Getting whites WHITE, naturally???

[mom2beatrice]

Hello,

Does anyone have any suggestions on how to keep white laundry looking bright without the use of bleach? Since I stopped using it, our tees and towels have started to look... well... yucky. Not so white.

Any non-bleach "whiteners" out there that have worked well for you?

Thanks in advance for any info!

[cocoanib]

vinegar and baking soda brightens up my whites.
I don't really measure, so I'm not sure how much.
I guess for an average load, 1/4 bottle vinegar and 1/4 box bs.

[SeekingJoy]

Line drying in the summer works great.

[dbsam]

We stopped wearing anything white for years because it looked so yucky. We tried many natural brands and then switched to Bi-O-Kleen detergents and it really helped. Adding baking soda to the wash helped even more (and I could cut back on detergent). But now I have a front loading machine and the manufacturer says not to use baking soda.

[sunnysandiegan]

Baking soda in the wash helps. I use 1/3 - 2/3 cup for light and white loads. Boosts detergent power and cleans the washer tub, along with brightening up the whites.

The best thing, however, for whites is to air-dry them in the SUN.
Removes the dinginess and really whitens. For that reason, I air-dry darks and brights either in the shade or inside. The key to remember is it generally takes time. One sun-drying hour isn't going to fix all your whites. Also, the winter sun will work, too. It doesn't have to be warm or hot for the sun to do its thing.

[GoBecGo]

Another vote for bright sunshine NOthing like it to get stained nappies and scorched shirts white again (i have had to sunbleach the same white shirt of DH's twice!) and i always feel good about having sunshine against butt-skin/his back

[Ola_]

I have good things about adding borax to the wash exactly for this issue. Haven't tried it myself and not sure if that would be considered natural but a friend of mine raves about it.

[allnaturalmom]

I like the biokleen oxygen bleach or hydrogen peroxide. I think both work well.

[zoebird]

yup. all of those above were my ideas as well. we sun things all seasons.