Another Laundry Q- Dingy whites

[Persephone]

I have been having issues with dingy whites, lately. I tried adding borax and washing soda (on seperate occasions) to my laundry, but nothing changed. I added them in at the beginning. Should I have added them in at the rinse? I usually do my pastels along with my whites. Should I do a white only load?

I asked my gramma about it, but she said it was hard water, and what she did was use Calgon water softener, but she said borax would work too. And that she added them in the beginning.

I REALLY REALLY don't want to use bleach.

Is there anything else I can do? I feel like my domestic goddess status is slipping!

[sabrosina]

Have you considered using an eco-friendly hydrogen bleach? Ecover makes it (other brands too) and it works fantastic on my white toweling and tees.

[Trishy]

The Calgon works really well. My mother also has hard water and I bought some Calgon to use when washing my diapers while I was visiting her. I was taking diapers out and put a load of whites in for her and the difference was amazing.

[Galatea]

I have heard hydrogen peroxide is good for whites.

[Ilovelife]

I do white-only loads on hot water and add hydrogen peroxide. Works great.

[Persephone]

How much peroxide per load?

[Ilovelife]

Originally Posted by Persephone

How much peroxide per load?

1/8 cup give or take. I just recently started measuring it. Before it was 3 or 4 "glugs" from the peroxide bottle. :LOL

[Persephone]

Haha! Measuring in 'glugs" works for me too! Thx, I'm going to try that.

[sabrosina]

Hey... does anyone know what the jug of hydrogen bleach actually consists of? Is it just a jug of hydrogen peroxide or is it a dilution? Or maybe a different solution all together? Cause if its the same thing.. I'd like to stop wasting my money.

Anyone?

[blessedwithboys]

the natural bleaches say "hydrogen peroxide and water" for ingredients. i got wise and switched to plain 'ol peroxide in the brown bottle.

[mamaana]

denture tabs

I heard that denture tablets work so I "borrowed" some from fil and washed these horribly yellowed tablecloths and they came out fantastic! He uses no-name powder and I put in about a teaspoon in hot water. HTH.

Ana

[macytoedt]

most HP that you get at HF stores is 3% (food grade) but you can find i think a
12% solution....the chemical makeup is actually H2O2...very close to water so you have to keep the lid on the bottle or it will give up the second oxygen molecule and leave you with a bottle of water (H2O) over time....it is a very good mouthwash too...

HTH

peace,
macy

[clewal]

Out of curosity do you use a gas dryer? The only time I had dingy whites was when we had a gas dryer that had an exhaust problem and we have very hard water. I tried everything to get my whites to be whiter but it never worked. Got rid of the dryer, no more dingy whites.

[Persephone]

I don't know what kind of dryer we have. I use the communal laundry at our apt. Some stuff I air dry. I think it's the hard water.... I wonder, if I used both borax AND peroxide, would that work? Or would the chemical reaction melt my clothes??

[Ilovelife]

Originally Posted by Persephone

I wonder, if I used both borax AND peroxide, would that work? Or would the chemical reaction melt my clothes??

: I don't know for sure, but I think that'd be ok. I often use peroxide & vinegar together & my basement hasn't blown up yet!