Avoid These 3 Mistakes When Washing Whites

Color trends in home decor come and go, but classic white bedding like linens, towels and tablecloths never goes out of style. Sure, a neutral color helps, but there’s a certain comfort that comes with looking at white sheets or a washcloth and immediately knowing if they’re clean.

Unfortunately, getting to this point is easier said than done. Here are three mistakes to avoid when washing whites.

Don’t Make These Mistakes When Washing Whites

With over 20 years of experience in the industry, Wayne “Stain Master” Edelman, CEO of Meurice Garment Care , has successfully tackled the toughest stains and is a white wash master. Below are three common laundry mistakes and his tips for fixing them:

1. Thinking white is the absence of color

First of all: white is not the absence of color, it is a color. “Most people think fabrics are inherently white,” says Edelman. “But white fabrics are dyed white and fade like any other color.”

2. Using chlorine bleach

One of the first things people learn about laundry is that bleach is the most effective way to make whites shine. But bleach can damage fabric fibers , and while it removes stains, it can also make laundry look more yellow than white.

“The best way to lighten and repair stained and darkened white linens or towels is to soak them in warm water [and] laundry detergent and use a sodium-based bleach like OxyClean,” says Edelman.

3. Lack of clear spots

Not all stains show up immediately on white bedding. “Clean stains like sunscreen, white wine and glue may not always show up on your white furniture or towels, but they are actually sugar stains that caramelize over time,” explains Edelman. That’s why a napkin or towel can be white after you’ve washed it and put it away, and then appear yellow the next time you take it out.

To prevent this from happening, Edelman says you should always pre-soak or pre-treat white linens if you know something has been spilled on them, even if you don’t see stains.