oxygen bleach? Is that not what vanish is? I’ll try to find laundry blue. 

I bought this from Amazon - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mrs-Stewarts-Concentrated-Liquid-Bluing/dp/B009M7ESPA You only need a couple of tiny drops each time.

thriftwizard

I'd be quite sparing with bleach - oxy's not so bad, but strong chlorine bleach can rot your fabric pretty quickly. If they weren't white to start with, it'd be very hard to turn them white without risking that - how about dyeing them to a different colour altogether? Cotton - or linen, for that matter, takes dye very well.

Nelliegrace

The bleaching of washed linen with grass and sunlight does work. It is a chemical reaction. 
Sunlight alone bleaches linen. The best days were in Spring when the cloth dried slowly.

I have vintage French Metis Cotton/Linen mix sheets which start off quite beige. I soak them in cold water with Oxyclean for several days, changing the water regularly. With regular use and washing, drying them in the garden, they soften and whiten. I think the may last for ever!

Rosa_Damascena

ripplyuk said:

theoretica said:

Have they yellowed, or do you think they were always cream?

I would try oxygen bleach rather than chlorine based.  Sun does work, but it isn't a huge effect.  Laundry blue was another old way of counteracting yellowing.

I think they were always cream but they’ve also yellowed with age because some parts are more yellow than others. 

What’s oxygen bleach? Is that not what vanish is? I’ll try to find laundry blue. 

H2O2 - good old hydrogen peroxide!

Longwalker

@ripplyuk, Ive kind of the same problem, sheets and pillowcases going yellow with age because they arent being used

Plus a lot of items like pillow and mattress protectors yellowing through sweat stains 

Someone mentioned Kirkland washing liquid, from Costco. I googled it and it had rave reviews so I ordered ( from amazon as we dont have Costco here and they dont deliver here ) and I got a tub of oxypowder for whites.. So far, 4 machine loads later, 99.9% of items have come out white and bright and fit for use again

Im so impressed that Im going to see if my pillows come out well. Feather pillows, Ive only washed before on gentle quick washes so they have yellowed.

caronc

Napisan is great for whitening and brightening without bleaching. 

sammyjammy

I second napisan!  I soak my white bath towels and teatowels in it, not easy to get but Tesco sell it in the baby section