How to return your once-white clothing to its former glory

Do you have an archive of formerly white clothing?

Perhaps, perfectly functional tees, shirts and socks have been relegated to at-home wear because of their lacklustre appearance.

Caroline Beuth is the co-founder of a commercial and domestic laundry service based in Naarm/Melbourne.

While "all clothes do have a life span", Ms Beuth says there are ways to help return your white clothing to its best.

What causes white clothing to turn grey?

Ms Beuth says residue build up is one of the culprits behind the pesky greying and yellowing of white fabrics.

This residue is caused by laundry products such as fabric softeners and sweat (particularly in the underarm area), she says.

Textile expert Rebecca Van Amber says bleeding from darker dyes in the washing machine can also cause whites to discolour.

A senior lecturer at the School of Fashion and Textiles at RMIT University in Naarm/Melbourne, she says the dye used to create dark colours can leak onto your white clothing when it's being washed.

Dr Van Amber says dyes used on cotton garments are often water soluble, and "there’s probably excess dye that’s going to come out" when they’re added to a washing machine with detergent.

Ms Beuth agrees, "one pair of new black socks in a white load is going to grey them".

How to keep your white clothing white

Ms Beuth says, “maintenance is key”.

She recommends avoiding any detergent or products with fragrance, optical brighteners and heavy fabric softeners.

These products may add a residue to your whites over time, she says.

According to consumer advocacy group Choice, optical brighteners don’t remove anything but make clothing appear brighter using chemicals that "absorb ultraviolet light and re-emit it as blue light". Choice also says these brighteners are best avoided by those with sensitive skin.

Rebecca Van Amber says excess dye on dark garments can leave white items a "dingy grey colour" if washed together. (Supplied: Rebecca Van Amber)

Ms Beuth says adding a dose of an oxygen bleach into a white washing load will also help, "especially if you’re using an eco-friendly detergent".

If you can, Ms Beuth says to always separate dark and light loads of washing. Dr Van Amber is also a "big advocate of separating your laundry".

"If you want to keep your white items that bright white, you need to do a load of just whites or just white and light-coloured items," Dr Van Amber says.

How to restore dull or greying light clothing

Dr Van Amber suggests brightening cotton and linen whites by soaking them overnight in water and an oxygen bleach powder.

Ms Beuth also recommends using an oxygen bleach, whether as a spot treatment, to soak overnight or by adding some to the load.

Dr Van Amber says other stain removers, such as optical brightening products could be used too.

However, "you wouldn't want to use any of these products on silk or wool" as it could damage the fabric.

"If your silk or wool item becomes a little bit dingy and discoloured, there's not a lot you can do."

Rebecca Van Amber and Caroline Beuth recommend machine washing white and light coloured clothing separately. (Adobe Stock)

What about wash temperature?

If you’re dealing with heavy stains or commercial quantities of laundry, Ms Beuth says you might need warm or hot washes.

However, in normal domestic settings "you don’t need to rely so much on that heat".

"Just make sure you’re not overstuffing your machine."

Dr Van Amber says hot washes use more energy and can damage your clothing.

"I wouldn't be doing a hot wash for my white items. I'd probably be doing more like a warm wash."

Laundry products

Both experts advise caution when it comes to chlorine bleach products.

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Ms Beuth says, "I know people use them on their whites, but if you're maintaining your whites with oxygen bleach and separating colours, you should be totally fine."

She says chlorine bleach products are harsh and can cause holes and fraying quickly.

Dr Van Amber says all bleach products rely on strong chemicals and people often use more than is needed.

"Sometimes less is more" she says, and only using the small quantities you need is best from a sustainability point of view.

Use the Sun

Ms Beuth recommends using the Sun to your advantage.

While it "isn’t possible for a lot of people living in apartments", if you are able to dry white and light clothing in the Sun it will help brighten it.

It’s also why leaving dark fabric in sunlight for too long is best avoided, she says.

Written by Anna Chisholm, ABC News.