Ever lay on a fresh sheet where you can feel the crisp and clean bedding? With a book in one hand and hot chocolate waiting for you atop a nightstand? Sounds heavenly, doesn’t it? Now, let’s tweak the scenario. You come home to yellowish, stained sheets, which look like they haven’t been washed in a long, long time. Cozy vibes ruined!
Spotless white sheets are small pleasures of life that can make you feel oh-so-good when you hit the sack. However, unlike your colored sheets, white ones need extra TLC (tender love and care), without which they lose their hotel-like sheen and turn into not-so-good-looking yellowed sheets, which can, in all honesty, ruin a good night’s sleep! But, don’t worry, the solution is quite simple. It involves washing your sheets using the right ingredients.
We know: Washing your sheets is not the fun activity you had in mind this weekend. But when done right, it won’t take too long. Just read ahead to know more on how to whiten sheets in an easy-peasy manner.
How To Whiten Sheets
White sheets turn yellow with time because of the body oils and sweat. While washing your bedding every day can curb this issue, you can also prolong the brightness of the sheets with the below-mentioned methods.
1. Lemon Juice
Lemon is a natural bleaching agent because of the presence of citric acid. When used strategically, it can brighten and make your sheets white again. Another advantage of using lemon juice is that it leaves a pleasing citrus scent. Now, there are two methods to brighten your sheets with lemon juice;
Method one:
- Take the juice of one lemon.
- Pour the lemon juice and regular detergent into the washing machine.
- Wash it as usual.
Method two:
- Take about ½ cup of lemon juice.
- Mix it with 4 liters of hot water.
- Soak your white sheets in the water. You must soak the sheets for at least an hour, or you can also do it overnight.
- Finally, the machine washes the sheets as usual.
Note: Method two is not suitable for silk sheets.
2. Vinegar and Baking Soda
Vinegar is a household superhero that can quickly fix several cleaning issues where vinegar and baking soda are solid matches. Baking soda comes with its odor-neutralizing qual whereas vinegar helps lighten the sheets. You can use either of the methods mentioned below.
Method one:
- Add ½ cup of baking soda directly to your washing machine.
- Now, add vinegar to the detergent or fabric softener dispenser. Make sure you keep both the ingredients separate.
- Add your sheets to the machine and wash as usual.
Method two:
- Fill a tub with about 4 liters of water and add ½ cup vinegar to it.
- Soak the sheets in the tub for at least an hour.
- Machine wash your sheets as usual.
- If you don’t favor the vinegary smell, you can simply air dry your sheets.
3. Borax
Borax is another excellent ingredient with multiple uses, right from removing any foul odor to eliminating stains and, of course, whitening your sheets.
- Fill a tub with a gallon of water and add ½ cup of borax to it.
- Soak your sheets in the tub and let them sit overnight.
- Finally, wash it as you would.
4. Bleach
Bleach is an excellent product to lighten your sheets. However, it is essential to be cautious while using this solution because it can react with protein stains, such as sweat, sexual fluids, and more. The following steps will help you out.
- First, wash your sheets in the washing machine as usual.
- Add ½ cup of bleach to the drum of your washing machine and run the machine as usual.
- After the wash, if you smell any lingering smell of the bleach, rewash it with your regular detergent and hydrogen peroxide.
You can also make use of non-chlorine oxygen bleach to keep your sheets white and fresh.
5. Liquid Bluing
Did you know that liquid bluing has been used to whiten yellowed sheets since 1870 when Al Stewart, a travelling salesman, sold homemade liquid bluing throughout the Midwest? Liquid bluing is excellent and can neutralize the yellowish stains.
- Take a gallon of water and add about one teaspoon of the liquid to it. You mustn’t add extra liquid or bluing directly to the sheets as it will stain the sheets blue!
- Let it sit for a few minutes, and then add the sheets and the water mixture to the machine. Do not use any more bluing than you have already used.
- Wash it as usual with your regular detergent.
It can also help get sweat stains out of sheets!
6. Hydrogen Peroxide
Washing your bedding with hydrogen peroxide is a great option to remove yellow stains from sheets. You can also use this ingredient with other cleaning solutions, such as baking soda. However, make sure you don’t mix it with vinegar or bleach.
- Add one cup of hydrogen peroxide directly to your washing machine
- Add the sheets and wash them with your detergent as usual.
These were some of the simple methods that you can use to keep your sheets white. Doing this once or twice a week will keep your sheets immaculate and white. But let’s take a look at all the steps to make sheets white again.
How to Make Your Sheets White Again
Now that you know the method and the ingredients required, it becomes vital to understand the nuances and the correct order to use the products. Follow this procedure to make your sheets white again.
Pre-Soak
If you are pre-soaking your sheets, make sure you do it in warm or hot water. You must do this for at least an hour. You must pre-soak your sheets if you use white vinegar, lemon juice, or borax. Soak your sheets in one gallon of hot water with ½ cup of vinegar, lemon juice, or borax.
First Cycle
Once you have pre-soaked your sheets, it is time for the first cycle. Here, make sure you avoid using any fabric softeners because using vinegar or lemon juice will get the job done. For the first cycle, make use of the following options.
- ½ cup of baking soda
- Lemon juice (use one whole lemon)
- ½ cup bleach
- White vinegar
- One teaspoon of liquid bluing, diluted in about 3-4 liters of water
Use any one of the options and wash your sheets as usual.
Second Cycle
After washing the sheets in the first cycle, if you notice any residue or unpleasant odor, use hydrogen peroxide and rewash it along with your regular detergent. Hydrogen is safe to use, and you can also use liquid bluing at this point.
Dry It
Air drying your white sheets under the sunlight is the best option because the sun is believed to be a natural bleaching agent. Ultraviolet rays can fade the color of an object, and when the rays fall on white sheets, they can help fade away any remaining stains and whiten them.
5 Tips To Maintain Your White Bedding
Now you know how to whiten dingy sheets. But, once you make your sheets white, it becomes crucial to maintain the brightness. These five tips will help you out.
Wash It Frequently
Our sheets are home to dead skin cells, body oil, sweat, hair, and all things gross. This debris keeps getting accumulated through time and can attract allergens, such as dust mites and bacteria. It occurs even if you shower every night before bed.
While these allergens are invisible, they cause reactions, such as sneezing, runny nose, and skin irritation. Therefore, you must wash your sheets every week. If you can, give it an extra rinse after the final cycle to make sure any residual detergent is flushed out.
Avoid Store-Bought Fabric Softeners
While fabric softeners smell good, they are not suitable for the sheets because they can lead to chemical build-up on your sheets. Instead, you can use natural softeners, such as vinegar. Use white vinegar for the same.
Always Wash Your White Sheets Separately
One of the many reasons why the white sheets become stained is that they are washed with colored clothes. Here, there is a risk of color bleeding into your white fabric.
Wash Your Face Before Bed
Our face absorbs dust and dirt throughout the day. It gets transferred to the sheets when you sleep without washing your face.
Don’t Eat Where You Sleep
No matter how careful you are, there are chances of spilling when you eat on your bed. And removing these stains can be difficult, especially if they seep into the mattress.
Now you know how you can keep your bedding white and bright. Give it a try!
