How to Keep White Bedding Fresh and Bright
There are few things better than hopping into freshly washed white bed sheets after a long day. But before you cozy up in your bed, you have to go through the cumbersome process of washing your bedding. If you love the look of your crisp white bedding sheets but find they look a little dingy over time, with the proper care, it’s easier than ever before to keep them looking fresh. If you’re wondering how to keep bedding white, we’re here to share some tips and tricks so you’ll always enjoy amazingly fresh washed sheets when it’s time to sleep.
How to Wash White Bedding
Most white sheets naturally start turning yellow over time. It could be because of several reasons, including:
Build up of body oils and sweat
Skincare products
Improper storage
Smoke exposure
Using too much detergent
Not washing frequently enough
Bleach
While the last one might come as a surprise, too much chlorine bleach can weaken the fibers of your sheets, and if you use it regularly, it can turn your sheets yellower. So what can you use to prolong the lifespan of your sheets and keep them from yellowing? A few simple items you likely already have at home like lemon, vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, borax, bleach, and liquid bluing. Below we share how to wash white bedding with a few different methods.
Lemon
Mix ½ cup of lemon juice with a gallon of hot water. Soak your white sheets for an hour before washing them with detergent on a normal cycle.
Vinegar and Baking Soda
Mix ½ cup of vinegar with a gallon of hot water. Soak your sheets for at least an hour. Add ½ cup baking soda to your washer and wash sheets on a normal cycle.
Borax
Add ½ cup of borax to a gallon of water. Soak your white sheets in the solution overnight. Machine wash, as usual, the next day.
Bleach
If you don’t have non-chlorine bleach on hand, you can still use bleach sparingly to take care of stains and yellowing in a pinch. Machine wash your white sheets with regular laundry detergent. Add ½ cup of bleach to the drum and run a regular cycle. If your sheets still smell like bleach, run another cycle with laundry detergent and hydrogen peroxide.
Liquid Bluing
Bluing is a chemical that adds small amounts of blue to white linens to counteract the yellowing. To use liquid bluing to freshen your white sheets, dilute one teaspoon of bluing in a gallon of water. Pour the mixture into the drum of your washer along with regular laundry detergent. Machine wash as usual.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Add one cup of hydrogen peroxide to the washing drum before adding your sheets. Machine wash as usual.
Drying
Avoid drying your white sheets in a dryer as the heat can set stains. We recommend drying them outside in the sun. The sun’s UV rays have a natural bleaching effect, helping to keep your white sheets white.
Remembering these simple tips and tricks can help answer the age-old question, “How do I keep bedding white?”. If you’ve been searching for the best 24-hour laundromat near me, look no further than The Laundry Cafe. Our professionals are here to help with all your laundry needs. Stop in today to try our self-serve or wash and fold services.