White clothes can be annoying to wash once they become stained, but there is an easy way to clean them again without having to put them through the washing machine multiple times.
Light clothing, such as white socks and T-shirts, is more likely to become stained as the fabric is more absorbent and can be harder to wash away if it has been left for a little while.
It may seem obvious to use bleach to remove stains, but the harsh chemicals can react badly to certain stains and cause white clothing to yellow and look dirty.
Bleach will also not work on greasy or other oil-based stains and can cause them to spread and weaken clothing fabric.
Instead, Annalise, an expert from Thrive Market, has shared there is a natural and much better alternative to whiten stained clothing and get them looking brand new again.
She said: “Citric acid is the natural compound inside responsible for lightening and brightening—and it’s as effective as conventional fabric whitening products.
“Add a mixture of [half a] cup lemon juice (ideally, fresh) and [one and a half] cups hydrogen peroxide to the load along with detergent to brighten dingy whites. Be careful to separate out any colours, though—like bleach, it could cause them to fade.”
Citric acid is a natural acidic substance that comes from the juice found in lemons, oranges and limes.
This acid can dissolve most common stains such as sweat and food but will also break down any soap left on clothing by laundry detergents to help brighten the fabric as well.
Hydrogen peroxide is a chemical compound mostly made up of hydrogen and oxygen but is used in cleaning as a milder bleach alternative to also help whiten clothes.
When hydrogen peroxide comes into contact with tough stains, it releases oxygen molecules, which break down the stain pigments, making it easier to wash them away.
How to whiten clothes and get rid of stains
All you need to do is add 120ml of lemon juice and 360ml of hydrogen peroxide (3% contraction) to the drum of your washing machine.
Use your usual laundry detergent and place the laundry on your usual wash cycle.
Once the wash is done, hang them outside if you can as sunlight can react to the citric acid to also help white clothing.
The ultraviolet rays in sunlight can also help break down stains and remove yellowing if you have tried to treat the fabric with bleach in the past.
However, be cautious and only leave white clothing on the line for one day maximum as overexposure to sunlight for too long can weaken fabric.
Your white laundry should be brighter, fresher and cleaner with all the stains removed after just one wash.
