How to Wash White Clothes

It may seem tedious, but if you want to keep whites looking bright, the simplest thing you can do is separately wash them. Dyes from colored fabrics, like denim, can sometimes bleed in the wash, which can discolor white fabrics.

To sort the laundry, start by separating white clothes from everything else. Then, separate delicate white garments — like activewear or items made with lace or silk — from the rest of the whites.

Check tags for care instructions to see which items are machine-washable and follow the directions for the recommended temperature and spin cycle. When in doubt, use cool water and hand wash any delicate clothing.

(Related: How to Wash and Care for a Sports Bra)

Before throwing the clothes in the washing machine, pre-treat any obvious stains, including wine spills, grass marks and armpit stains.

You can buy a commercial stain treatment (tip: avoid chlorine bleach) or create your own stain treatment paste using two parts hydrogen peroxide, one part dish soap and a sprinkle of baking soda. Apply the solution to any discolored parts of the garment and let it soak into the fabric for at least an hour before washing.

In a pinch, you can use liquid detergent instead of stain treatment.

Some detergents are better than others for washing white clothes. The type will depend on whether you want to use chemical or non-chemical whiteners.

Many whitening laundry detergents contain chlorine bleach. This chemical can be too harsh for some fabrics, as it whitens items by removing color. It’s best to only use these products on bleach-safe fabrics (again, check the tag). Avoid using chlorine bleach on wool, spandex, leather or other delicate materials.

For an alternative, try oxygen-based bleach. It is color-safe, because it brightens whites without stripping the fabric of colors. You can supplement standard laundry detergent by adding a scoop of powdered or liquid oxygen bleach.

Alternatively, you could add half a cup of baking soda to the wash instead of oxygen bleach.

(Related: How to Get Your White Shoes Looking Brand New)

To keep whites looking bright, wash white clothes in the hottest water that the garment can handle to remove dirt and grime. To know what temperature is right for your clothes, check the tags.

Generally speaking, warm water (in combination with detergent) is effective at removing oils that cause stains and discoloration, but it’s not hot enough to damage fabrics.

When you’re ready to throw in the laundry, avoid overloading the washer to ensure every piece of clothing thoroughly gets rinsed.

Natural sunlight is great for drying white clothing — the UV rays help act as a type of natural bleach. When possible, hang dry white clothing in direct sunlight (however, avoid using this method with colors, as the sun can cause bright colors to fade).

If you can’t air dry clothes in the sun, dry them in a machine on the lowest setting. Don’t use high heat, which can set stains into the fabric.