Bleach or Bluing? How do you get your whites "really white?!"

[reo580]

Hi Laundry question here:
How do you get your whites really white? Do you use Bleach or Bluing?
I am a bleachaholic, I use Clorox Germicidal bleach 1/2 cup diluted to 2 qts of water that I add to my Maytag 208S. I fill the machine, get my clothespin in the safety switch (us vintage maytagers will understand that one lol) fill the machine,add add my bleach mixture to the washing. I add the whites after a couple seconds of cycling. After about 5 mins of agitating with bleach,I add my detergent and let the Maytag do the rest (wash, softener etc)Most of my whites come out come out pretty good. However I have noticed the logos/ or other colors on some of my whites are starting to fade.

Do you guys have any recommendations on how to get white whites without fading any logos, contrast seams or piping etc?
I'd like to hear it.

What are your methods for whites?

 

[gottahaveahoove]

I have had a lot of HOOVER

towels made. I also love monogrammed items, even on white towels, shirts, etc.
I was told by the monogramer to soak these things in salt water FIRST: to set the dye. I have done it with everything, even red candy stripe dress shirts. It has worked out beautifully, so far.
I use bleach PLUS 20 Mule Team Borax. I just add into the washer, then, the "All, Free and Clear" pouch to my Maytag. I don't like dyes or perfumes.
I had a friend stay here a few years back....he was going through a messy divorce. I did our laundry together, as, his version of operating machinery was using the toaster and/or a coffeemaker, lol. He always wore white T-shirts and white socks to work. He was asked at work, one day....how his wife got his white clothes so white !!!!!
Try the salt water soak, It really does 'set the dye'.
Good luck!
John

 

[vacerator]

Oxyclean,

pre treat stains, add a bit of bleach.
Never wear white after Labor day.

 

[pinkge]

Whites...

I use white vinegar and sometimes H202 on the spots.Then wash in warmer water.

 

[reo580]

I'm going to use the salt soak method on anything new I get. That sounds like a good idea. I haven't used Borax in a long time. What does Borax do? I know it's a fantastic hand cleaner after working on vehicles! Gets the grease off my hands and fingernails too. Gl5 and and red grease can be pretty stubborn stuff. I've also used it to get haircolor off of my hands (I cut hair for a living). Does Borax affect the water PH- soften it?

For pretreating collars I use Dawn Detergent and water (50:50) in a spray bottle. It gets rid of collar ring on white dress shirts.

@ vacerator: White after Labor Day? so.. No dress shirts and go "commando"? I don't know about that.. these Michigan winters (and spring) are pretty darn cold Haha! I have never understood the Labor Day rule. Someone fill me in on that one.

Oxyclean- and Bleach? that sounds effective. Looks like I have a nice shopping list for next week. lol

 

[vacerator]

Derek,

please excuse my candor. I saw no white after labor day in the film Serial Mom.
I took myself too seriously for too long.
Now I learn still each day, and also laugh.
Borax is a soda mineral and has an effervescent property.
A protein stain is best removed by another protein, seems I learned that some decades ago.
Ketchup and mustard are more acidic, so Borax, or bleach works best.
I used to have a heck of a time getting shirt collars clean.
Not working doesn't make clothes as soiled.

 

[kirbysthebest]

Whate after laborday rule

I spoke with our local fashion columnist, Bonnie Bing, regarding this mandate.


It is for shoes, white shoes.  Unless you are Pat Boone, you should be ok.


 

 

[reo580]

@ vacerator: You're fine. I know you meant that in good humor. I was just giving you a hard time with my snarky retort. Is Spring as cold on your side of the state? It has been freezing cold over here on the west side.

Gosh, I think the only white shoes I have are my running shoes/ trainers (for the UK folk). Definitely not Pat Boone, but have Elvis hair haha. Glad to know about the shoes rule. I never fully understood the White after Labor Day rule, now I know.

 

[vacerator]

Derek, thanks,

back to you as well! Yes, the morning is chilly, but we hit 57 yesterday afternoon.
I worked in the yard all day.
I need to crop the photo I had up of me and my front garden from 2013 because my address showed on the porch pillar. Someone tried to change my address last week to Brooklyn NY on a credit card and charged $3,000.00 at a Bets Buy. I deleted my picture for now.
While I was on the phone with Chase, they were calling in again on another line still trying to change it. They traced the call.

 

[vacerator]

Guess who was heavily involved in Borax mining

before Oil? None other than John D. Rockefeller.

 

[reo580]

Oh man! Sounds like you were dealing with a professional scammer with that whole address thing. I had something similar happen to me a couple years ago. Sucked

 

[reo580]

Rockefeller was a Borax miner?

 

[electrolux137]

~
~


I only use bleach for whites occasionally because using it too often eventually causes fabric to disintegrate, especially cotton -- even when using the proper amount.


 


What I do is to fill the washing machine with hot water, add detergent and Oxy-Clean for Whites, load in the clothes and let them soak for a few hours. Then I run the wash cycle. When the tub fills with rinse water I add a splash of Mrs. Stewart's Laundry Bluing.


 


That product is getting harder and harder to find in grocery stores. What I do now is order it directly from their web site. I get the three pack and it lasts a long, long time. I hope they never go out of business because it really is a great product for white clothes. (It's even more effective when clothesline drying but that's too much work!)


 


I also use Borax powder once a month or so. It's a good detergent booster and also helps make clothes rinse more cleanly.

[this post was last edited: 4/16/2016-16:25]

http://mrsstewart.com/store/

 

[gottahaveahoove]

I use the dryer EXCEPT

in nice weather, I'll dry sheets on the line outside!  Especially if I'm getting company.  They love to sleep on line-dried sheets.


  One day, I was hanging sheets, socks, undies, etc outside.  My neighbor looked and said, " What a clever use for all that string"!  I almost died.

 

[vac-o-matic]

I use Tide with bleach alternative(white cap) and have no complaints. Years ago before the oxy craze and other advances with detergents, I used LaFrance powder bluing and that stuff was the bomb! Alas, like other products over the years, it's gone.

 

[vacerator]

Derek,

I must have been having a senior moment yesterday. Rockefeller was involved in the Duluth Taconite mining for steel making. He sold all of his interest to Carnegie, and US Steel in 1901.
Then J.P. Morgan bought US Steel.
Rockefeller also earlier owned a coal mine in Colorado where 23 people were massacred.
As for identity fraud, this was my first incident, Hopefully the last. You also.
I keep my cards in a shielded wallet, and have not used that particular card online, over the phone, or at an atm machine. Mainly at Meijer for gas and groceries. I doubt it was skimmed.
Of course, I notified my other cards, bank, and Trans Union credit reporting.
It disgusts me that smart people hack the accounts of us honest people when they could use their talents for productive to society efforts.

 

[reo580]

A clever use for all that string?! OMG!

I cannot line-dry outside where I live so I have about 100' of clothesline strung up from the rafters. Eye screws are great for that.

My grandmother used to use LaFrance.

 

[gottahaveahoove]

Once, after a larger than usual mini meet,

and, after family stayed here, I washed all of the bed linens, and dried them on the4 line. My other neighbor said, "Wow, John had company................. the queen sized, double, and twins were all on the line. It looked like a hospital laundry.
My late mother used to line dry in the basement (one of them) during the winter. I string 2 100' lines outside. Kinda like 'airing your CLEAN laundry". I had unmentionables on the line and my friend, Barbara said, "Well, now we know the answer to boxers or briefs, lol".

 

[reo580]

That's funny!