White sheets can begin to stain naturally in the summer due to a build-up of sweat and body oils, leading to them becoming yellowed and dingy. 

It may seem like common sense to use bleach on discoloured bedding to get it white and sparkling, but it is actually one of the worst products to use on sheets. 

Lauren Fountain, a bedding expert from Sleep Foundation, explained: “Chlorine bleach is quite harsh and can degrade the fibres and shorten the lifespan of your bed linen.

“If you use it regularly, it can actually turn your sheets more yellow as it reacts with body oils and proteins present on the fabric.”

Instead, it is better to use natural cleaning products which will be gentler on sheets but still be incredibly effective at whitening them again, and all you need are some basic cupboard staples.

Lauren said: “The answer is simple, inexpensive and environmentally friendly to boot: baking soda, vinegar, dishwashing liquid and lemon juice, all basic items which you likely already have at home.

Vinegar is a natural fabric softener while lemon juice acts as a natural bleaching agent, and the acidic nature of both these products can help break down stains. 

Dish soap is better at lifting sweat stains and can help penetrate the fabric to get rid of any residue build-up while baking soda enhances the effectiveness of these products. 

To whiten bedding all you have to do is place the sheets in a large basin or bowl and pour in warm water. 

Then add in one cup of white vinegar, one cup of lemon juice, half a cup of baking soda and two tablespoons of dishwashing soap. 

Stir the solution with a wooden spoon until dissolved and then allow it to soak for at least half an hour, for partially discoloured sheets it is better to leave it longer. 

Then place on a regular cool water wash and the sheets should look brand new and white once again. 

Once the bedding is washed it is better to hang it outside to dry on a sunny day rather than tossing it in the tumble dryer as the sun can also naturally whiten fabric. 

Lauren said: “The sun’s ultraviolet rays have a bleaching effect, helping to keep your white sheets white. Plus they’ll smell amazingly fresh!” 

Leaving bedding to dry in the sun will not only naturally whiten them but also kill bacteria, but it is best to leave sheets out for two to four hours at a time. 

Once you take your sheets off the line, your bedding should be sparkling clean and white once again. 

Lauren said: “That’s it. Simple, cost-effective and natural way to keep your bed linen perfectly white so you can enjoy their fresh and crisp look and feel night after night. Enjoy!”