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Get my whites, whiter...naturally?
Posted: Wed Jun 09, 2010 6:00 am
by growingthings
Okay, so after what feels like never-ending poor weather, I've had them hanging out in the sunshine for a couple of days, they've been put through the machine with some white vinegar, but they're still looking a bit grey.
I understand that moaning about my grey whites isn't cool

it's Daisy's nursery uniform, which still fits her, but is looking rather sorry for itself. I just don't want to get her some new ones if I can perk up the ones we already have. (honestly I'm not being tight, I'm thinking of the envirnoment!

)

(this was the nearest I could get to a ducks bum

)
So anybody got any golden nuggets of washing related wisdom, preferably natural or at least not hideously toxic.
Thank you
Lorna x

Re: Get my whites, whiter...naturally?
Posted: Wed Jun 09, 2010 8:54 am
by Green Aura
'Fraid not honey. You've already tried what I would have suggested. Sunshine's a pretty good bleach.
My parents used to use something called a "blue bag" which was supposed to make things look whiter. I don't know if it worked and I can't say if it was environmentally-friendly either (that generation were particularly fond of chemicals

).
Aren't those oxygen-based bleach type things supposed to be better for the environment - someone will correct me I'm sure

But surely a spoonful of that, once in a while, wouldn't be too bad. I have a tub and use it maybe 2-3 times a year when my teatowels get really stained (my family think they're cleaning cloths

)
Re: Get my whites, whiter...naturally?
Posted: Wed Jun 09, 2010 10:16 am
by MKG
Try hydrogen peroxide. It's perfectly environmentally safe as long as it goes into the waste water (where it safely breaks down into oxygen and water). I don't know how diluted it would have to be for clothing, but I'm sure it would be easy to find out.
The old "Dolly Blue" stuff did actually give your whites a very pale tinge of blue. It's a visual trick - things like that appear to be whiter than "real" white.
Mike
Re: Get my whites, whiter...naturally?
Posted: Wed Jun 09, 2010 10:26 am
by crowsashes
wash your whites with something blue, i use a blue towel. it works on the same method as a blue bag.
or try ecovers laundry bleach ( b& Q sell it)
Re: Get my whites, whiter...naturally?
Posted: Wed Jun 09, 2010 11:54 am
by Daveswife
Put some lemon juice in the final rinsing water and hang the garment in the sunshine to drip dry. The combination of sunshine and lemon juice will make a positive difference to the whiteness.
Re: Get my whites, whiter...naturally?
Posted: Fri Jun 11, 2010 10:19 am
by growingthings
Thanks guys I'll get onto it......after camp!!
Off for a weekend of water activities, open cooking and generally having a laugh with the families at my Scout group..
see you after the weekend!
Lorna x

Re: Get my whites, whiter...naturally?
Posted: Fri Jun 11, 2010 10:28 am
by John Headstrong
crowsashes wrote:
or try ecovers laundry bleach ( b& Q sell it)
AH! YES !I knew I saw a huge selection of ecover stuff somewhere!!, Mrs H was telling me to get more but I could not remember where I saw it all
thank you

Re: Get my whites, whiter...naturally?
Posted: Fri Jun 11, 2010 10:27 pm
by Pennylane
Have a great time at scout camp...no whites there

they local venturescouts hold thier group meetings here when they are not off doing something like potholing or canoeing.

Re: Get my whites, whiter...naturally?
Posted: Sat Jun 12, 2010 10:36 am
by crowsashes
John Headstrong wrote:crowsashes wrote:
or try ecovers laundry bleach ( b& Q sell it)
AH! YES !I knew I saw a huge selection of ecover stuff somewhere!!, Mrs H was telling me to get more but I could not remember where I saw it all
thank you

its the only place i can get it from round here now, even co.op and t£$co have seriously raised there prices AND reduced there ranges
i do really love the method bathroom cleaners over ecovers though, they smell so delicious
handy you can get the bulk containers too
