How to restore white clothing to its former glory
Two laundry experts on the best ways to give greying t-shirts and shirts a glow-up.
While all items of clothing have a "life span", you can restore some brightness to lacklustre white clothing, says Caroline Beuth, co-founder of a commercial and domestic laundry service in Naarm/Melbourne.
Residue buildup is one of the culprits behind the pesky greying and yellowing of white fabrics, she says.
This residue is caused by laundry products such as fabric softeners and sweat (particularly in the underarm area).
White cotton and linen can be brightened by an overnight soak in water and oxygen bleach powder, says textile expert Rebecca Van Amber.
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Textile expert Rebecca Van Amber says bleeding from darker dyes in the washing machine can also cause whites to discolour.
A senior lecturer at the School of Fashion and Textiles at RMIT University in Naarm/Melbourne, she says the dye used to create dark colours can leak onto your white clothing when it's being washed.
Dr Van Amber says dyes used on cotton garments are often water soluble, and "there’s probably excess dye that’s going to come out" when they’re added to a washing machine with detergent.
Beuth agrees, "one pair of new black socks in a white load is going to grey them".
How to keep your white clothing white
Beuth says, “maintenance is key”.
She recommends avoiding any detergent or products with fragrance, optical brighteners and heavy fabric softeners.
These products may add a residue to your whites over time, she says.
According to consumer advocacy group Choice, optical brighteners don’t remove anything but make clothing appear brighter using chemicals that "absorb ultraviolet light and re-emit it as blue light". Choice also says these brighteners are best avoided by those with sensitive skin.
Laundry products with fragrance, optical brighteners and heavy fabric softeners will damage your white garments over time, says Caroline Beuth.
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Rebecca Van Amber says excess dye on dark garments can leave white items a "dingy grey colour" if washed together. (Supplied: Rebecca Van Amber)
Ms Beuth says adding a dose of an oxygen bleach into a white washing load will also help, "especially if you’re using an eco-friendly detergent".
If you can, Beuth says to always separate dark and light loads of washing. Dr Van Amber is also a "big advocate of separating your laundry".
"If you want to keep your white items that bright white, you need to do a load of just whites or just white and light-coloured items," Dr Van Amber says.
Rebecca Van Amber and Caroline Beuth recommend machine washing white and light coloured clothing separately.
Ron Lach
How to restore dull or greying light clothing
Dr Van Amber suggests brightening cotton and linen whites by soaking them overnight in water and an oxygen bleach powder.
Beuth also recommends using an oxygen bleach, whether as a spot treatment, to soak overnight or by adding some to the load.
Dr Van Amber says other stain removers, such as optical brightening products, could be used too.
However, "you wouldn't want to use any of these products on silk or wool", as it could damage the fabric.
"If your silk or wool item becomes a little bit dingy and discoloured, there's not a lot you can do."
What about the wash temperature?
If you’re dealing with heavy stains or commercial quantities of laundry, Beuth says you might need warm or hot washes.
However, in normal domestic settings, "you don’t need to rely so much on that heat".
"Just make sure you’re not overstuffing your machine."
Dr Van Amber says hot washes use more energy and can damage your clothing.
"I wouldn't be doing a hot wash for my white items. I'd probably be doing more like a warm wash."
Laundry products
Both experts advise caution when it comes to chlorine bleach products.
Whitening products containing chlorine bleach are too harsh on clothing fibres, says laundry expert Caroline Beuth.
The heavier dyes used on dark garments can leave white items a "dingy grey colour" if they're washed together, says Rebecca Van Amber.
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