5 Ways to Whiten Clothes That Our Grandmothers Used

27.01.2023 02:30
Updated: 13.04.2023 16:24

It is not so easy to whiten things during washing. Modern powders and technologies do not always allow achieving the desired effect.

Therefore, it is worth examining 5 methods by which our grandmothers bleached clothes at home.

Boiling with chlorine-containing agents

This is a traditional method that is worth looking at in more detail. The essence of the method is to fill a large pot with water, add bleach and put the clothes in it.

It is important to use a large saucepan, it should be enameled and without chips.

There are often situations when pots with a coating are selected. Using them, you can completely ruin the thing.

Cloth
Photo: © Belnovosti

The boiling time should not exceed 45 minutes. Some advise pre-soaking items in salted water.

For 5 liters of water you need to add 3 glasses of salt, boiling time is 50 minutes.

Hydrogen peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide from the pharmacy can be an excellent tool that will greatly simplify life. The most interesting thing is that modern housewives rarely use this tool, and in vain. The scheme for using hydrogen peroxide looks like this.

  1. In a liter of water you need to dissolve a teaspoon of peroxide. If the contamination is minor, the concentration can be reduced.
  2. The items are soaked in the solution for half an hour.
  3. Things need to be stirred periodically. You definitely shouldn't do this with your bare hand.
  4. Items are rinsed thoroughly under running cold water.

After using this method, it is recommended to wash the items in a washing machine using regular powder.

Potassium permanganate

The method can be called ambiguous, but it will definitely give its effect if you follow the instructions. For this method, you need to use regular potassium permanganate and laundry soap. Bleaching of things is carried out according to the following scheme:

  • laundry soap is grated. This is definitely worth doing so that the soap dissolves in water faster;
  • shavings are added to a container of suitable size;
  • is filled with water;
  • add a few crystals of potassium permanganate. The result should be a slightly pink solution;
  • White items are soaked for 12 hours.

After bleaching, use normal washing.

Mustard powder

Washed out or greyed items can be restored using mustard powder. It is worth noting right away that this method has a detrimental effect on the condition of the fabric. Mustard powder makes sense to use only if there are simply no other options and the items have long been worn out.

It is advisable to bleach kitchen towels or tablecloths that have grease stains and other similar stains.

To use this method, you should follow the following technique.

  1. A packet of mustard powder is dissolved in 5 liters of boiling water.
  2. The soaking time is from 2 to 3 hours.
  3. Afterwards, the towels are sent to the washing machine for several hours.

Important condition: things are placed in boiling water, but not boiled. Trying to boil them can damage the structure of the fabric and cause other problems.

Vinegar

Vinegar also helps to restore the freshness of white things. The essence of the method is very simple: instead of washing powder, add 100 ml of vinegar to the compartment. Washing will restore things and will prevent unpleasant odors and fungus that may be in the washing machine.

Elena Gutyro Author: Elena Gutyro Internet resource editor


Content
  1. Boiling with chlorine-containing agents
  2. Hydrogen peroxide
  3. Potassium permanganate
  4. Mustard powder
  5. Vinegar