What Do I Do If My White Clothes Turned Gray in Wash?
CHANCE HENSON
LIFE
Whites that come out of the wash looking grey, yellowed or dingy can be frustrating, but don't despair. Discoloration in white garments is often the result of improper washing methods. You can keep your whites looking clean and pristine by handling your clothes properly and using the right cleaning agents. Start by sorting your laundry into two piles, whites and colors, so that you avoid transferring colored dyes to your whites.
Launder the whites with a color remover. Carefully follow the manufacturer's instructions for using color-removing agents.
Launder the whites with one-half cup distilled white vinegar or one cup oxygen bleach. Chlorine bleach can react chemically to metal components of the washing machine and cause fabrics to appear yellowed or dingy.
Soak grey garments for at least two hours in a solution of one gallon of hot water with 1 1/2 cups of baking soda, then launder with an enzyme-boosting detergent.
- Do not mix vinegar and bleach; the combination creates a toxic gas.
- Always use the hottest water temperature recommended by the garment care label.
- Do not dry whites until the desired level of whiteness is achieved.
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