White clothes are often coated in optical brighteners, which wash off over time, leaving them looking grey. But you don’t just have to leave your favourite items to fade away
Keeping white items such as tops, trainers or bedding bright can be a real challenge for most people.
Over time, with frequent use and washes, the white colour can start to fade and turn into a dull shade of grey. It’s quite disheartening – especially when your favourite piece of clothing starts to lose its vibrant shine – but it’s inevitable.
White clothes are often treated with optical brighteners, which gradually wash off over time, leaving them looking grey. However, you don’t have to simply watch your favourite items lose their lustre – there are steps you can take to restore them to their original brilliance. And this doesn’t mean spending a fortune on costly whiteners.
Instead, TikTok cleaning guru @homeaglow_ reveals that the “secret to keeping your white clothes bright all summer” is an ingredient you probably already have in your kitchen cupboard. All you need is baking soda – a common staple in any baking cupboard.
According to the clever cleaner, the ‘secret’ is to let your white items soak in boiling water with baking soda for about an hour. She explained: “This is the best way to keep your white clothes white and bright. You want to start off by soaking your white pieces in boiling water and baking soda. Overnight is great, but 30 minutes to an hour is good enough. Next, you’re going to want to go ahead and throw it in the washer as you usually would.”
The content creator revealed another trick to keep the items as vibrant as the day they were bought – air drying them under the sun. She articulated: “Our sun is a natural bleacher, so I do like to set my whites out in the sun to sunbathe.”
For any stubborn stains left behind, she further suggests using an item typically found in one’s fridge – a lemon. The content creator clarified: “I squirt lemon on the hard stains that didn’t come out in the washer. And you want to keep them out there for about two to three hours.”
Another household product that cleaning enthusiasts swear by to maintain the whiteness of the items – Vanish. In response to cleaning influencer Mrs Hinch’s fanpage, one user stated: “Bleach breaks down the fabric, so they won’t last long at all and do go yellow. Vanish is best,” with another chiming in: “Put in a bucket with warm water [and] white vanish powder tub.” Most supermarkets stock Vanish.
