How To Wash White Clothes

Washing white clothes is tricky and there’s a lot of false information and old fashion tales out there so knowing what is right isn’t always easy. Which is a big problem because white along with black is one of the most common colours in fashion and just like black it goes great with almost anything.

So, I think it’s fair to say that you likely have something white in your wardrobe whether it’s a simple white shirt, a white woolly jumper or a long white dress. Try as you might to keep these clean eventually they are going to get dirty, white might be a great stylish colour but unlike darker colours, it gets dirty easy.

Just throwing some whites in the washing machine doesn’t always mean they will come out clean either. There’s a lot you need to know about washing white clothes because it can easily go wrong, does it need to be a certain temperature, do you need to take extra care with stains? Well let’s find out, shall we?

To make things simple and easy to understand let’s start with this when you get wash white clothes your settings will be determined by the fabric, not the colour. This means cold and hot water can both effectively wash white clothes, let’s take a look at some key points.

Washing Whites, The Key Points

Once you’ve got used to it washing white clothes becomes much easier, but that can take a while but don’t worry we can help! Below we’ve listed some of the key points you need to know about when it comes to washing your white clothes.

When To Use Hot Water

So, when should you use hot water to wash white clothes? Hot water is the right choice when it comes to very messy clothes think very stubborn, thick stains. You should also opt to use hot water when washing towels, wash clothes and bedding this will help ensure they are thoroughly cleaned and disinfected.

For clothes that are made solely of synthetic fabrics, or a combination of natural and manmade materials you should go for warmer water. Not hot exactly but not cold either a balanced warm water will help ensure these clothes are cleaned.

When To Use Cold Water

Cold water is somewhat divisive when it comes to washing white clothes, some people swear by its effectiveness while others believe hot is always the way to go. But what’s the right answer? Well just like with hot water it really all depends on the fabric.

You should use cold water to wash white clothes when the materials are very delicate clothes like lingerie for example. However, you should only use cold water if these garments are stained with stubborn stains like blood or wine for example.

Another thing to be aware of is the effectiveness of cold water when it comes to the rinse cycle. Because the rinse cycle is very gentle it can be used with all kinds of loads and this includes whites as well. If you are ever unsure when it comes to washing white delicate clothing, then you always check the label as it will usually list the recommended settings.

Other Things You Need To Consider

So, we’ve looked at a lot of the main points you need to consider when washing white clothes but what else do we have to look at? For one thing, the laundry detergent you use is very important when it comes to washing white clothes.

There’s a lot of different washing detergents available nowadays and knowing which to use for whites isn’t always simple. But one thing you should be on the lookout for is laundry detergent with a bleach alternative included.

These detergents won’t contain any kind of chlorine bleach which not only makes it safe for all types of washable materials it also makes it ideal for white clothing. Bleach detergents can be used in certain kinds of washes though as they will help wash away tough stains and be carried away in the wash cycle.

However, to get the best results possible it’s advisable that you only use these kinds of detergents in hot or warm water washes and only if the clothes have very tough stains. Another tip to look out for when it comes to detergents is detergents that are additive free, this will help ensure your white clothes stay looking their best wash after wash.

So, that’s everything you need to know when it comes to handling those all too difficult white clothes. They’ll never be the easiest clothes to wash, will they? But that doesn’t mean they have to be difficult either.

Wondering how to wash colour clothes? Check out our article about how to wash dark clothes.