how to whiten whites without bleach

How do you keep your white-whites as white as when you first got them? Stains, sweat, and usage all fade your white's brightness and leave you with dull, yellowed, aged fabric. Chlorine bleach quickly whitens your clothes and sheets, but it also brings with it irritation, toxins, and even carcinogens (cancer-causing particles). In addition, bleach doesn't always do what it sets out to; it can actually react with polyester and turn the fabric yellow.

So how can you naturally, safely, and effectively keep your whites bright, light, and beautiful?

1. Baking Soda

One of the best ways to whiten and freshen your fabrics is with baking soda. It's especially useful for spot-cleaning those yellow armpit.

For stains, make a paste of 4 tablespoons baking soda with enough water to make a paste. Scrub the mixture into the stain and let sit for 5-10 minutes. Then, launder as usual.

For an added boost of whitening after stain-spotting, you can add ½ cup of baking soda in with your regular eco-friendly laundry detergent.

Note that baking soda will soften your fabrics significantly. While this is ideal for certain fabrics (like kid's clothing or sheets), don't use baking soda on those materials that are meant to stay crisp or sturdy.

2. Distilled White Vinegar

Vinegar is one of the safest and most effective ways to freshen and brighten your clothes. Add 1 cup of distilled white vinegar in with your regular laundry detergent (non-bleach). Although it might make your clothes a little smelly at first, the scent will go away after drying.

White vinegar is the arch nemesis of the collar and underarm stains. Use a spray bottle to spritz white vinegar on spots or rub the vinegar into the stain using a cloth. Let sit an hour before washing.

3. Lemons

Lemons are natural whiteners and brighteners—plus they add a clean scent to your laundry. You can add ¼ to ½ cup of lemon juice in with your regular laundry detergent for a clean and gentle whitening boost.

For the strongest results, laundry experts (and Martha Stewart) swear by the lemon pre-soak:

Fill a large pot with water and lemon slices (1-2 lemons).
Bring the water to a boil.
After the water is bubbling, turn off the heat.
When no longer boiling, add clothing or linens.
Let the fabrics soak for an hour.
Launder as usual.

This pre-soak will brighten your clothing, eat up any stains, and release a gorgeous aroma into your house.

4. Aspirin

Aspirin isn't just great for headaches and pains—it's also great for breaking down stains on your favorite whites. Dissolve five white aspirin pills in a bowl of water. Make sure you only use white aspirin, or your clothes could come out with a colored hue. Add the clothes to the aspirin-water solution. Let them soak for one hour before laundering as usual.

5. Borax

Borax, or sodium borate, helps keep your laundry clear of harsh residue. Laundering your clothing doesn't fully clean them; in fact, sometimes the detergents you use while doing the laundry can actually make your clothes even dirtier.

Every time you wash, your clothing is submitted to detergent and dryer sheet residue that can dim the brightness of colors and diminish the longevity of clothing. Adding a tablespoon of Borax to your laundry detergent can remove this residue, restore colors, and soften the water for temperate washing.

You should always follow the directions on your brand's Borax box.

6. Milk

Milk can be a solid option for delicates or cotton fabrics since it is not as acidic or intense as baking soda, vinegar, and lemons.

Place your fabrics in a bowl of 2% milk and let soak for 2-3 hours. Rinse in the laundry as usual. For an added boost (and to remove any milk residue), add a small ¼ cup of white vinegar to your laundry detergent after a milk soak.

7. Sunlight

No matter what other methods you use, sunlight is the best way to dry your white clothes. The UV rays lighten colors and remove residue and odor particles that can get trapped deep in the cloth.

After you wash your whites, leave them out in the sun to dry. This will make your fabrics whiter, fresher, and lighter, and they won't be submitted to heavy heat.

Other Tips And Tricks:

Don't wash your clothes after each use.

Every time you wash, your clothes fill up with detergent residue that can dull colors and break down fabric fibers. If you need to wash your clothes more than once per week, try sending them through a clean, detergent-free cycle. You can also add small droplets of ammonia or Borax in your washing cycle to help eliminate accumulated residue on your laundry.

Don't use hard water.

Hard water can rust your pipes—and it does even worse to your clothes! Hard water contributes to yellowed, dirty coloring of your white fabrics. If possible, try to purify your water or use a water softener in your washing machine.

Don't apply perfumes and deodorants directly on your clothes.

These can cause yellowing due to their chemical reactions with the different sorts of fabrics.

Have some other stains on your whites?

For grass and ink stains, pour clear vodka on the stain. Let sit for 1 hour before laundering. For red wine stains, pour salt on the spot to absorb the excess moisture. Let sit for 5 minutes, scrape away, and blot with club soda before laundering.

When in doubt, dab your stain with lemon juice or vinegar. These will instantly lighten your fabrics, so don't use on colors.

Don't get rid of your yellowed whites—just get rid of the yellow! Brighten your fabrics with natural solutions that will keep them looking, smelling, and feeling as fresh and white as the day you got them.