What is best way to get clothes white without bleach.

[rhino47]

I have an allergy to bleach.I also have well water.(hard water) What is the best way to
get the whites clean?I tried peroxide but it seem to be hard on the clothes.I have NO idea how to use liquid bluing.Oxyclean I am not sure is safe for a septic system.
Thanks in advance for any advice.

[Gormy Cuss]

1. Read up on bluing and assess whether it may be an allergen for you.

It's called bluing because it adds a tiny amount of blue dye to the wash and that makes white fabric look whiter (don't ask me for details, check here: http://www.mrsstewart.com/pages/purpose.htm )
My grandmother and mother used it for regular 'bleaching' of white sheets and linens and only used chlorine bleach as a last resort because it is hard on the fabric.

I use Ecover (peroxide-based) so can't attest to bluing from my own experience.

[uppityperson]

2. Hang them out in the sun for a long time. Non-Cl bleach.

non-chlorine bleaches are ok for septic systems, check bottle to make sure though. (I get giant bottles of Clorox2 @ costco and it is ok with my septic system)

[rhino47]

3. Costco rules! I wish I had one close to me.

I use clorox2 but it does not seem to get them that white.Hanging them out is usually okay but my neighbor`s dog does love to run amuck through my clothes line :)
Thanks for the advice.Maybe I can presoak longer in the clorox 2.

[uppityperson]

5. I used to do that with diapers. Non-Cl bleach ate all the poop

It was creepy, nothing left but diapers in water. I have a plastic trash barrel I use to soak stuff in outside if it needs soaking.

[Goblinmonger]

4. Spray paint

:shrug:

[sammythecat]

9. What a great tip!

Great for when you just don't have the time to do laundry, but you have really hot date coming up. A good dousing with cologne would cover up any unacceptable odors too! :thumbsup:

[madinmaryland]

6. Has anyone ever used that oxy-clean stuff for bleach?

It's advertised on TV by the oxy guy (NOT LIMPBALLS!)

[azmouse]

15. Oxi Clean works great.

I use a spray bottle of the stuff for stains and use the liquid for towels and sheets.

[spinbaby]

7. White vinegar in the final rinse

Put vinegar in the fabric-softener dispenser if you have one. The acid cuts the grunge the hard water leaves behind.

Hanging laundry in the sun helps, although at this time of year that's not really practical in most of the country.

I also find that once whites reach a certain level of dinginess, there's no helping it with bleach or anything else.

[rhino47]

8. I have used white vinegar in rinse on baby clothes.

It was to remove all traces of soap left in rinse cycle.Can I use vinegar with bluing?

[spinbaby]

12. No idea about the bluing

Never used it.

[LynneSin]

10. I thought I was the only one with Bleach issues

I don't know if I'm actually allergic to it, but I get really nauseous when I smell the stuff. I'm trying to find a new gym without an indoor pool because those indoor pools really make me sick just from the smell

[LaurenG]

11. If you can leave them in the sun then rub a lemon the stain

it usually bleaches the stain faster.

[u4ic]

13. Borax

or non chlorine bleach (which is hydrogen peroxide).

[joneschick]

14. have you tried Borax?

I remember that being my mother's standby. It's supposed to help with hard water problems too.

http://www.dialcorp.com/index.cfm?page_id=56

[lildreamer316]

16. Oxyclean is fine.

The spray works wonders too....

[leftofthedial]

17. paint?

[texas1928]

18. Scare the ever living shit out of them.

They will turn white.