why does my white laundry turn gray?

  • I'm not exactly June Cleaver, you might be able to tell. ha.....does anybody have a good solution for getting white stuff to stay white? I wash my whites in hot water with the recommended amount of bleach, and it just doesn't seem to do much. My t-shirts I work out in just look dingy gray after a few months....any particular detergent you guys find works better than others? should I use more bleach? Or should I perhaps consider getting a better washer?
  • I put a cup of vinegar in my white load. I use warm water and no bleach, easier on the cloth. The vinegar seems to help keep things white.
  • My mom always used to wipe out her washer with bleach and run an empty small cycle between her colors and whites.

    I thought it was crazy, but I also realized that she never had grayish whites
  • This may seem old fashioned but have you ever tried using Borax (along with your normal detergent) with your whites? This seems to brighten them up if they've gone dingy. I wash my husband's and son's white karate uniforms and add Borax into the wash and I can see a visible difference between the white of their uniforms and some of the others in their class.
  • Anyone remember bluing? Does it even still exist? I know my grandmother added it to the rinse water for whites, and apparently, a blue tinge makes whites appear whiter.

    I don't use bleach regularly, but I do wash my blues with my whites, and it really does seem to help.
  • Oh, and I checked bluing is still made. I don't know if there are more than one company, but the Mrs. Stewarts brand is still in business.
  • You could try using something like Oxyclean (powder) to your whites instead of bleach. DO NOT use them together -- the fumes are powerful (spoken from experience. )

    I usually do whites on hot water, sometimes letting them soak for 5 mins after the bleach has been dispensed. I'll often do a second rinse to really get out all the bleach too.
  • If all else fails hang them outside in the sun. The sun is a great bleaching agent.
  • thanks for all the advice guys! I will be trying all your ideas, hopefully I'll be back to wearing white colored white clothing soon
  • My hubby and I wear white shirts with our uniform and I always hang my whites in the shade. Stops the sun from making them go yellow. My Mum always use washing soda with her whites, Don't know much about bleach. But I will try that vinegar one for my boys gear.
  • Vinegar is also great for removing perspiration stains. Soak some on the stains for awhile b/4 washing. I've found that Oxyclean powder added to the wash helps take out lots of stains too (esp. the kid's stuff!)