Do you want brilliantly white sheets? Try this two-ingredient home remedy
White sheets are the ones that most of all give off the impression of freshness and cleanliness, and perhaps for this reason, they remain amongst the most popular used in home - and even more so in hotels and similar businesses. There is something very rewarding about making a bed that looks completely white and flawless with its white linens - not to mention that they will match any duvet or blanket we want to use on top of them (and they also usually match with the decor of the room).
The only problem is that, like all household linen of this color, it immediately shows up the slightest trace of dirt. And between sweat, products we use on our skin, dead skin and more, the sheets - with pillows and mattresses - get progressively more dirty every night, and any stains are always very visible. Washing them often and with bleach is not the best solution: not only is it harmful for the environment but it degrades the fabrics and does not always restore the original whiteness to the sheets. So why not try a few more gentle and natural alternatives?
What is needed for this task is the couple of the most famous allies of all household chores: white vinegar (it can be vinegar distilled from wine, apples, rice and more - but generally the distilled one, also called alcohol vinegar, is recommended) and; sodium bicarbonate (commonly known as baking soda, bicarbonate of soda or bicarb).
The important thing is that they must not be used together: when the two substances mix, a chemical reaction between them starts in such a way that we end up with something which is very similar to water. The reaction between the two is useful if exploited while the mixture is foaming, This is because the molecules move vigourously and therefore help to clean materials at a "molecular" level. But for an effect like the one you want in the case of whitening sheets, this chemical reaction doesn't help very much. Instead, when used separately, they work very well.
What you will need:
- 60 grams of baking soda
- a glass of alcohol vinegar (white vinegar)
How to proceed:
- Load the washing machine with the white sheets (and / or any white tablecloths, towels, bathrobes, etc).
- Pour the baking soda into the drum.
- Pour the vinegar into the softener compartment of the washing machine's dispenser.
- Run the wash cycle you usually use for sheets.
It's really easy and there's no need to pre-treat the garments. However, if you also want to do this step, you could soak the sheets in hot water with hydrogen peroxide added - which, in itself, is also an excellent product for whitening fabrics.
Do you have a favorite method of whitening your sheets?
