How to bleach white clothes at home. Effective fabric bleaches and the best folk remedies Which powder bleaches white things well

White things get dirty quickly, they need to be washed after the first wear. Because the dust is visible on them, the fabric takes on a gray tint.

Recently, professional whitening products have become incredibly popular. They quickly and effectively return the material to its former purity. However, industrial chemistry is not suitable for everyone. For example, it is better not to wash children's clothes with their help.

Therefore, many return to old methods for whitening. You can also use traditional methods if you don’t want to poison your family with chemicals.

Professional reagents

Exists at home. Professional chemistry is the most popular.

The market offers a large selection of products that can restore the former whiteness of the material. Conventionally, they are divided into chlorine-containing, optical and oxygen.

Chlorine bleaches are the cheapest and therefore sell out quickly. However, such products are not suitable for removing stains from delicate fabrics.

Use bleach only when necessary to disinfect clothes, or better yet, prepare your own bleach.

Washing in white will not bring positive results if you resort to this procedure for a long time.

Optical

This type of bleach is not suitable if you decide to buy it for processing children's clothes. Optical products often cause allergic reactions when they come into contact with the skin, which may be why they have been selling poorly lately.

In addition, these substances not only do not bleach the fabric, they create the illusion of its cleanliness.

Optical components settle on the material, reflect white light and therefore the clothes look several shades lighter. However, in reality, its pores are still clogged with dirt and dust and after a few wears, the blouse will become even grayer than before.

Optical brighteners are now difficult to find in pure form; most often they are included in laundry detergents.

Oxygen

The best fabric bleaches are oxygen. Unlike chlorine, which are at the very bottom of the list, these products are located at the very top.


Oxygen bleach rightfully takes first place. This is truly the best product that has proven its effectiveness through many tests.

Advantages:

  1. It's safe. You can buy clothes for children and adults, and bleach natural and synthetic fabrics. It doesn't even disturb the structure of silk.
  2. The environmental friendliness of these products has been tested more than once. Sodium percarbonate decomposes and does not pollute the environment.
  3. Oxygen products can be rinsed off well. Not even the smallest particles remain on the laundry.
  4. Does not cause allergic reactions and can be used from the first days of a child’s life.
  5. The washing efficiency is much higher than when using chlorine-containing and optical products.

This bleach is better. It has no analogues. The only drawback is the high cost.

How do you know which bleach is oxygen? This is usually indicated on the label. You can also ask a sales consultant for help.

The best oxygen bleaches: Ecover, Nature Clean, Klar, Almawin, Sodasan.

Traditional methods

Professional clothes bleaches work faster. Clothes are soaked in them for a maximum of half an hour; longer soaking is not required.

However, not everyone can use such chemicals. This may be due to health conditions or lack of funds.

In this case, bleaches can be replaced with folk remedies. There are many recipes for making things white.

Boiling

In the old days, grandmothers boiled laundry in large boilers. So they disinfected it and bleached it at the same time.


This technology for removing stains and adding whiteness has been preserved to this day and is passed down from generation to generation. Many housewives use this technique to disinfect children's things.

This is the most effective stain removal method that does not require the use of aggressive chemicals.

Means for whitening clothes at home by boiling:

  1. Add 180 grams of soap and soda ash to 6 liters of water. The laundry is boiled in this solution for 2 hours. Then you need to take out the clothes, put them in the bath and wait until they cool down. Do not immediately draw cold water; sudden changes in temperature can negatively affect the condition of the tissues.
  2. White jeans and jackets too. They are placed in a bucket to boil things for 1 hour and constantly turned over. There is no need to add folk remedies and industrial chemicals. After this treatment, they are washed in an automatic machine.
  3. The following composition will help to bleach things and disinfect them well: 5 grams of bleach and the same amount of soda ash are diluted in 10 liters of water. The laundry is boiled in the resulting product for 30–60 minutes, depending on the degree of contamination. Then you need to wash your clothes with powder and softener, because they will smell like bleach.

You can also carry out boiling with silicate glue. There are many ways to whiten clothes this way.

Each of them needs to be mastered, and then only snow-white clothes will be stored in your wardrobe.

Laundry soap

Everyone knows what this remedy is. It has been used for decades to remove stains from clothes.


Laundry soap from the very birth of the baby. It not only removes any dirt, but also whitens it to its original appearance. In addition, it is hypoallergenic.

Laundry soap is used for washing cotton, linen, wool and even synthetics. It is suitable for almost any material.

Mode of application:

  1. Lather the contaminated areas with 72% soap and leave for 30 minutes.
  2. Prepare a solution in a basin. For 5 liters of water you will need 1 block, grind it on a grater and beat it into foam.
  3. Place previously treated clothing in the hot solution for several hours.
  4. Then repeat the manipulation, only the soapy liquid should be cold. Soaking is reduced to 1 hour.
  5. After bleaching the laundry in this way, wash it as usual, observing the temperature regime and cycle.

This is one of the cheapest methods of bleaching fabrics.

Not quite the usual method of whitening, but no less effective - using vegetable oil.


If your favorite blouse has turned gray, use this technique. No, it will not be covered, but on the contrary, if they are present, they will quickly wash off.

To prepare the bleaching agent you will need 1 tbsp. l. dry bleach, 200 grams of washing powder, 2.5 tablespoons of vegetable oil. All components are diluted in 5 liters of warm water.

If there are a lot of things, double the amount of each ingredient.

The items are soaked in the prepared solution for 3 hours. After this procedure, you will need to wash your clothes with washing powder and rinse well.

Potassium permangantsovka

Potassium permanganate has long been used as a stain remover for bed linen. This crystalline powder performs its functions 100%.


To prepare the solution you will need 2–5 crystals of potassium permanganate. It is diluted in 10 liters of water. The solution should turn out slightly purple.

Then add washing gel or powder in the amount of 200 g (ml). Stir the mixture thoroughly until all the grains dissolve.

Soak the laundry in this substance, cover the basin or bucket with plastic wrap or a bag.

When the mixture has cooled, open the container, remove the bedding and rinse several times in clean water. All that remains is to hang the things on the clothesline and then iron them.

Peroxide

Many people find it unprofitable to use purchased whitening products. They are not cheap, and not all are used sparingly. Folk remedies come to the rescue.


Using hydrogen peroxide, you can restore the snow-white appearance of even a very dirty kitchen towel.

To make a good bleach you need to mix 12 cups of water, ¼ cup of lemon juice, and 250 ml of hydrogen peroxide.

Everyone has all these ingredients in their home, and even if they don’t, there won’t be any problems purchasing them.

Hydrogen peroxide has a unique composition. Thanks to this, it can be used to bleach any fabrics, both natural and synthetic.

The prepared product from peroxide, lemon juice and water is poured into the washing machine tray and the desired modes are turned on.

This composition can also be used for soaking if there is only one item. The amount of ingredients for hand washing can be reduced. Two glasses are enough to whiten one blouse.

Ammonia

Synthetic laundry bleach is prepared using ammonia. This product also removes dirt well. Plus it whitens well.


An aqueous solution of ammonium hydroxide can be used separately, it can also be poured into the machine, and it can also be combined with other products and thereby enhance the whitening effect.

How to make the product yourself and use it:

  1. In a 10-liter container, dilute 5 tbsp. l. ammonia, 2 tbsp. l. hydrogen peroxide and a little soap solution.
  2. Place the laundry in the container for 30 minutes.
  3. The household bleach should then be rinsed well.

There is no smell left after ammonia and hydrogen peroxide. But to give your clothes a little freshness, wash them using conditioner to soften the material.

Acetylsalicylic acid is used to remove yellow marks that appear under the arms due to increased activity of the sweat glands.


Aspirin is not the best bleach for white laundry because it can only remove yellow stains. However, in this situation it is an indispensable assistant.

Crush the Aspirin, dilute it with a little water, you need to get a paste. Apply it to the yellow spots and leave for 1.5 hours.

Complete the stain removal procedure by washing with powder, drying and ironing.

Boric acid

This substance helps remove complex stains. This is a strong reagent that is often used to whiten socks.

Simple bleaches cannot even match the effectiveness of boric acid. They are often powerless when dealing with dirty white socks that are not washed right away.

To do this, you will need to dissolve ½ tsp in 500 ml of hot water. boric acid. White socks are dipped into this composition and kept in it for 2 hours.

After finishing soaking, wash them by hand in warm water. There is no need to use washing powder; if you want, add a little fabric softener to make the smell more pleasant.

All bleaches are effective if prepared and used according to instructions. Industrial reagents and home remedies should be selected according to the material of the clothing.

In addition, you should pay attention. Not all fabrics can be treated with professional chemicals. In this case, it can be replaced with a folk remedy, just be sure to test it on an inconspicuous area before use.

“How to bleach white things?” is a question that everyone asks without exception. No matter how well you take care of white things, sooner or later the fabric will turn grey. In addition, there are many other factors that influence the state of bright things. For example, yellow stains from sweat or traces of food and drinks. All this leads to the need not only to wash, but also to bleach white items. Therefore, you need to know how this can be done at home correctly, quickly and effectively.

Basic rules for washing white clothes

Before you start bleaching your clothes, you need to find out the basic rules for washing white clothes. In this case, most consequences can be avoided. To keep your blouses, T-shirts and underwear white, follow these tips:

  • the most important rule is that white items are always washed separately from colored ones; it is enough to remember this so that your favorite blouse or trousers do not take on a pink or green tint;
  • Moreover, separating only white items is not enough; clothes also need to be sorted by fabric type, since cotton and silk, for example, require different washing modes and detergents;
  • not every bleaching agent is suitable for one type of fabric or another; chlorine-containing household chemicals can only be used for linen and cotton clothing;
  • for white items, hand washing and rinsing is preferable, because in this case you can always make sure that the fabric is rinsed well;
  • if you use a washing machine, make sure that the household appliances are working properly; if the drain in the machine is clogged, then things will not be rinsed out well, so stains and streaks will remain on the fabric;
  • Always use a water softener if you wash white items made from thin and delicate fabrics, especially white underwear;
  • remember that if there are persistent stains of organic origin on clothes, the first step is to get rid of the dirt, and only then wash the T-shirt or skirt in the usual way;
  • if the item is heavily soiled, it is best to soak the clothing in a soapy solution;
  • The sun is a natural bleacher, so dry white items outdoors in direct sunlight if possible.

All this, as well as timely washing and high-quality detergents, will always help keep your clothes white.

Clothes have faded

If clothes fade during the washing process, you must immediately take emergency measures to save your favorite things. Fabric can become stained not only if you accidentally washed a pink scarf with a white T-shirt. In fact, it is enough to forget a travel ticket or a candy wrapper in the pocket of your white trousers - and now the white fabric is covered with colored spots and stains.

In this case, you need to resort to the help of factory-made household chemicals, since folk remedies most likely will not be effective enough. There are many different brands of bleach, but they all fall into two main types: chlorine and oxygen.

The most effective are bleaches that contain chlorine. However, it is safe to use such products to restore the whiteness of dyed items only if the clothing is made from natural fabric. Also, chlorine-containing bleaches have high disinfecting properties. Therefore, if you need to not only bleach faded fabric, but also disinfect it, it is best to use regular whiteness. For white items made of silk or synthetics, you need to choose the right dosage.

As for oxygen bleaches, their action is based on the chemical reaction of oxygen elements, which, when oxidized, have a detrimental effect on organic compounds. Moreover, the effect of such a bleach has practically no effect on the structure of the fabric. Also, unlike chlorine-containing household chemicals, oxygen bleaches can be safely used for automatic washing. The effect of such a cleaning product is less pronounced, but only such household chemicals are suitable for restoring the whiteness of delicate fabrics.

Let's look at two types of bleaches in more detail:

  1. Whiteness is a chlorine-containing household chemical that is used not only to restore the color of faded clothing. In everyday life, this cleaning product is also used to clean individual elements of the bathroom and restroom. Despite the low cost, as well as high-quality bleaching and disinfecting properties, this product has an obvious disadvantage - a negative effect on the fabric. The thing is that with frequent use, chlorine destroys the structure of the fibers. That is why, after repeated use, the fabric becomes thinner and tears. Under no circumstances should silk or woolen items be bleached using bleach. Also, you should not use chlorine-containing bleaches when washing clothes in an automatic washing machine, as chlorine can damage the parts of household appliances. It should also be remembered that bleaching things at home with chlorine must be carried out taking precautions. Chlorine produces fumes that can harm the mucous membranes, and this substance can also cause an allergic reaction.
  2. Persol is one of the popular powder-type oxygen bleaches. One of the most important advantages of this product is that it can be used on absolutely any type of fabric. The components contained in the bleach do not affect the fabric structure in any way. The effect of bleach does not depend on temperature conditions, so you can restore faded items in both hot and cold water. It is very important to follow the instructions on the packaging, since the dosage of different detergents may differ. Persalt does not cause an allergic reaction, so it is safe to use. Never try to enhance the whitening effect by mixing oxygen and chlorine bleaches! If you want to bleach whites in the washing machine, simply add detergent to the powder. Use oxygen bleach to restore children's clothing.

Unfortunately, in order to bleach white items that have been stained as a result of improper washing, you most often have to use commercial household chemicals. But now you know what products can be used and for what types of fabric.

Restoring gray fabric

Restoring a gray or washed-out white item, although not easy, is possible. It is a natural process for white fabric to wear out and turn gray. To restore the white color of guipure or any other similar fabric, you can use the following step-by-step instructions:

  1. First of all, prepare a large basin, plastic or stainless steel, pour about ten liters of hot or warm water into the container.
  2. Add 50 milliliters of ammonia and the same amount of hydrogen peroxide to the liquid, stir the water thoroughly.
  3. Place the washed, gray fabric in the prepared liquid for about half an hour.
  4. After the specified time has passed, rinse white items in clean water and then wash as usual.

After this treatment, the guipure will become white again. In this way, the whiteness of tulle or curtains is very often restored. This gentle product is suitable for restoring the color of underwear. However, it should be remembered that after treatment, the fabric should be rinsed thoroughly and then washed using a water softener.

As for white items made of natural fabric that have turned gray or worn out, you can restore their white color at home using bleaches, the effect of which is described in the previous section. If you bleach your clothes in the washing machine, be sure to use only oxygen bleach.

Synthetics do not tolerate bleaching using household chemicals very well, so to restore the whiteness of your favorite T-shirts or socks, it is best to use regular salted water. To do this, just add 40 grams of table salt per liter of warm water.

In some cases, you can resort to using boric acid . This product is used if it is necessary to whiten gray or blackened soles of white socks. In order for the cleaning agent to have the desired effect, 25 milliliters of boric acid are mixed with a liter of warm water, and then white items are left in the solution for several hours.

If you need to bleach gray silk or wool, it is recommended to use the only safe product - baking soda. There are many options and recipes for making bleach from baking soda, which we will discuss in more detail in the corresponding section.

In most cases, the problem of the appearance of a gray tint on white things does not even arise due to improper washing or low-quality household chemicals. It's all about the quality of the water, which contains a large number of impurities, which form a gray coating. It is formed not only on light-colored things, the effect is simply more noticeable on white. In this case, it is recommended to use special water softeners or baking soda. The ideal option is to install a cleaner on the water supply pipe to the washing machine, but this is a rather expensive procedure.

It is also very important not to wear white clothes. Experienced housewives recommend washing white items after each use, then there will be no need to restore the color.

Removing yellow stains from sweat

It is almost impossible to completely remove stubborn yellow sweat stains from white clothes. Such persistent traces of organic matter literally eat into the fibers of the fabric. Of course, if you treat the fabric with aggressive household chemicals, you can get rid of the yellowness on T-shirts and blouses quite effectively, but at the same time, most likely, you will also damage your favorite clothes.

The only effective way to prevent permanent yellow stains from forming on white clothes is to wash the items after each use. This is especially true in winter and summer. Also remember to dry your laundry in direct sunlight whenever possible, although this is not true for all types of fabric.

If the armpits of white clothes are yellowed, you can use the following bleaching products:

  • Linen and cotton items are the easiest to bleach, because in the case of such fabric you can use chlorine, which will effectively remove the yellow coating and disinfect the fabric; you can also use baking soda, although in this case it will be less effective;
  • to restore the whiteness of things made of wool and silk, you cannot use aggressive household chemicals, but at home you can use mustard powder, peroxide and ammonia;
  • synthetics do not bleach well; if you use the wrong product, you can damage your clothes; it is best to remove yellow stains from sweat from this type of fabric with salt, although this will take some time;
  • To remove yellow stains on armpits, be sure to pre-soak white items with your chosen bleaching solution.

Do not forget that before using any of the described products, you need to test the effect of the bleach on a small and inconspicuous area of ​​​​the fabric. In this case, you will prevent many possible problems.

Folk remedies for whitening

To whiten white things at home, remove gray plaque or yellow stains, you can use a wide variety of folk remedies. E The effectiveness of many recipes has been proven by the experience of our mothers and grandmothers. In the table below we have collected the most popular household cleaning products.

Means

Application

Laundry soap + ammonia

In most cases, to whiten white items, it is enough to use laundry soap. However, if there is a need to sting yellow sweat spots, you should additionally use ammonia. The recipe for this folk remedy is quite simple. We grate a third of a bar of laundry soap on a fine grater, add the shavings to two liters of warm water. We also add a third of a glass of ammonia to the liquid. Mix the ingredients thoroughly until a high foam forms. Place items that require bleaching in the prepared solution for the next two hours. After the specified time has passed, rinse the clothes three times, and then wash the items in the usual way.

Hydrogen peroxide

The easiest way to get rid of gray stains on white things is to use hydrogen peroxide. This product is suitable for almost any type of fabric, including silk and knitwear. Pour two liters of warm water into an enamel bowl, add a tablespoon of hydrogen peroxide and mix the ingredients thoroughly. Place the items in the prepared solution for about half an hour. It is important to stir the fabric in the bleach solution every five minutes or so to ensure even cleaning. After the specified time, the clothes should be rinsed and washed using fabric softener.

Table vinegar + baking soda + salt

For more serious cleaning of yellow stains from white clothes, you can use a combined folk remedy. To do this, the first step is to soak the clothes in a vinegar solution (2 parts water and 1 part vinegar). After 20 minutes, the clothes should be placed in the sink and smoothed out. Next, prepare the following paste: 50 milliliters of peroxide, 40 grams of table salt and half a glass of baking soda. Using a brush or sponge, apply the cleaner to the yellow sweat stains on the white fabric, then wait another 20 minutes. After the specified time has passed, rinse and wash the items in the usual way.

Mustard powder + hydrogen peroxide

It is very difficult to bleach wool because this type of fabric is very easy to damage. To remove gray plaque or yellow stains from white wool sweaters, it is recommended to use the following folk remedy. Pour three tablespoons of dry mustard into the pan, pour the product with three liters of boiling water. Let the mustard sit for the next two hours.. During this time, a cloudy liquid forms on the surface of the mustard mixture, which must be carefully poured into a clean bowl. It is this mustard water that is an excellent and safe bleach for white woolen fabric. We place things in the liquid for the next three hours. To enhance the whitening effect, you can add two teaspoons of hydrogen peroxide to the water. After this treatment, it is enough to rinse the clothes; there is no need for washing.

Baking soda + ammonia

To bleach silk fabric, knitwear or any other delicate item efficiently and safely, use the following folk remedy at home. Pour three liters of warm water into an enamel basin, add three tablespoons of baking soda to the liquid, as well as a tablespoon or a little more of ammonia. Mix the resulting solution thoroughly, and then place things that require bleaching into it for several hours. This way you can return the whiteness to children's things.

Potassium permanganate + washing powder + laundry soap

This folk remedy will help if a white item is stained during improper washing. To return the white color to things, prepare the following solution. Pour five liters of hot water into a plastic basin, add one hundred grams of washing powder and a few crystals of potassium permanganate. You also need to add shavings of laundry soap (about 2 tablespoons) to the basin. Mix the solution thoroughly until a high foam forms. After this, we place the white things in a basin and leave them in the water overnight. Upon completion of bleaching, clothes should be rinsed thoroughly.

For some time now, many housewives have been using aspirin to whiten yellow spots on white clothes. How should you use the tablets correctly? To do this, just heat two liters of water, crush five aspirin tablets in a bowl and add the powder to the liquid. Place the item requiring bleaching in the prepared solution for the next eight hours. Restoring gray or yellow fabric with this product is very simple and safe for fabric fibers. Aspirin can also be used for everyday laundry. Just add a tablet to the washing machine compartment. Therefore, it is recommended to bleach children's clothes.

Lemon juice

You can bleach white things at home, as well as remove organic stains from light-colored fabrics, using lemon juice or citric acid. To do this, add about 200 milliliters of freshly squeezed lemon juice to two liters of boiling water. After this, cool the prepared liquid to a temperature that is safe for the fabric you are going to bleach. Place the fabric in the cooled solution for the next two hours. After the procedure, be sure to wash and rinse your clothes.

All presented folk remedies will effectively cope with whitening white clothes at home, without damaging the structure of the fabric.

If none of the remedies presented help, some types of fabric can be boiled. This method of restoration is most relevant for socks and kitchen towels. You can use both baking soda and laundry soap. In some cases, housewives use hydroperite tablets.

The process of boiling white things is as follows:

  1. It is necessary to pour about five liters of clean water into an enamel basin, then the liquid must be brought to a boil.
  2. After this, grate a bar of laundry soap and add the shavings to boiling water, also add about 12 peroxide tablets to the liquid, then thoroughly stir the ingredients. If hydroperite is not available, you can use a teaspoon of baking soda for every liter of water. In case of serious contamination, the amount of soda can be doubled.
  3. Once the solution is ready and has cooled slightly, place the white items that require bleaching into it. Wait for the water to boil again and then reduce the heat to low.
  4. Boil white things for 1.5-2 hours until the desired effect is achieved. Periodically, things in the pan need to be stirred using a wooden spatula.
  5. After the specified time has passed, wait for the solution to cool, transfer the items to the bathtub and rinse thoroughly using plenty of warm water and conditioner.

Remember that you can only boil clothes made of natural and dense fabric, such as cotton or linen. Silk, wool and other delicate fabrics cannot be bleached this way.

Be sure to dry and store white items properly, as dirt and stains are very visible on such fabric. In general, light-colored clothes are very difficult to clean, and sometimes even after using bleach, stains can still remain on the fabric.

You can learn more about how to use folk remedies to whiten white things in the video below.

Having studied the proposed material, now you know how to properly bleach white things at home from gray and yellowness effectively and efficiently, using modern household chemicals and folk remedies .

It is not always possible to predict the result of bleaching things: if the fabric consists of synthetic fibers, the bleaching process can hopelessly damage the product. Fabrics made from natural fibers are quite resistant to the bleaching process, but the modern textile industry sometimes uses production methods hidden from the consumer. Threads treated with innovative chemistry are introduced into the compositions of natural fabrics, so when bleaching it is impossible to say for sure that the item will really become white and not acquire a yellow or grayish tint.

The assortment of household chemical stores is replete with various products that allow you to bleach many types of fabrics. Most of them are divided into the following categories:

  • chlorine-containing;
  • optical;
  • oxygen

Chlorine-containing

Although the name speaks for itself, chlorine is not the only element that manufacturers include in such products. Optical brighteners are also added to some modern formulations, allowing you to achieve the desired result much faster and safer.

The basis of chlorine-containing products is sodium hypochlorite. This substance effectively bleaches linen and cotton products; this type of product is usually contraindicated for synthetics. Even natural linen and cotton react poorly to chlorine if used frequently.

Chlorine treatment negatively affects the composition of the fabric, destroys the fibers and leads to thinning and brittleness of the threads.

A prominent representative of chlorine-containing compounds is Whiteness. The product is available both in powder form and in liquid solutions. It is necessary to use Whiteness with special care; chlorine can not only bleach the fabric, but also corrode its fibers, so it is necessary to strictly limit the processing time according to the instructions.

Despite the aggressiveness of the effects, chlorine-containing products also have positive aspects:

  • low cost;
  • high efficiency;
  • simple principle of use that does not require additional boiling;
  • excellent disinfectant properties.

You should not trust the labels on the packaging of chlorine-containing products if it is stated that the composition is suitable for colored fabrics. Sodium hypochlorite has an extremely negative effect on colored items. A product treated with such a product can be hopelessly damaged, as its color will change or fade.

Optical

The main disadvantage of optical brighteners is allergies, which can occur when human skin comes into contact with fabrics treated with such a product. The compositions of these bleaches include blue, which remains in the fibers of products after washing. The principle of operation of such products is not to actually clean the fabric of dirt, but to create an optical illusion. Thanks to the particles of optical brightener deposited on the fibers of the fabric and reflecting light, the laundry looks several shades lighter. Can be used when washing synthetic and natural fabrics.

Optical brighteners are rarely sold in their pure form; more often they are included in various products for washing white laundry. Contained in both chlorine-containing and oxygen-containing products. If you do not take into account allergic reactions, such products are suitable for rinsing snow-white things, especially curtains. Tulle washed with an optical preparation will look white, especially in daylight, when reflective particles actively perform their function.

Oxygen

Oxygen-containing agents are indispensable for synthetic products. The main active component of oxygen bleaches is sodium carbonate peroxyhydrate - carbonate. When dissolved in water, this chemical breaks down into soda and hydrogen peroxide, which releases active oxygen. Under the influence of an oxygen agent, the surface layer of the fabric oxidizes, ridding the item of stains, grayish tints, yellowness and unpleasant odors.

Oxygen compositions can be used for both white and colored laundry. The antibacterial effect of such bleaches allows you to avoid additional treatments when it is necessary to disinfect products.

Oxygen products are available in liquid form, powders and granules. In household chemical stores you can purchase oxygen-containing products of the following popular brands:

  • Vanish.
  • Sarma.
  • Persol and others.

The oxygen content is usually indicated on the packaging of such compositions:

  • Active.
  • oxygen.
  • O2 and others.

The main advantages of oxygen-containing preparations:

  • Safe and environmentally friendly.
  • Removes various stubborn stains.
  • They have an enhancing effect on detergents.
  • They are easy to rinse without leaving marks on the surfaces of products.
  • They begin to act already at 40 degrees if the composition is used in liquid form. Powder products also do not require boiling, but the effect is manifested when water is heated to 80 degrees.
  • They allow you to bleach items made from fabrics that require careful handling without destroying the structure of the fibers.
  • They cope with heavy dirt and even remove old stains.
  • Suitable for processing children's linen without causing allergic reactions.

The main disadvantage of oxygen agents is their high cost. In liquid form, the compositions are stored for a relatively short time - about six months, so it is recommended to purchase powder products if there is no need to regularly bleach things. In powder form, oxygen bleach retains its properties for five years.

Home Remedies

It doesn't always make sense to use expensive bleach. Compositions for some types of fabrics can be made at home. Such products are considered the safest, so they can even be used for washing children's clothes.

The most popular and effective home whitening recipes:

  • A mixture of 1 tablespoon of ammonia, 5 tablespoons of hydrogen peroxide and 3 tablespoons of salt must be added to the detergent, dissolved in warm water, and soaked in the solution for several hours.
  • You can soak white items in a solution of water and several potassium permanganate crystals. The crystals are stirred in a glass of warm water, and then the solution is added to a bowl of boiling water. Things can be left in the solution for 12 hours.
  • The best bleach for white laundry is acetylsalicylic acid. Especially with its help, stains of urine, blood and sweat are removed. To process, you need to take 6 aspirin tablets, dissolve them in a glass of water and apply the composition to the areas of contamination. Usually the stains disappear within 2-3 hours after soaking. Old stains can be removed with a more concentrated aspirin solution; the number of tablets increases to 20 per glass of water. For additional bleaching, acetylsalicylic acid is added in crushed form to regular washing powder.
  • Children's underwear can be bleached by boiling. To boil, you need to add half a piece of laundry soap and 3 tablespoons of soda to 7–8 liters of water. This method is suitable for bed linen, as well as white rompers, shirts and caps.

Homemade products are the safest for health; experts note that there are no particular differences between white clothes, homemade bleached products and store-bought products. If you use store-bought bleach, oxygen-containing bleach is considered the best.

To refresh your laundry and remove stains, use liquid or powder bleaches with different active ingredients. Chlorine-containing products are only suitable for white natural fibers. Oxygen-containing bleaches can be used on white, colored items made from synthetic or natural fibers. Bleach is used for machine and hand washing. A review of 14 brands will help you choose the right laundry lightening product.

Lightener or bleach for laundry is selected in accordance with the active ingredients and the problem being solved. Most bleaches without additional components will not remove stubborn old stains. Chlorine bleaches can deal with them. However, they have a negative effect on the fibers and are not suitable for delicate materials. Softer products contain an oxidizing agent that acts on dirt particles. They are suitable for viscose and children's clothes. Let's find out in more detail which bleach is the best.

When to use

The main task of bleaches is to make things lighter. Therefore, the products are primarily used for white things.

Some manufacturers produce special bleaches for colored laundry. These are soft substances that return and maintain color. Some bleaches contain stain-removing components and can cope with different types of stains.

Note! When choosing a product, read the label carefully. If it is indicated that the product is intended exclusively for white laundry, then multi-colored items cannot be washed with it.

How to choose

There are three main types of bleaches:


Chlorine bleach is good on 100% cotton or linen. The main component of chlorine bleach is sodium hypochlorite. It is a strong oxidizing agent with the properties of an acid. Therefore, when using chlorine bleach, take precautions: use gloves, dilute the concentrate.

Due to its aggressive components, it corrodes paint, so it is suitable for lightening jeans. Use chlorine-containing products extremely rarely to remove difficult-to-remove stains, yellowness, grayness, and faded stains if other products fail. Do not use to wash a child's clothes.

The most gentle oxygen bleaches are suitable for natural and synthetic materials. The active ingredient in such bleaches is sodium percarbonate, which acts as an oxidizing agent. Available in dry and liquid form. Apply before the main wash by hand or in the machine. Recommended use every two washes.

Important! Do not bleach items with leather inserts or wooden fittings.

Optical or visual brighteners contain components that reflect light. In fact, the substances do not affect the fibers, but mask grayness and stains.

How to use

For soaking or hand washing, bleaches are added to soapy water. When machine washing, liquids are added to compartment number II (B) in the second half of the cycle, when the washing powder is washed out of the container.

For local removal of contaminants:

  1. Pour the product directly onto the stain.
  2. Rub a little.
  3. Soak with the powder in warm water or throw in the car.
  4. Wash in a convenient way.

Pour powdered bleaches into the second (main) compartment, and washing powder into the pre-wash section (I compartment). Wash on the pre-soak setting.

Which is better

Choose the best bleach according to the stain and type of fabric. To easily refresh your laundry, you don’t have to buy aggressive products. To get rid of dirt and restore color, choose products with appropriate labels.

Based on user reviews, a list of the most effective tools was compiled.

Name Liquid Powder No chlorine A country Price in rubles
+ + Russia170
Sano+ + + Israel600
+ + Belarus70
+ + Russia170
+ + + Russia120
+ + Russia25
+ + Russia70
Amway+ + USA550
+ + + Russia250
+ + + Russia120
+ + Germany400
Liby+ China250
Ace+ Russia100
+ Russia50

Attention! The top does not include optical brighteners. They are not produced separately, but are included in washing powders and laundry soaps (Sarma, INDEX, Max).

Advantages:

  • suitable for cotton, linen, synthetics;
  • used for dyed and white things;
  • removes stains of various origins;
  • has no smell.

Flaws:

  • does not remove old stubborn stains.

Available in a tightly closed jar weighing 500 g and bags of 75 and 150 g. Includes anti-pollution components. Used for machine and hand wash. Does not irritate the skin, has no fragrance.

Sano

Advantages:

  • suitable for white and colored items;
  • removes stubborn stains;
  • has a gentle effect on delicate materials;
  • suitable for children;
  • It is used sparingly.

Flaws:

  • not suitable for products with metal parts.

Available in the form of a spray (750 ml) and a dry product (800 g). The spray is applied directly to the dirt, after which the laundry is soaked or machine washed. Convenient for washing cuffs and shirt collars. For automatic washing, add a spoonful of bleach to the second compartment. When soaking, dissolve two spoons in three liters of hot water.

Advantages:

  • operates at low temperatures;
  • suitable for any linen, except silk and wool;
  • removes coffee, fruit, chocolate;
  • removes yellowness and grayness.

Flaws:

  • Does not remove old stains.

Available in a box (500 g) and a ziplock bag (250 g). Suitable for soaking, hand washing, automatic washing and also for pre-treating stains.

Advantages:

  • suitable for sensitive skin;
  • disinfects;
  • softens water;
  • easy to wash off;
  • enhances whiteness.

Flaws:

  • quickly consumed;
  • does not cope with stubborn dirt.

Available in a liter bottle. It is considered an environmentally friendly product: it contains biodegradable plant components. Suitable for machine and hand wash. The cap is used as a dispenser.

Advantages:

  • does not cause allergies;
  • removes, baby puree;
  • works even in cold water;
  • lightens the tone;
  • does not leave any odor on clothes.

Flaws:

  • contains surfactants and phosphates;
  • Does not cope with heavy dirt.

It is produced specifically for children, but is suitable for washing any items made from natural and synthetic fibers. Used for machine and hand wash. Packaged in a box (500 g) or bottle (750 ml).

Advantages:

  • removes old stains;
  • suitable for any fibers except silk;
  • removes juices, wine, berries;
  • refreshes things, eliminates yellowness and grayness.

Flaws:

  • has a lemon scent;

Packed in a plastic bag weighing 200 g. Used for automatic washing at 90°C or boiling.

Advantages:

  • removes organic fruit;
  • refreshes laundry;
  • Suitable for all types of fibers.

Flaws:

  • does not work at low temperatures;
  • does not remove stubborn stains.

Available separately for multi-colored and white linen. Packed in a ziplock bag, weighs 600 g. Used for boiling (30 g per 10 l) and automatic washing (mixed with bulk laundry detergent).

Amway

Advantages:

  • has a pleasant aroma;
  • removes light stains;
  • retains color;
  • Carefully washes any items.

Flaws:

  • does not remove stubborn stains;
  • does not work at low temperatures.

Amway universal bleach is used for manual and automatic washing of white and dyed laundry. Available in a 500 ml bottle.

Advantages:

  • whitens gray and yellow clothes;
  • suitable for all types of fibers;
  • works in cold water.

Flaws:

  • suitable only for white and light-colored items;
  • Does not cope with difficult to remove stains.

"Vanish" is intended for soaking, manual and automatic washing. Includes stain removing ingredients. Available in bags, boxes and bottles of 90, 250, 500 g, 1 kg, 450 ml.

Advantages:

  • washes things made of any material;
  • retains color;
  • disinfects;
  • eliminates unpleasant odor.

Flaws:

  • does not cope with stubborn stains;
  • deteriorates the fibers over time.

Well suited for bleaching lace and silk. Soak overnight. When using automatic bleaching, add it together with washing powder. Available in boxes of 250, 600 g and bottles of 1.2 liters.

Advantages:

  • eliminates yellowness, grayness;
  • gives freshness to old things;
  • suitable for any materials except silk and;
  • preserves fibers.

Flaws:

  • not spent economically;
  • not used in the car;
  • unpleasant odor;
  • Does not remove stubborn stains.

Three types:

  • “For underwear and lace” (effective already at 30°C);
  • “For curtains and curtains” (suitable for washing tulle);
  • “For perfect whiteness” (universal).

Available in sachets packed in a box of 140, 175 g. Used for soaking or hand washing exclusively white linen. It is recommended to use gloves.

Liby

Advantages:

  • makes things soft;
  • restores color;
  • destroys bacteria that cause sweat odor;
  • is a universal detergent.

Flaws:

  • bleaches poorly at low temperatures;
  • not suitable for delicate materials;
  • smells like bleach.

Available in an orange scent, which does not mask the chlorine smell well. The twist-off cap is a 25 ml dispenser. Added:

  • for machine washing – a cap for 10 liters of water;
  • when soaking for 10 minutes - a 2.5 liter cap;
  • for hand washing - 15 ml per five liters of water.

The most optimal temperature for effective use is 60°C. Can be used as a universal product for floors and tiles. Bottle volume – 600 ml or 1.5 l.

Ace

Advantages:

  • removes stains of any origin (ink, juice, rust);
  • is used sparingly;
  • Universally used for washing and cleaning.

Flaws:

  • smells unpleasant;
  • may corrode fibers;
  • does not rinse well (requires additional rinsing).

Applicable only to white items. The gel-like product is available for manual and automatic washing in a liter bottle. When washing by hand, add 100 ml per 12 liters of water.

Attention! Soak for no more than 20 minutes, otherwise the fibers will be damaged. Use only with gloves.

Advantages:

  • can be used as a universal antiseptic;
  • copes with different types of pollution.

Flaws:

  • imparts rigidity to washed items;
  • requires careful use;
  • has a pungent odor.

Some manufacturers add fragrance to mask the chlorine smell, which does not always help. Applicable only to white linen and cotton items. In addition to sodium hypochlorite, it contains surfactants and (alkali), softening water. Available in liter volume.

The easiest way to determine which bleach is best is to practice. Focus on the markings and read the description carefully. To remove stubborn, old stains, it is better to use special stain removers: bleaches may not work. Use the product exactly as directed.

Whiteners “Eared Nyan” vs. Amway – which is better, watch the video:

Larisa, September 22, 2018.

It is not economical to use dry cleaning services, and you don’t want to carry bags on the bus. If you have an extra half an hour, then just use the tips on how to bleach your laundry at home, and the problem of snow-white laundry will be easily solved.

An automatic washing machine in the house is already half the battle. But for greater effect, it is recommended to pre-soak the laundry in a soapy solution. It is better to use laundry soap, and the water should be lukewarm.

WITH linen and cotton fabrics you'll have to tinker. But if you know how to bleach gray laundry and adapt, then everything is much simpler than it seems. First, the clothes need to be brought to a boil in clean water, then put into the solution and left for a day.

Solution composition:

  • 50 g of planed laundry soap,
  • 2 tbsp. ammonia,
  • 3 tbsp. turpentine.

Such linen can be easily washed by hand, but then it needs to be boiled again with lye and soda. After final rinsing, hang it in the fresh air. The clothes will not need to be bleached for a long time, and it will be enough to wash them as usual.

Kitchen towels and similar things where grease stains predominate, mustard removes. 2 tbsp. Dilute mustard powder in a liter of hot water and let it brew. Strain, dilute in the required amount of water and soak the towels overnight. Wash normally. The towels will turn white and disinfected, and the pattern will only become brighter.

White things turn yellow from age or washing. The advice on how to bleach washed laundry is simple - you need to add ammonia to the water along with the powder. Even old things will “look younger” after several similar procedures.

Silk and wool items soak in a solution: 50 g per 10 liters of water. washing powder, 6 tbsp. spoons of salt, a tablespoon of ammonia and the same amount of 3 percent hydrogen peroxide. Leave the clothes for five hours and then wash them on a delicate cycle.

Knee socks and socks can be soaked in warm water by adding 2 tbsp. spoons of boric acid are an excellent prevention against fungal diseases. Or you can bring it to a boil in water with powder. You can also bleach T-shirts this way. Then wash as usual.

And this way, how to whiten bed sheets grayed or washed out, our ancestors used it. Boil the laundry for 40 minutes, adding 2 tbsp to the water. 3% hydrogen peroxide and ammonia. As it evaporates, add water so that the laundry is all covered with the solution.


I predict a logical question: why soak and boil separately if all these modes are available in an automatic machine? Indeed, they are present even in older models, but for such operations you need to use modern bleaches and industrial detergents.

If you use the above tips on how to bleach laundry at home, it will be more economical and, most importantly, more effective.