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Keeping your white clothes bright and sparkling clean without using harsh chlorine or bleach is entirely possible with a natural, affordable, and safe alternative! Here’s a simple trick that uses common household items to achieve brilliantly clean whites.
What to Throw in Your Washing Machine
1. Baking Soda
Why It Works: Baking soda is a natural brightener and deodorizer. It helps break down stains and neutralizes odors.
How to Use:
Add 1/2 cup of baking soda to your washing machine drum along with your regular detergent.
For tougher stains, make a paste with baking soda and water, apply it to the stained area, and let it sit for 30 minutes before washing.
2. White Vinegar
Why It Works: Vinegar acts as a natural fabric softener and removes dinginess from white clothes.
How to Use:
Pour 1/2 to 1 cup of white vinegar into the fabric softener compartment of your washing machine.
It also helps to remove detergent residue, leaving your clothes softer and brighter.
3. Lemon Juice
Why It Works: Lemon juice is a natural bleaching agent and has mild acidic properties that help whiten fabrics.
How to Use:
Add 1/2 cup of freshly squeezed lemon juice to your wash cycle along with detergent.
For extra whitening power, soak white clothes in a mixture of warm water and lemon juice for 1–2 hours before washing.
4. Hydrogen Peroxide
Why It Works: Hydrogen peroxide is an oxygen-based bleach alternative that brightens whites without the harshness of chlorine.
How to Use:
Add 1 cup of hydrogen peroxide (3% solution) to the bleach compartment of your washing machine.
Avoid using it with colored clothes as it can lighten some fabrics.
5. Salt
Why It Works: Salt helps break down stains and restores brightness to white clothes.
How to Use:
Add 1/4 cup of salt directly to the drum of the washing machine.
For sweat or yellow stains, make a paste with salt and water and apply it to the stained area before washing.
6. Dishwashing Liquid and Baking Soda Combo
Why It Works: Dishwashing liquid removes grease and oil stains, while baking soda brightens and deodorizes.
How to Use:
Mix a few drops of dishwashing liquid with 2 tablespoons of baking soda.
Rub the mixture on stains or dull areas before adding the garment to your washing machine.
Bonus Tip: Sunshine
After washing, let your white clothes dry in the sun. The sun’s natural UV rays act as a natural bleach, enhancing the brightness of your whites.
How to Use This Method
Choose one or a combination of these natural ingredients based on what you have at home.
Add them to your washing machine with your regular detergent.
Wash your whites in warm or hot water (as recommended on the fabric care label) for the best results.
Benefits of This Method
No Harsh Chemicals: These natural alternatives are gentle on fabrics and safer for your skin.
Environmentally Friendly: They don’t release harmful chemicals into the water supply.
Cost-Effective: Most of these ingredients are inexpensive and readily available at home.
Conclusion
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