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Cleaning Up:  dingy whites  |
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meggy2
True Blue Farmgirl
111 Posts
barb
Flemington
Missouri
USA
111 Posts |
 Posted - Jun 04 2011 : 11:18:13 AM
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| All of my whites seem to be getting grey and not white anymore. Don't use bleach because we have a septic tank. I have tried white venegar, but DH t-shirts and white washcloths are getting worse. Can anybody help? |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
Posted - Jun 04 2011 : 11:38:07 AM
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Barb- you might be using too much soap. Have you tried using borax and the hottest water you can? Borax is a natural whitening agent. Another thing to do is of course use white vinegar in your rinse water as you mentioned or you can put lemon in your rinse water and then hang them out to dry. I really recommend having the whites spend some time in the sun if at all possible- even hanging them on a hanger and then from a tree or balcony if that is all you have access to.
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
www.allergyjourneys.blogspot.com
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meggy2
True Blue Farmgirl
111 Posts
barb
Flemington
Missouri
USA
111 Posts |
Posted - Jun 04 2011 : 11:55:55 AM
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| Alee, thanks for the info. I do use hot water, and I can hang them outside. How much borax? and should I use it with soap or by itself? |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
Posted - Jun 04 2011 : 2:10:02 PM
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I would follow the directions on the back of the box (I don't have a box currently so I am sorry I can't check) If they are really bad I would double it. If the clothes are dirty, use about half the soap you normally would plus the borax. Don't use borax and hot water on dark clothes. It can cause lightening.
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
www.allergyjourneys.blogspot.com
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thehatlady
Farmgirl in Training
47 Posts
Lola
Doniphan
Missouri
USA
47 Posts |
Posted - Jun 04 2011 : 3:18:52 PM
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Maggie I'm alergic to bleach and can't use it on my clothes. So I use Hydrogen Peroxide and it works real good for me I watch the drug store ads and ever so often they have it on sale and I stock up on it.
I use at least a cup full and sometimes a little extra glug.LOL
Have a good evening.
Lola
Every day, in every way, I become better and better. |
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thehatlady
Farmgirl in Training
47 Posts
Lola
Doniphan
Missouri
USA
47 Posts |
Posted - Jun 04 2011 : 3:21:05 PM
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Sorry got your name wrong.
Every day, in every way, I become better and better. |
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SusanScarlet
True Blue Farmgirl
317 Posts
317 Posts |
Posted - Jun 04 2011 : 3:27:02 PM
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| Has anyone here tried old-fashioned bluing for their whites? I remember my mother using it. Haven't been able to find it in my town but it's on the internet and I've been thinking about ordering some. Mr's Stewart's bluing is the brand. |
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thehatlady
Farmgirl in Training
47 Posts
Lola
Doniphan
Missouri
USA
47 Posts |
Posted - Jun 04 2011 : 3:44:06 PM
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Susan I have used it when I had my wringer washer and put a tad in the last rinse tub. It is also good for whitening grey hair and I use it more for my hair than my clothes now a days. But there have been times I had blue hair too. LOL
Have a great evening.
Lola
Every day, in every way, I become better and better. |
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nubidane
True Blue Farmgirl
2900 Posts
Lisa
Georgetown
OH
2900 Posts |
Posted - Jun 04 2011 : 5:04:53 PM
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SUN SUN SUN!!!
When I have grayish whites, or some with stains on them, a good full day on the lie takes care of it..2 is even better! |
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HollyG
True Blue Farmgirl
214 Posts
Holly
Hamburg
Arkansas
USA
214 Posts |
Posted - Jun 06 2011 : 12:46:29 PM
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I have a septic tank too, but bleach about every 4th load of whites. It keeps them fresh. And, nothing helps like the clothes-line. Sun is the best bleach in the world. I mix Borax with my detergent when I get ready to use it - about the same amount of both - but consider that I use the super concentrated detergent and only about half of the recommended amount. I probably use about 1/8 c. per load. When I use borax I rinse twice just to make sure everything is really clean. I have used bluing - it works like a charm. I bought mine at a general store in Branson. I have found it in older general-store type places and at my local feed & seed store. Good luck!
HollyG
Farmgirl #2513
www.mydeepwoodslife.com |
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CurlysQuilts
True Blue Farmgirl
569 Posts
Sarah
Northeast Kingdom
VT
USA
569 Posts |
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Lorraine Michelle
True Blue Farmgirl
158 Posts
lorraine
salt point
ny
USA
158 Posts |
Posted - Jun 07 2011 : 07:04:12 AM
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you can soak your whites in washing sodaand water...
LorraineMichelle
Farmgirl #3007
Chickens are like potato chips...
You can't have just one! |
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cj6
True Blue Farmgirl
196 Posts
cj
USA
196 Posts |
Posted - Jun 07 2011 : 3:14:38 PM
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I put lemon juice and a little borax in with our homemade laudry soap and soak overnight(sometimes part of the next day) and then wash ...the whites are white and the stains are gone.If there are staill some stains they go through the process again...later and are hung up to dry.
I usually use about 8oz of lemon juice and an extra 1/2 cup or so of borax. |
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Cleaning Up: dingy whites |
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dingy whites
