Make Your Own Miracle Laundry Whitening Solution

I’m one of those strange people who likes laundry, or at least the sense of accomplishment I feel when something dirty comes out really clean. I also enjoy the challenge of turning something dirty, dingy, grimy, and stained into something bright, fresh, and clean.

So when I came across a “recipe” for whitening whites in the comments section here on the blog, I knew I had to try it out. And I had the perfect test subject: a dingy pillowcase that I had washed time and again with little to show for it.

I knew there had to be a way to restore it to its formerly white state. I just needed the right formula or method, and this one seemed very promising!

How To Make A Miracle Whitening Solution

Ingredients:

• Hot water
• 1 cup of laundry detergent (store-bought or homemade)
• 1 cup powdered dishwasher detergent
• 1 cup bleach
• 1/2 cup borax

Directions:

After filling my washing machine on the hottest water setting, I added a large pot of boiling water for good measure. (The original comment from OGT reader Katie specifically said to use “HOT HOT HOT water”!)

Note that with this whitening method, you’re shooting for concentrated cleaning power. That means the more water you use, the more diluted the cleaning agents will become, so aim to use just enough water to cover the item(s) you’re washing.

Leave the item to soak for at least a couple of hours. Overnight would be ideal, though!

Note: If you have a high-efficiency or front-loading washing machine that doesn’t allow for soaking, you could easily use a large stock pot, a 5-gallon bucket, or even your bathtub instead. Pretty much any large container would work here!

As you can see, the soak in the whitening solution made a big difference! The stains are completely gone and the whitening solution revealed the white fabric hidden under all that grime. Now that’s what I call miraculous!

Related: How to Rescue Old Yellowed Pillows

Interested in more clever laundry solutions? Check out my e-book The Homemade Laundry Guide! You can buy it in my shop, or download it for free if you’re an OGT Plus member!

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