There are multiple reasons why your white clothes might be yellowing.

One of them is oxidation. Oxidation is a chemical reaction that happens when substances that are left on fabrics are met with heat or sunlight.

Deodorant stains are another reason that your white clothes might be yellowing. This is thanks to a chemical reaction between the aluminum that is found in antiperspirants and proteins that are present in sweat.

While you may think the more detergent the merrier, using too much detergent and fabric softener can actually lead to yellowing of your fabrics.

Over time, long-term storage can also lead to the yellowing of certain garments. The substances that are left behind on fabrics can react as time passes and lead to yellow stains.

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Is bleach good for whitening yellowing clothes?

While the consensus is that bleach can help whiten white fabric that is yellowing, you should use it sparingly.

Using too much bleach or pouring it directly onto the fabric can result in the garment being damaged. Bleach can also shorten the life of a shirt a bit.

Is white vinegar good for whitening yellowing clothes?

White vinegar can help whiten yellowing clothes. The way this works is by acetic acid playing its role as a natural whitening agent. You can use distilled white vinegar on place of bleach for a pretreatment, or you can add it directly to the wash cycle.