How to Brighten Up White Shirts and Other Garments

Your guide to soaking, washing, and drying whites to fight stains and discoloration

Co-authored by Susan Stocker and Hannah Madden

Last Updated: December 9, 2022 References Approved

You go to put on your favorite white tee, when you notice it’s not looking so white anymore. White clothing, sheets, and other garments are a staple in the household, but keeping them looking white can be tough, especially over a long period of time. Fortunately, we’ve got the stain-fighting tips you can use to brighten your whites and make them look brand-new again. Keep reading to learn how to pre-soak, wash, and dry your whites to get them back to their original shade.

Things You Should Know

Pre-soak your garments in Oxi Clean or dishwashing powder to remove discoloration. For tough stains, soak them in chlorine bleach.
Blot individual stains with hydrogen peroxide or fabric rust remover.
Add natural products, like baking soda, vinegar, and lemon juice to your wash cycle to brighten up whites in the washer.
Dry whites outside to use the natural bleaching power of the sun.

1

Soak your whites in Oxi Clean.

Oxygen bleach helps break down stains and discoloration fast. Before washing your whites, fill up a tub or sink with hot water, then add a scoop of Oxi Clean (or any generic brand of oxygen bleach). Submerge your whites in the water, then let them soak for 1 hour, or overnight. Once they’re done soaking, throw your whites in the wash and use laundry detergent and cold water to launder them like normal.^{[1]
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- Oxygen bleach can be slightly irritating for your skin, so use rubber gloves to protect your hands.
- If you’re laundering fabrics that are prone to shrinkage (like linen), soak your clothes in cold water and oxygen bleach instead of hot water.

2

Pre-soak your items in dishwashing powder.

Use dishwashing powder to tackle dark stains. Dishwashing powder isn’t ideal for any delicate items, but it works wonders on dark stains and discoloration. Fill a tub or sink with hot water, then add a scoop of dishwashing powder (not liquid detergent) into the water. Soak your whites in the mixture anywhere from 1 hour to overnight, then put them in the washer like normal.^{[2]
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- Many people swear by Cascade dishwashing powder for this method, but you can use any brand of dishwashing powder that you’d like.
- Save this method for hearty, durable items, like towels. Dishwashing powder is too harsh for delicate items.

3

Try chlorine bleach for tough stains.

Chlorine bleach is tough on stains, but tough on fabric, too. If you’ve tried a few methods and you’re still noticing stains or discoloration on your clothes, fill a sink with lukewarm water, then add ¹⁄₈ c (30 mL) of chlorine bleach. Let your clothing sit for 15 to 30 minutes, then run it through a wash cycle.^{[3]
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- Be very careful not to splash bleach onto your skin or your eyes.
- Never mix bleach with any other chemicals, including vinegar.^{[4]
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4

Blot individual stains with hydrogen peroxide.

Hydrogen peroxide breaks down stains to remove them from the fibers. If you only have a couple of spots that you’d like to tackle on your whites, grab some 3% hydrogen peroxide. Use a cloth or a cotton swab to dab the peroxide onto the stains, then let the garments sit for a few minutes. Rinse out your clothes with cool water, then wash them with detergent.^{[5]
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- Hydrogen peroxide is great for dark stains, like blood or ink.

5

Use fabric rust remover for yellow stains.

Rust remover is a tough stain remover that won’t damage your clothing. Dampen the stain with lukewarm water, then apply the rust remover to the area. Scrub the area with a toothbrush, then let it sit for about 5 minutes. Rinse the garment with lukewarm water, then wash it like normal.^{[6]
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- This option works especially well on removing armpit stains. The stains in this area are usually caused by a reaction between sweat and antiperspirant deodorant, and the nasty yellow tint that results is caused by aluminum rather than sweat alone. Rust stain remover takes care of these aluminum-based stains.

6

Add baking soda and vinegar to the laundry.

Use a baking soda and vinegar combo to fight discoloration. Add ¹⁄₂ c (120 mL) of vinegar to the fabric softener compartment, then sprinkle 1/2 cup (100 g) of baking soda into the drum of the washer. Add detergent like you normally would, then wash all your whites with cold water. As the baking soda and vinegar combine in the wash, they will agitate and fight stains and discoloration, getting your whites white again.^{[7]
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- When baking soda and vinegar combine, they will foam up a little, and that’s okay. It means that their stain-fighting action is working!

7

Use lemon juice to combat dinginess.

Acidic lemon juice brightens whites without harsh chemicals. To use lemon juice in your laundry, pour ¹⁄₂ c (120 mL) of lemon juice into the bleach compartment of your washer or directly into the drum. Add detergent like normal and wash your whites in cold water to instantly make them brighter.^{[8]
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- Lemon juice will help brighten whites that are mildly discolored, but it won’t do much against big stains or dark discoloration.

8

Use a color remover to remove stains and dyes.

Color remover will brighten whites that are particularly dingy. Mix in a capful of commercial color remover to your wash cycle, then add detergent like normal. When your whites come out, they’ll be much brighter than before.^{[9]
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- Different color removers have slightly different instructions, so always read the label on the bottle before using it in the wash.

9

Dry your whites outside.

Use the bleaching power of the sun to turn your whites white again. Sunlight has a natural bleaching effect, so allowing your clothes to hang dry in the sun can dry and whiten them simultaneously. Use clothespins to keep your laundry secure, and let your whites bake in the sun until they’re fully dry.^{[10]
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- If you are unable to dry your clothes in the sun due to the weather, where you live, or for any other reason, you can still dry your white clothing using a dryer. You won’t get the bleaching benefits of natural sunlight, but the dryer won’t do any real damage to the clothing (as long as the fabric is dryer-safe).

10

Wash whites separately.

Keep your whites separate so they stay bright for years to come. While it may seem like a hassle, experts recommend separating your laundry by color every time you do a load. Minor discoloration will occur when you wash whites with other clothing, and it can build up over time.^{[11]
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- Red clothes in particular are notorious for discoloring white garments.

Community Q&A

Question

How do I get grey out of white clothing?

Community Answer

It can be quite difficult to get the grey removed from white clothing. Try "Vanish".
Question

Are carb soda and baking soda the same thing?

Community Answer

Yes, they are the same.
Question

How do I get armpit stains out of white clothes?

Community Answer

Scrub with Fels-Naptha laundry bar and warm water. It works on my whites and colors.