Get clothes white without bleach?

[goofball]

Are there eco-friendly alternatives to using bleach to get dingy clothes white again? We don't use fabric softener so that shouldn't be an issue. Is oxygen bleach a good product to use?

[mrsmagoo2001]

1. don't overload the washer, this will prevent the water from properly circulating and getting the dirt out.

2. sort your clothes, keep extremely dirty clothes away from regular clothes.

3. Don't use excessive amounts of detergent, it will stay in your clothes making them dingy.

4. Use 1/2 cup white vinegar in with the detergent, can also be put in the rinse.

5. If possible dry on a clothes line in the sun.

[pshch]

Use hydrogen peroxide based bleach. It does not work as good as chlorine based but is not toxic (what leaves your washer is water and oxigen).

[sjparker]

Try Borax.

[Siye]

My gramma boils whites to get them as white as possible.

It looks like she just uses plain water in a huge pot.

From what I've seen looks like it works pretty well.

No idea how it works though.

[appkidak]

being allergic to bleach - I have tried the following
1. baking soda in the wash cycle=whitens
2. white vinegar in the rinse cycle- brightens & softens

soaking clothes rather than longer wash cycles.
washing soda ( i find it caustic)


good luck

[jed]

Good old fashioned bluing.

Once your rinse water is in, add about a teaspoon, being careful not to drip it directly onto the clothes. Been using this for years!

[mbg]

My gramma boils whites to get them as white as possible.

It looks like she just uses plain water in a huge pot.

From what I've seen looks like it works pretty well.

No idea how it works though.

She has a cauldron for laundry??