How to Whiten Laundry

By eHow Home & Garden Editor

Rate: (4 Ratings)

Are your cotton whites looking dingy and gray? You may feel that they are hopeless. Rest assured you can make those towels, sheets and clothing articles as white as the day you brought them home.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

Step1
Gather the cotton whites you desire to whiten. You cannot bleach anything else but cotton items. If the pile consists of more than a large load, separate into two piles and repeat the instructions.
Step2
Turn your washer to the hot setting and select the proper load size.
Step3
Pour your laundry detergent into the washer.
Step4
Pour 1 cup of bleach into the running water. If your washing machine has a dispenser for bleach, pour it in the dispenser rather than the running water.
Step5
Keep the lid open.
Step6
Allow the water to agitate a minute after filling with water. This allows the water, detergent and bleach to mix. If you were to skip this step, you may wind up holes eaten through some of your items.
Step7
Add your cotton whites.
Step8
Run the rinse cycle again once the load is complete. This is not required but will take away any possible bleach smells from the washed articles.
Step9
Dry as usual.

Tips & Warnings

  • Do not add the bleach after the laundry is in the washing machine. This may cause bleach marks or burns in the articles being whitened.
  • Cotton whites are the only materials you can bleach. Anything with a synthetic blend needs a non-chlorine bleach.
  • Keep children away from the bleach.

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eHow Article:  How to Whiten Laundry

eHow Home & Garden Editor

eHow Home & Garden Editor

Category: Home & Garden

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