White clothing losing its whiteness is a common problem we often get asked about. Readers want to know why white clothing gets discoloured and what they can do to get their whites back to perfect white again.
In this laundry guide, we take you through the causes of white clothes losing their whiteness. We will also give advice on our best clothes whitener and how to maintain the whiteness of your favourite items.
What Causes of Discoloration Of White Clothes?
White clothes can become discoloured due to a variety of reasons. Here are some common causes:
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Ageing - over time, white clothes can become yellow or grey due to the natural aging process of the fabric.
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Sunlight - prolonged exposure to direct sunlight can cause white clothes to fade or turn yellow.
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Stains - if white clothes come into contact with substances like sweat, food, or beverages, they can develop unsightly stains that can be difficult to remove.
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Incorrect use of bleach - although bleach can be used to whiten clothes, overuse can cause fabrics to weaken and turn yellow over time.
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Leftover residue – if detergents are not rinsed out of white clothes properly, it can leave behind a residue that can cause yellowing or discoloration.
To prevent white clothes from discolouring, it is important to follow care instructions, use the right detergent and avoid exposing them to harsh substances or excessive sunlight.
Tips For Choosing The Best Detergent for White Clothes
Incorrect use of laundry detergents and fabric whiteners is one of the main reasons why white clothing loses its brightness. To keep your clothing looking as bright and white as possible, it’s best to choose the best and most correct products for your needs. Here’s how:
1. Choose the right laundry detergent
Ideally, you want to choose a white bright laundry detergent like Surf’s range of hand washing powders, which are formulated with super whitening power. The super whitening granules in Surf Washing Powder work to remove yellowness caused by stains, sunlight, and over washing. The granules break down the yellow and grey molecules bringing superior whiteness back to your clothing in just a few washes.
2. Use the laundry detergents effectively
Always make sure you follow the usage instructions when using your chosen bright white laundry powder or detergent. If you use too little, you won’t see any improvement in the whiteness of the clothing, if you use too much then there will be excess detergent residue leftover which can contribute to additional yellowing over time.
How To Maintain the Whiteness and Brightness of Clothes?
If you want to keep your white clothes looking bright and fresh for longer, there are a few tips that you can practice every time your wash your whites, to help maintain their whiteness. Here are some tips for keeping white clothing white:
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Separate white clothes from coloured clothes before washing: This helps to prevent any dyes or colours from bleeding onto your white clothes.
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Wash white clothes in hot water as the heat helps to remove stains and dirt that can cause white clothes to become dingy.
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Use a whitening laundry detergent designed for whites, like Surf. Surf Hand washing Powder is specifically formulated to help keep white clothes bright and white.
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Add vinegar to the rinse cycle. Adding a cup of white vinegar to the rinse cycle can help to remove any detergent residue and brighten whites.
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Avoid using bleach too often. Although bleach can be used to whiten clothes, overuse can weaken fabrics and cause yellowing over time.
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Hang white clothes to dry in the sun, The UV rays can help to naturally bleach white clothes and keep them bright.
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Store white clothes in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight to prevent yellowing and discoloration.
If you’d like to know a bit more about removing unsightly yellowing from your favourite white garments, read our blog on How To Remove Yellow Stains from White Clothes now.
For more laundry tips and tricks, visit Cleanipedia now.
