How to bleach a white T-shirt at home: methods and means of bleaching

White T-shirts are part of the basic wardrobe, as they can be combined with different clothes. But only a clean thing looks stylish and neat. It is often quite difficult to achieve this, since over time the color of the products turns gray and yellowish appears. Housewives have to think about how to bleach a white T-shirt at home so as not to spoil the fabric and get a positive result. Many products are not suitable for items with prints or embroidery; each material reacts differently to chemicals.

How to wash a white T-shirt

If the stains on the T-shirt are fresh, there is a high probability that they can be removed using standard washing in an automatic machine or by hand. However, the housewife often remembers the presence of dirt and yellowness too late, so a regular detergent is not enough.

There are many different effective means to solve this situation.

Most products are made from synthetic fabrics, for which the use of chlorine-containing compounds is contraindicated. The same goes for washing at maximum temperature and evaporation. Useful tips that you can follow to wash a white T-shirt without damaging it:

wash snow-white items separately from bright and multi-colored ones;
Delicate fabrics are washed exclusively by hand;
after washing, the item cannot be dried on a radiator, heated towel rail or heater of any type;
when soaking, add a small amount of hydrogen peroxide to the water;
add a few tablespoons of soda to the water for hand washing;
For automatic bleaching, use industrial oxygen bleach, adding it to the compartment with the powder.

Before bleaching yellowed T-shirts, read the fabric contents on the label.

Manually

Washing white T-shirts by hand allows you to focus on areas that need more attention.

To combat stains, you can use stain removers or wash problem areas with laundry soap. In addition, a pre-soaking option is possible.

Hand washing procedure:

Inspect the item for defects. They must be removed before the main wash.
Fill a basin with water at a suitable temperature of 30-40ºС. The exception is thick, plain cotton T-shirts - for them the water temperature can be higher - up to 50-60ºС.
Dilute the prepared detergent in water.
Dip a T-shirt into the resulting solution.
If the item is dirty, you can soak it for an hour, after soaping the dirty areas.
After soaking, the dirty water is drained and a new solution is prepared, again with detergent.
The item is hand washed.
The water is drained and new water is added to the basin.
For good rinsing, the water must be changed several times.

You need to squeeze the water out of the T-shirt after washing carefully, avoiding twisting the fabric and deforming it.

This publication will tell you how to properly wash T-shirts by hand.

Whitening methods

If the T-shirt has old or complex stains, it has turned gray or yellowed, or has lost its snow-white color, simple machine or hand washing will not help. It is recommended to pre-soak heavily soiled items. Ordinary boiling will save you from sweat stains and other difficult-to-remove traces.

To return a white T-shirt to its sparkling whiteness, you can use proven methods passed down from generation to generation.

If your washing machine has an intensive wash mode, you can use it. Please note that evaporation and washing at high temperatures are not suitable for delicate fabrics, wool and synthetic fibres.

Soak

Pre-wetting the fabric makes the main wash process easier and reduces the operating time of the washing machine. If the stains are old and difficult to remove, this step cannot be avoided.

You can bleach a white T-shirt by soaking it first.

Basic recommendations for soaking:

depending on the degree of contamination and the composition used, the item is soaked for 1-6 hours;
before boiling, the T-shirt can be soaked in soapy water overnight;
Before you start washing, soaked clothes should be rinsed with clean water.

Folk recipes have been tested for many decades.

Important! Soaking does not always precede other bleaching steps. Sometimes it is enough to keep the item in the prepared solution for several hours, rinse thoroughly under running water and dry on the balcony.

Digestion

A T-shirt can only be boiled if it is made of cotton or linen. Ideal composition for boiling: 200 g of coarsely grated laundry soap and 5 liters of water. For greater efficiency, you can add 2 tbsp to the boiling mixture. hydrogen peroxide or ammonia.

Boiling is an old proven method for white things.

The digestion time depends on the density of the tissue. If the material is thin, it is enough to bring the mass to a boil. Durable products are boiled over low heat for about 20-30 minutes after boiling.

After completing all manipulations, you need to wait for the solution to cool. The product should be rinsed thoroughly under running water.

Intensive wash

If you don’t have the time and energy to boil or soak, you can choose a special washing machine mode. It is recommended to bleach only cotton and linen using the intensive washing method.

Dry white items made from natural fabrics in the sun, this will help consolidate the bleaching effect.

You need to pour or pour detergent into the removable compartment for washing powder, and then add professional bleach (for example, white, Vanish) to it. The T-shirt must be washed at a temperature of at least 70 degrees, at maximum speed and with a spin cycle.

Synthetic T-shirts and tank tops cannot be treated with chlorine-containing compounds.

For many housewives, this method seems uneconomical. Firstly, the wash cycle takes much longer. Secondly, a larger amount of powder is required than usual.

Important! Washing gels are combined only with liquid bleaching compounds; only bleaching powders should be added to powdered detergents.

Drying Features

White items are especially sensitive to proper drying. When thrown over a rope, such T-shirts may not only end up wrinkled, but can also turn into ugly yellow stains, which will then be difficult to bleach.

Optimal drying is outdoors away from sunlight. In this case, T-shirts should be hung on a rope, grabbed with clothespins by the seam in the shoulder area.

It is forbidden to dry snow-white T-shirts:

on heating devices;
close to other things, especially colored ones;
not straightened;
in the sun;
in a damp room.

It is necessary to create favorable conditions for drying with good air circulation, allowing white clothes to dry as quickly as possible.

Folk remedies

Modern industrial compositions work wonders and easily help wash yellowed and gray T-shirts with traces of sweat and other contaminants. However, until recently, the range of household chemical stores was not so wide, and housewives had to use traditional methods.

Folk remedies for white clothes will help you deal with stains.

The use of peroxide, soda, laundry soap, mustard and other means allows you to return the product to its original appearance without significant material costs and large labor costs. Some methods have shown effectiveness in combating old stains that cannot be washed off with household chemicals.

Laundry soap

This product allows you to whiten and clean even delicate fabrics from traces of sweat or old stains. A yellowed, dirty, greasy T-shirt should be slightly moistened and well soaped with laundry soap, and then placed in a plastic bag.

The soap bar has a pungent, unpleasant odor; when preparing, open the windows for ventilation.

It is necessary to wrap it tightly to prevent air from entering. The product is left in this form for a day, after which it is rinsed with tap water. If desired, you can wash your clothes.

Important! Laundry soap does not leave any odor on wardrobe items. Even if wet things give off a slight soapy aroma, after drying completely in the fresh air, not a trace will remain of it.

Hydrogen peroxide

To remove small yellow stains, simply pour a little peroxide onto the stains and leave for half an hour until absorbed. Then the item should be rinsed under running water.

The T-shirt is rinsed in clean water and dried.

Synthetic and cotton fabrics with stubborn stains, grayed or yellowed are cleaned using a mixture of hydrogen peroxide and ammonia in a 2:1 ratio. It is necessary to prepare 30 ml of a solution from substances in the specified ratio and mix with 2 liters of water. The contaminated T-shirt is placed in the liquid for several hours.

To achieve maximum effect, it is necessary to periodically stir the clothes. After soaking, the item is rinsed thoroughly.

White

A concentrated substance can be used for bleaching only if the item is made of dense, durable fabric. It is better to wash tablecloths, towels, and bed linen with white, rather than T-shirts, which are most often contraindicated to be exposed to aggressive compounds.

Whiteness perfectly whitens things.

How to properly wash a white T-shirt using this bleach:

wear gloves to protect your skin;
Fill a basin with 3.5 liters of cool water, add 1 tbsp. whiteness and stir;
Pre-soak the T-shirt in soapy water, add the resulting solution;
leave the item in the liquid for 15 minutes (if the fabric is very thick - 20);
Rinse the T-shirt thoroughly.

Important! If you do not rinse the whites well enough, continued wearing of such clothing may lead to an allergic reaction. After washing, it is advisable to dry the T-shirt on the balcony or other place with constant circulation of fresh air.

Boric acid

Before using this method, you need to wash the T-shirt. 1-2 tbsp. the substances are dissolved in 3 liters of warm water, then the product is rinsed in the resulting solution for several minutes. The soaked clothes should be thoroughly rinsed under running water, and they will become snow-white again.

Soda

Baking soda is one of the most affordable means for bleaching and restoring snow-white clothes.

Baking soda is a good stain remover for a white T-shirt.

This versatile substance can be used in several ways:

In the washing machine. Pour a standard amount of detergent into the powder compartment and add ½ cup of baking soda. You need to select a mode suitable for the material from which the T-shirt is made and wash it in the machine.
Handwash. It is worth preparing a solution of 5 liters of warm water, 5 tbsp. hydrogen peroxide and 2 tbsp. soda The T-shirt is soaked in the resulting liquid for 3-4 hours. In the absence of peroxide, it is enough to mix only water and 10 tbsp. soda, and then soak the item in the same way.
Boiling. Add 3 tbsp to a pan of water. soda You need to boil a dirty T-shirt in a solution and it will become snow-white again.

Baking soda will help remove stains on clothes.

Laundry soap and manganese

If clothes have acquired a grayish tint and are no longer pleasing with their crystal whiteness, you can use a method that has been used by experienced housewives for decades.

If you can’t find soap of the required concentration, then use Antipyatin soap.

Procedure:

grate a piece of laundry soap on a coarse grater;
pour the resulting shavings into a basin with 2 liters of warm water;
add potassium permanganate until a light pink solution is obtained;
dip the T-shirt completely into the liquid, cover the basin with a towel or film, and leave overnight;
wash clothes in any way - in a machine or by hand.

Potassium permanganate will return the white color to things.
Using this method you can bleach old yellowish items. Soap and manganese are effective in combating old stains.

Mustard

The product helps to cope with the yellowness or grayness of white clothes. It is necessary to dissolve mustard powder (5 tbsp) in hot water (5 l), strain the liquid and dip a T-shirt in it, leave for several hours. After the specified time, the product is thoroughly rinsed with water and dried naturally.

Mustard will help achieve white color.

If your shirt has stains, you can use mustard in a different way. Mustard powder is mixed with water to form a paste. The mixture is applied locally to the dirt, then the item must be placed in a plastic bag and left overnight. In the morning you should wash the product by hand or in a washing machine.

Acetylsalicylic acid

If you don't have industrial bleach on hand, aspirin will come to the rescue. It is necessary to dissolve 5 tablets in 7 liters of clean water. The T-shirt should be immersed in the resulting liquid for 8-10 hours (or overnight).

Aspirin is an option for whitening things.

After removing the item from the solution, you need to wash it in any way (automatically or manually).

Important! Experts recommend additionally adding a few tablets of acetylsalicylic acid directly to the drum of the washing machine.

Lemon acid

This method is not suitable for bleaching delicate fabrics and wool. To lighten a white T-shirt, you need to:

dissolve citric acid granules in boiling water (1 tablespoon of substance per 1 liter of water);
soak the product in the solution for 5-6 hours;
rinse under running water.

Important! Citric acid (1 tbsp) can be replaced with freshly squeezed juice of two lemons.

Citric acid is an assistant in whitening things.
Some housewives pour several bags of citric acid into the drum of the washing machine before washing. Detergent is added as usual to the special powder compartment. Then you should start the wash at maximum temperature. Things become snow-white again, this way you can remove the gray tint and yellowness.

Professional products

Household chemicals stores offer many industrial compounds that show high effectiveness in whitening wardrobe items.

Use professional whitening products.

There are several types of professional products, the choice of which depends on the composition of the fabric, the degree of contamination and other factors:

Oxygen bleaches. They are suitable for any type of fabric and can handle a variety of stains. Cons: short shelf life, high price.
Contains chlorine. Chlorine bleaches are the most effective and affordable. However, they cannot be used for washing synthetic, wool T-shirts and delicate fabrics. Chlorine-containing products should not be added to the washing machine; moreover, they often cause allergic reactions.
Optical. Such compositions do not cope with dirt, but create the illusion of a white T-shirt. The spots are masked using special reflective particles.

Useful tips

Before washing, rub the collar area where the fabric touches the neck with laundry soap.
Do not store under-dried laundry in the closet to avoid mold growth.
Before washing, sort your laundry, then the risk of dyeing your T-shirt will be minimized.
As auxiliaries, you can use vinegar, a weak solution of potassium permanganate, mustard powder or blue. The main thing is to know exactly the composition of the tissue and follow the dosage.
After completing all procedures, it is recommended to rinse things at least 2 times.

How to bleach a graphic T-shirt

If the image is printed using thermal printing, white clothes can be bleached using any method. It is not so easy to lighten a product with a print. Under no circumstances should bleach or other aggressive substances be used.

White items, especially the popular T-shirts, wear out very quickly.

Otherwise, the design may fade or leave stains on the snow-white surface. It is better to use professional oxygen or optical brighteners; such compositions will carefully bleach the fabric and will not affect the image.

Important! Before you bleach a printed T-shirt, you need to take care of its safety. The pattern will be fixed and will not unravel in the future if, before the very first wash, you keep the product for several hours in warm water with added salt.

We remove fat

Fat bloopers are easy to plant, but hard to get out. Vague stains cause a lot of trouble on white. Dishwashing liquid will help remove greasy stains. The liquid contains substances that dissolve fat. Fill the spot with liquid, leave for half an hour and wash off with warm water. Additionally, we wash items with the addition of dishwashing detergent during washing.

An old way to remove greasy marks is using table salt. Actions are based on the ability of salt to absorb substances. Sprinkle the contaminated area with table salt and leave for an hour to absorb.

Next, the salt is shaken off and the fabric is washed. Using a hot iron through a cloth helps remove grease from white items. Steaming through paper helps to quickly get rid of stains on clothes.

How to remove difficult stains

The following method will help with old and stubborn stains that cannot be washed off with regular powder:

add 2 tbsp to a bowl with 4-5 liters of water. ammonia and 150 g of baking soda, mix until the soda crystals are completely dissolved;
soak a T-shirt in the solution and leave for 3-4 hours;
wash the item in the machine in the standard mode.

Yellow stains from sweat in the armpits also contribute to their inevitable deterioration.
Vinegar will help get rid of yellow sweat marks. Procedure:

mix vinegar essence (3-4 tbsp) and warm water (about 250 ml) in a container, heat it up a little;
immerse the T-shirt in the solution for a few minutes;
prepare a paste of salt, soda, hydrogen peroxide and vinegar;
Apply the resulting paste to the stain and wait 20 minutes;
wash the item in the usual way.

Removing white stains from deodorant and powder

We often encounter the fact that after using sweat deodorant, white spots appear on the fabric. They are quite persistent - they are not easy to remove from a black T-shirt or blouse. They cannot be removed during washing. Such white stains are not easy to wash off, since the antiperspirant mixes with beads of sweat, resulting in the formation of very persistent compounds that remain on colored and dark material even after washing.

Many housewives have more than once encountered the fact that after washing, white powder spots appear on things. They are very noticeable on colored and dark clothing. Why this happens and how to get rid of white spots, you will learn in this article. Here you will find many effective and proven tips on how to remove stains from deodorant and powder on clothes.

How to care for white clothes

Snow-white things must be properly cared for. Otherwise, they will quickly fade or turn yellow.

Take care of your things and they will always look good.

Useful recommendations that, if followed, will help maintain the attractive appearance of the product for a long time:

The correct way to dry. It is advisable to dry white T-shirts in the fresh air (not in the sun). The exception is synthetic clothing, which is best hung to dry at home.
Clean iron soleplate. You should constantly monitor the cleanliness of the surface and, if necessary, use special pencils or other means.
Dry clothes. Do not put your T-shirt in the closet unless it is completely dry. It is necessary to periodically ventilate the shelves with things by opening the doors for several hours.
Sorting. Before washing white T-shirts, it is important to organize all items not only by color, but also by type of fabric. Cotton clothes washed in the machine together with synthetic ones will most likely take on a gray tint.
Compliance with manufacturer's recommendations. Before you clean and bleach a white T-shirt at home and start ironing, you need to study everything that is written on the tag.
Compliance with hygiene standards. Traces of sweat are very noticeable on snow-white clothes and are difficult to wash off. To prevent them from appearing, you need to follow the rules of personal hygiene and take measures to reduce sweating.
Water softening. If water with a high level of hardness flows in the house, you should soften it before washing with citric acid or table vinegar. When washing a T-shirt by hand, you can first fill the basin with water and leave it overnight. After settling it will become softer.

White items require special care.
Snow-white clothes get dirty and fade very quickly, so fans of such wardrobe items should be prepared to care for T-shirts and bleach them in special ways. Don’t despair if your favorite item has turned yellow over time, or if stubborn greasy stains have appeared on it - there are many effective ways to restore the product to its former attractiveness at home.

Precautionary measures

White things need to be stored and used correctly, then they will not lose their color. The following must always be observed:

sort laundry before washing. Even if colored items don’t fade onto a white T-shirt, the color will still be eaten;
Do not wash fabrics of different compositions together. The proximity of synthetics or wool to linen or cotton will cause the latter to turn gray;
Read the labels, they indicate the correct method of washing the product, the most suitable temperature. Failure to follow these recommendations leads to loss of color;
wash immediately, rather than collecting items in a laundry basket. The longer a T-shirt sits dirty, the more likely it is to turn yellow;
dry in the sun, then the whiteness will not be lost;
send for storage completely dry;
Keep in the closet separately from colored items.

By observing the prevention of whiteness of T-shirts, you will not have to waste time and money on bleaching them. In addition, frequent washing does not have a favorable effect on the structure of the fabric and its quality.