Any Tips on Washing Whites?

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I wear whites by choice, and was wondering if there's anything special that will help keep them looking good. I know how to clean my husband's funky shorts, but I never iron them and make him wear them on the outside. ;)

TIA.

Specializes in OB, lactation.

This is an old thread but I wanted to add that hanging clothes to dry in the sun will naturally bleach a LOT of stains. I used to use cloth diapers and you'd be surprised how good it works! Plus the clothes smell nice and fresh, plus you don't have to spend $ on the dryer.

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I Washed Only Uniforms Together, In Cold Water Only, To Remove Blood From White At Work, Use Peroxide Immediately It Will Boil Out Blood In A Second. Wash Uniforms In Tide With Bleach, Never Use Clorox It Will Turn Your Uniforms Yellow And They Will Also Rot. Also Use Downy... Then Press If Needed, The Patients Will Say "you Smell So Good" What Is It? And It Is Usually The Downy..

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Specializes in Med Surg/Tele/ER.

If your whites are all cotton you can use bleach. If they are of a blended facric you need to use a color safe bleach product. Hanging them in the sun will pretty much get stains out.....especially if you let the dew fall on them & let the sun dry. Milk is great for getting out blood....soak in a little & rub...breaks it down. I starch & iron all of mine & the starch serves as a repellant as well as making them look neat!

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Specializes in ICU, ER, HH, NICU, now FNP.

Biz even gets baby formula and vitamin stains out of white stuff!

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For those with well water, have you considered a water softener?

You can have a seperate line for drinking water.

Suebird :p

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I have a well also, but the water does not discolor the clothes.

I don't put my uniforms in the dryer, I hang them out in the sun to dry.

Shampoo is also good for getting out blood, takes it right out.

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Hi,

Here is my time-tested-proven trick. I wash all my whites twice. The first cycle is in cold wash/cold rinse and yes, you do use bleach but only the good stuff - not generic. Generic is unfiltered and can make whites "see through" after time if you know what I mean. Next, I wash again but this time with hot wash/hot rinse. My socks, undies & uniforms all come out as white as the day I bought them. I was in the army for 8 years. Learned this trick from a friend there and have used it ever since.

Good luck!

Cindy

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Specializes in LTC, Home Health.

I use Shout...spray it on the stain, but has to be before they are washed or the stain will set in...I've also started putting about 1/4--1/2 cup of Shout in all my laundry. I get a lot of compliments on how nice my uniforms always look, and I would never consider wearing my uniform without ironing.

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I much prefer colored scrubs...but I do wear white on occassion. I'm a big fan of 20 mule team borax...it seems to brighten the whites. ;)

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