Ditch The Bleach And Try This Free And Easy Trick To Brighten Your Whites

Bleach has been the go-to product for whitening and brightening whites for a long time. But using it regularly can damage your fabrics and cause them to smell like bleach. Further, it can irritate your skin and is harmful to the environment. So, if you're looking for an alternative to bleach to brighten your whites, an easy and free trick is to harness the power of the sun. The sun's UV (ultraviolet) rays work as a natural brightening agent to lighten your whites and keep them looking like new.

The best part, though? This resource is easily available, and using sunlight to whiten your whites won't harm your health or the environment. Additionally, its UV rays will kill lingering germs on your laundry and break down the molecular bonds in stains to restore your whites to their former glory. Remember, though, that while direct sunlight is a boon for white fabrics and clothes, it can cause colored garments and textiles to fade. Further, you also won't want to leave your whites out for more than a few hours in the direct sun, or they could also get damaged.

To sun-bleach your whites, wash them as normal, and instead of popping them in the dryer, gently wring them out to remove excess water before laying them out in the sun. Please note that the sun bleaching trick works on dry fabrics, too, but it's especially effective on wet clothes. While laying the whites down to line-dry, ensure they're as flat as possible and not overlapping each other since you want the sun's rays to pass through them directly to get rid of the stains. In case you can't line-dry them in your backyard, you can place your whites next to a window, on a chair or car, or any place where the fabrics would be directly exposed to the sun.

Though this sun-bleaching hack might sound perfect, it's essential to manage expectations, as you might not get the desired results on your first attempt. In fact, you might have to repeat the process twice or thrice to remove the stains and visibly brighten your whites. If the stains you would like to remove are especially bad, mix ¼ cup of lemon juice with 2 cups of water and strain the mixture into a spray bottle before spraying the solution directly onto the stain. Now, sit back and relax while the lemon works with the sun to lift the stains from your white laundry. Alternatively, add ½ cup lemon juice to the machine while washing your whites.