Get your whites whiter without bleach

So you’ve been wearing your white pants, capris and shorts since Memorial Day and they’re starting to look a little less crisp. Even those white t-shirts and tank tops are starting to take on a dingy, yellowish gray tone.  What was once white is slowly slipping away to an off-white existence.

The good news is you can reverse the off-white effect. The first method that might come to mind is to use bleach. It’s an obvious choice, but what if you don’t want to use such a harsh chemical on your clothes? How do you get the same whitening effect?

There are a couple of methods for getting your whites whiter without bleach.

Dropps 4-in-1 Booster Pacs

Give your laundry the ultimate boost by adding a Dropps 4-in-1 booster pac with your next wash cycle. Stains and odors disappear, colors shine brighter and whites become vibrant. With 4X the cleaning power in one pre-measured pac, your laundry looks and smells brand-spanking-new after every wash. Plus, Dropps booster pacs are chlorine, dye and fragrance-free — a win for both the environment and your skin. 

Baking Soda

Baking soda is a whitening wonder. Add a ½ cup to your wash along with your detergent and it will whiten, freshen and even soften your clothes. You can also pre-treat stains with baking soda by mixing a little bit with water. Then add the paste-like solution to the stained area on the fabric.

Hydrogen Peroxide

Everyone has a bottle of this in their medicine cabinet. It’s a great multi-tasker, because it’s a non-chlorine bleach. You just need to add ½ cup of hydrogen peroxide to your wash along with your laundry detergent.

Dishwasher detergent

Another multi-tasker, dishwasher detergent can be added to your wash to whiten fabrics. Use ¼ cup in addition to your regular laundry detergent.

Vinegar

Distilled white vinegar will bring your whites back to pre-Memorial Day condition. This household cleaning super hero also freshens and softens fabrics (it’s great for refreshing towels). Start with ½ cup of distilled white vinegar added to your wash with your laundry detergent. You can go up to 1 cup to get the desired effect. The vinegar scent will go away after the fabrics are dry.

Sun

Take advantage of the summer sun’s whitening powers by hanging your laundry outside to dry. You’ll get great smelling, brighter whites.