What's the best way to get white and colored clothing clean after it's been hanging in a closet for ages and has yellowed? I don't want to use chlorine bleach. I am afraid of using bleach full strength.
By gayle from Rochester, NY
I used to wear white uniforms. The best way to brighten and clean is to run through the washer with Lestoil. Then you'll have to wash again to get the smell out. Works wonderfully.
Oxyclean is great for whites. You can leave things soak for days if necessary. I soaked a 50 year old tablecloth for 3 days and the stains finally came out. Unlike bleach, it does not dissolve the material.
For colors soak (follow directions) in "Clorox 2, Stain Fighter & Color Booster". It's pricey, but gets out grease and blood from clothes. It is the best I've ever used on colors in 60 years of doing laundry.
Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.
How do you remove the yellowing on clothing articles left hanging on hangers too long?
By Cheryl
If the stains are rust from the hangers there is a product 'Whink", a brown bottle found with the laundry detergent in your grocery store. When you put it on you can see the stain disappear right before your eyes. Then you will need to launder immediately.
If the stain is just age yellowing try soaking in Oyxclean, found also in the laundry detergent area. Directions are on the box. Unlike bleach, Oxyclean will not remove the color from colored garments. After soaking and washing be sure to check for all the stain removal before putting the garment into the dryer. If stain is still evident then soak again in Oxyclean.
I have left things soaking in Oxyclean for more than a week and they were not damaged.
How do I make white undershirts white again after they turn yellow?
By mary lou brinkofski from Flanders, NJ
Use Mrs. Stewart's "Bluing" in your rinse cycle. Don't put too much in or it will stain "bluish" spots, just a few gradual washings using the "bluing" in all of your white washes and you'll see brilliant, white clothing.
I have a 50 year old child's communion dress that has yellowed. How do I clean/restore the yellowed with age dress? One professional cleaner said to wash it in Oxi-clean and Woolite.
Another professional cleaner said they could only clean it, it would look the same, just clean not whitened. Suggestions weicome.Every spring and summer,I hang my delicate whites on the clothesline for a couple of days. Of course,hot sunny days. It keeps my delicate whites nice and bright!
I let my yellowed or not whites soak in a bucket of water with about 1/2 C of store brand powder dishwasher detergent. I usually let it soak over night. Works great.
What is the best way to clean clothes that have yellowed?
By Cristina
Put the clothes in a container with extremely hot water, and a scoop or two of Oxy Clean. Close the container (we use a small cooler). Let them sit for at least 20 minutes, open it, stir/look to see how much they've whitened.
I have a vintage, wool Varsity sweater, which has become "golden." It was originally white. I'd like to brighten it up, but I'm concerned about the navy colored patches.
I appreciate any help you can offer.If you cover the navy letter and put the sweater in directly sunlight, the white areas should bleach out. Not sure if it will take a while, though Good luck.
I recently received three dress shirts. As nearly as we can determine they are from the late 1800s or very early 1900s. They have removable collars and cuffs, bibbed fronts, etc. The problem is that they are stained with orange spots and what isn't orange is very yellowed. They are beautifully made and although I have no idea what to do with them, I would like to restore them. The cotton is very smooth and sturdy. Any suggestions would be welcomed!
By Lynda T
I have used lemon juice and the sun. If that didn't work I used hydrogen peroxide and the sun. J
Personally, because your garments are antique heirlooms, I wouldnt do anything with them! Because of their age, modern day detergents may be too harsh for the material. Try calling a museum in your area to see if they will offer any suggestions.
What can I do to prevent and remove those stains that appear on your pants after being on the hangers for a while? It's like a straight line across the top pant leg that's been exposed on the hanger? I have this issue all the time and it really bugs me! I have a job interview in the morning and the nicest professional looking pair of pants that I plan on wearing has that one line across one pant leg.
Will machine washing it alone work or is there any pre-treating secrets you can reveal to help me so I look nice for my interview? I really want to make a good impression and not look silly or too cheap to afford a descent pair of pants (although I really can't afford a new pair of pants LOL). Any advice you can provide me is so greatly appreciated. Thank you all so much! :)
By Jennifer P.
Try wetting a pressing cloth with white vinegar & press the crease. I have used this method on skirts when I let the hem out.
Syd's 2 cents
I have a dry cleanable seersucker jacket that has yellowed over time. is there any remedy to return the white areas, white? now it just looks dirty and dingy and is unwearable.
I had several blouses that I sent to the cleaners and they became yellowed, I could not wear them at all. I thought what the heck, and through them in the wash and they came out with as snow. It has something to do with the cleaning solutions. hope this helps.
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Yellowed Cotton Clothing. How do you clean white cotton turtle neck shirt that have yellowed?
How do I get a yellow spot out of my white blouse after it has been hanging in the closet?
Well, not enough info to tell you for sure--if it is cotton, you can use some bleach or oxyclean. What caused the spot?
Try soaking it in hot water (5 gallons) with 2 T each of powdered dishwasher detergent and hydrogen peroxide. Soak overnight and wash as usual the next day.
Do you know what the stain is from? Is it oil based? Usually any stain comes out with Oxiclean but it would help to know what it's from
I have achilds flowered color dress with white actoss the top and lace the white material has yelliwed has its hung in her closet for 15 yrs tags still on it i have tried all of the suggestions except the lemon juice and sun and i bought s bar of ghe frls soap i am dedperate to get the lastof the yellow out i have git slmost all of it but not yet still needs to be white on the flap collar the lace on it csme out beautiful white butthe flap collar material is a diffrent its not lace . Help pleasr
This worked perfectly on a yellowed 47 year old christening dress stored in a cedar chest. Thanks!!
Kdpellet, can you tell me what worked perfectly on the christening gown?
Thank you!
