Whiten Yellowed or Gray Laundry Without Bleach
Your white t-shirts looking gray? Bleach yellows synthetic fibers over time. Use percarbonate.
Recommended Materials
- Sodium Percarbonate (solid hydrogen peroxide)
- Baking soda
- Lemon
- Basin
Steps to follow
Step 1
Sodium Percarbonate is THE miracle product for whites. It is solid hydrogen peroxide. It releases active whitening oxygen starting at 40°C.
Step 2
In the machine (maintenance): Add 1 to 2 tablespoons of percarbonate directly into the drum with your usual detergent. Wash at 40°C minimum (60°C is ideal for sheets and towels). This is a habit to adopt to prevent laundry from turning gray over washes.
Step 3
Soaking (for very gray or yellowed laundry): Fill a basin with very hot water (as hot as possible depending on the fabric). Add 2 tablespoons of percarbonate. Immerse the laundry. Let soak overnight. The water will foam a little. Then wash normally in the machine.
Step 4
Lemon: For yellow sweat stains under the arms, rub the area with half a lemon before washing. Citric acid attacks the yellow.
Step 5
Drying: If possible, dry white laundry in full sun. UV rays have a strong natural whitening and disinfecting power. Turn the laundry halfway through drying so the sun acts evenly on all sides.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference with baking soda ?
Baking soda deodorizes, softens water, and cleans, but it whitens little. Percarbonate is a powerful whitening agent (it is the active ingredient in 'Oxy Action' powders).
Can it be used on colors ?
Avoid percarbonate on dark, bright, or fragile colors, as over time it can fade them (like hydrogen peroxide). It is a product for WHITES and colorfast colors (light sheets).
Precautions
- Percarbonate is irritating, watch your eyes.
- Do not use on wool or silk.
