How to Whiten Shirts

Clean, crisp white shirts just seem to attract dirt and stains. Even rings around the collar and perspiration marks tend to be more pronounced on white fabric. Fortunately, there are some tricks that you can try to help remove these pesky issues. Even the sun can help you return your whites to their natural state. With regular care and maintenance, you should be able to keep ahead of the game and prevent permanent staining to your shirts.

Vinegar
Color-safe bleach
Measuring cup
Washrag
Soft-bristled toothbrush
Peroxide
Borax
Baking soda

Instructions

- 1
  Read the clothing directions for care instructions. This will determine what temperature is ideal for washing your clothing. Use the hottest water that is allowed for your shirts for best results.
- 2
  Spot-clean stained areas by dabbing the area with a washrag and color-safe bleach or vinegar. There are also spot-cleaning products on the market that work well for stain removal. Allow this to sit for 3 to 5 minutes or according to the product instructions. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush to rub the vinegar or bleach into the stained area to help remove the stain from the fibers.
- 3
  Soak the shirt in a bucket of warm to hot water and 1 cup bleach or vinegar overnight if the stains are persistent.
- 4
  Wash your clothing with a regular laundering cycle. Add 1 cup of peroxide or vinegar to your laundry load with your regular laundry detergent. You can also add 1/4 to 1 cup of Borax or baking soda to the load for a natural laundry booster.
- 5
  Hang the shirts on a clothesline to dry. The sun has a natural whitening effect on clothing.

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