There’s nothing nicer than slipping into fresh, new, white clothes, like a freshly laundered Kandura, but over time stains and regular wear and washing can make them far less attractive. If you need to remove a specific stain, or just want to brighten your whites after repeated washing, you will find it much easier than you expected with these simple but effective tips on how to wash white clothes.
Pre-treating stains with a good quality detergent like OMO Liquid is a simple and easy way to remove stains – detergents like this are specially formulated to help clean your clothes effectively, whether in a washing machine or if you’re washing by hand in a bucket. You can also try adding some Comfort fabric conditioner to your wash to ensure your white clothes are left feeling extra soft and smelling great.
How To Remove Stains from White Clothes
Treating and washing stained or faded white fabrics is easy when using this step-by-step guide. Before using any new product or method on your clothes, remember to test it in a small, inconspicuous spot first, and to follow the directions on the label. You should also be sure to consult the care label on your garment to check that it is safe to attempt stain removal yourself and so you know what type of material you are dealing with.
1) How to Target Stains and Pre-treat White Clothing
General: Pre-treat any stains by applying a small amount of OMO Liquid detergent directly on the stain. You can also soak a heavily-stained item in a bucket of cool water and detergent to help loosen the stain before washing it.
Silk and wool: White silk and wool can be stunning if they’re looking fresh and stain-free. Try soaking in a mild detergent designed for removing stains from delicate materials and reshape woollen garments whilst wet. Remember to follow your clothing’s care advice and visit a dry cleaner if you are concerned about treating delicate garments yourself!
2) How to Wash White Clothes
Clean your machine: It’s no good trying to freshen up your white clothes if your washing machine hasn’t been cleaned recently, because trapped dirt and colours can add to dulling of white fabrics. If you have a fully automatic machine, run your empty washing machine at a high temperature, adding a cup of white vinegar to the drum to ensure your machine is not only clean but also germ-free.
Wash colours separately: The best way to wash white clothes is to wash them separately from dark or coloured ones. It’s important to only wash white materials together to avoid other colours bleeding into white fabric. Read on for tips on removing colour stains below if it’s already too late!
Hand wash delicates: You may be able to use the hand-wash setting on your machine to remove stains from delicate clothes, but remember to use a suitable detergent and to follow the care advice for the specific item.
How To Remove Colour Stains From White Clothes
White clothes can acquire colour stains from contact with coloured clothing or any number of stains. Using a bleach-based product to target colour stains is effective with white fabric; try using oxygen bleach as opposed to chlorine bleach as it can be used in conjunction with detergents. It may be a good idea to clean your machine after washing colour-stained clothes to ensure any remnants are removed before the next wash.
How To Remove Rust Stains From White Clothes
Rust stains can be tough because the iron particles in the stain react with both bleach and heat to increase the likelihood of a permanent stain. Once you know this, it’s easy to avoid detergents with too much bleach. Use your machine on a warm or cool setting to successfully remove rust stains from white clothes.
How To Remove Yellow Stains From White Clothes
Yellow stains are often a result of natural bodily products such as sweat, combined with the chemicals we use to combat them like deodorant, and can embed and accumulate over time to make it seem like your white clothes are ruined. But don’t despair – there are many household products that can effectively remove yellow stains.
Oxygen bleach can work wonders on yellow stains. Other products that have been proven to brighten up yellowing clothes include lemon juice or salt. Salt is great as it can be used either prior to washing as a soak, or added to your wash directly.
There you have it your whites can be as bright and stain-free as the day you bought them with these tips on how to wash white clothes and remove stains – try it for yourself!
Pre-treat stains with a laundry detergent like OMO Liquid detergent.
Make sure you use a mild detergent designed for washing delicate clothes when attempting to remove a stain from silk or wool.
For tough stains on white clothes you can try using oxygen bleach.
Remember to test any cleaning products on a small, hidden area of the garment first and follow the instructions on the product’s label carefully.