Dealing with Whites

CEBU, Philippines - Perhaps one of the biggest challenges for homemakers is dealing with the white uniforms of family members, especially the school-age kids. White is the generic color of school uniforms. While anyone wearing a white uniform needs to be extra careful, it is often a problem with kids who are naturally overactive and careless.

Overall, white clothes easily get dingy. And seeing a family member - a spouse or child - in dirty white clothes is a real heartbreaker for any caring homemaker. Fortunately, laundry expert Mary Marlowe Leverette, writing at www.laundry.about.com, shares simple steps to keep white clothes looking white:

Sort out dirty laundry carefully. Washing white clothes separately will prevent color bleeding and transfer that leaves the white fabric looking dull.

Make sure that the washer is clean. If your washer is not clean, your white clothing will not be clean and show the results. Clean your washer thoroughly at least every three months. This is particularly important for high efficiency washers - both top load and front load - that use much less water in every load of clothes.

Do not overload the washer. Detergents loosen soil but there must be enough space between items and enough water to flush away the soil rather than allow it to redeposit on clothing.

Choose detergent that contains optical brighteners. It will make fabrics appear whiter than they actually are by tricking the eye. The brighteners bend UV light waves to showcase blue light and minimize the amount of yellow light your eye sees to make fabrics appear whiter.

Minimize on detergent. Reduce the amount of laundry detergent you use. Excess detergent can remain in the fibers and attract soil. You need only two teaspoons of liquid laundry detergent in a high-efficiency washer.

Use borax or vinegar, if needed. If you feel your laundry detergent is not cleaning well, boost performance by adding ½ cup liquid bleach or 1 cup distilled white vinegar to each wash load.

Use hot water. Use the hottest water recommended for the fabric to help remove body oils and grime that can dull the fabric.

Treat stains immediately. Follow stain removal guidelines for fabric types and type of stains.

Use bleach correctly. If you use chlorine bleach to whiten natural fabrics like cotton, be sure to use it correctly. Adding bleach with detergent counteracts its effectiveness. Learn how to use it to prevent even more yellowing.

Skip the fabric softener. Using too much fabric softener can leave residue in the fibers that actually attract dulling soil.

Check clothes as these come out of the washer. Never dry a garment on high heat that still has a stain. It can become permanent. Retreat and wash again.

Launder white garments after every wearing. Even if they look clean, white clothes must be washed or dry-cleaned after each use. Body oils and perspiration can quickly turn a white garment yellow. If you like to wear white and want to save money, be sure the garment is washable and does not require dry-cleaning.

Dry white clothes outside, if possible. The ultraviolet rays from the sun will really help to brighten and whiten the garment.

Set the dryer right. If drying with an automatic dryer, choose a lower heat and remove clothes while slightly damp, and then air dry. Excessive heat can cause stains and residual soil to yellow.

Set the iron right. Check iron settings and avoid heat that is too high. Clothes can scorch and the spot created is very difficult to remove.

If the whites are already yellowed or dull…

Use bleach, but cautiously. Do not automatically use chlorine bleach to whiten cotton clothes because overuse of it can cause further yellowing. Instead, find an oxygen-based bleach; it is usually safer and can be used on all washable fabrics except wool and silk.

Follow package instruction of bleaching solutions. Mix a solution of the oxygen bleach and cool water by following package directions. Mix enough solution so that the dingy clothes can be completely covered when submerged in the water. Allow the dingy whites to soak for at least four hours or overnight. Drain the solution and wash as usual. Repeat as necessary to whiten clothes and linens.

Consider using color remover. You can also use a color remover to brighten white fabrics following package directions. Or, try old-fashioned bluing to restore brightness. (FREEMAN)