Washing whites?
Question:I have white dish towels and for some reason they do not absorb at all. Water just rolls right off of them. What's the best way to wash them?
Also, what's the best way to wash white clothes to make them stay bright white?
My boyfriend says just bleach for both and my aunt says ammonia for white clothes. Not sure who I should listen to.
Answers:
well i just put bleach on my white clothes and havent had a problem so that would be my answer, maybe get a better bleach?
Put them it let them soak first before washing.Some fabrics will turn yellow in the dryer. So it is best to air dry them.
If you use fabric softener on the dish towels, that will cause them to repel water when using them. If you use very much bleach on whites, they will get a yellow tint. Get a detergent with bleach in it. If I have a big stain on whites or colors, I spray with spray-n-wash.
Do not add liquid fabric softner to your towels! Only soap for washing! Oxy clean (powder) is the best...safe for all clothing! Clothes are so white when you use this stuff!
The dish towels might not be absorbant for two reasons: poor fabric (terry cloth is best, smooth fabic is the worst) or you might be using fabric softener in the washer. Fabric softener sort of coats fabric leaving no room to absorb water, be it dish towels or bath towels. It's best to buy good quality towels in the first place.
Both ammonia and bleach work to whiten the wash. So does vinegar. Bleach is not very good for the environment. Make sure your load is only whites and wash with hot water, regardless of your additive. (Wash colors with cold.)
*Be sure NOT to mix bleach with ammonia. The fumes from the chemical reaction can be deadly. No joke.
Try washing the dish towels in epsom salts. Should only need to do this once. As for washing whites. I have a Napisan bucket into which goes my whites and coloureds, and they soak overnight then I wash them as normal in cold water. Perfect. Napisan Plus is the best, . there are so many soakers on the market these days but this old fashioned one is still the best.
It's true Liquid fabric softener is the villen. Also If your towels have been in contact with cooking oil, They will tend to repel water. For washing whites I have had good luck Using 1/2 cup clorox and 1/2 cup baking soda.
I use Clorox UltimateCare bleach.it's really good and plus it makes your whites soft.
I had this trouble, my towels where really "bar towels" the textiles used are a lower quality and do not absorb well.
As for your white clothes to whiten whites:
Add one cup of Hydrogen Peroxide to a load of whites and wash as normal.
For items already yellowing mix a quarter cup of Cascade in a bucket of hot, hot water soak the garments in the mixture to whiten whites.
Try not to over dry white items. Use a lower temperature setting as the higher settings can yellow whites.
Also, some liquid fabric softeners can cause yellowing in white fabrics if not rinsed out well.
I wouldn't risk only using Bleach to launder anything! It's just too strong.
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