Stains seem to have a particular affinity for white laundry, especially your t-shirts and socks.
Understanding how to clean white clothes without bleach is crucial for tackling common stains from sweat, dirt, food, or drinks.
Over time, whites and brightly coloured fabrics can become yellowed, dingy, or dull even without an apparent cause.
Even with the knowledge of how to properly wash your clothes to prevent dark fabric dyes from bleeding onto other items, some discolouration is almost inevitable.
Instead of resorting to harsh chemicals like bleach or optical brighteners, the right ingredients and techniques can serve as effective bleach alternatives.
Chantel Mila Ibbotson, known on Instagram as @mama_mila_au, has shared a three-ingredient “powerful” concoction to restore your whites to their former glory.
She captioned her video: “How to make your white clothes look new again. Say goodbye to dingy white clothes.
“This simple method keeps your whites looking whiter and brighter. It’s perfect for socks, t-shirts and linens.”
Chantel began by showing a stained white T-shirt to the camera before placing it in a bowl and pouring warm water over it until it was completely submerged.
She then added one-quarter cup of hydrogen peroxide (to brighten and disinfect), one cup of baking soda (to deodorise and brighten) and one teaspoon of dish soap.
Chantel boasted: “This powerful mix lifts stains and makes your whites look brighter.”
For those dealing with oil-based spills, she says the dish soap can be skipped.
After letting the garment soak for a little while, she tossed it in the wash as per usual.
Keen followers on Instagram were quick to question the ideal soaking time. @blasian86 queried: “How long to soak for? ” to which Chantel responded: “Usually an hour or two.”