Getting Clothes White
QUESTION:
I read your book Home Safe Home and ran across your suggestion of using sodium hexametaphosphate in the laundry to keep the whites from dulling.
This year I converted to the use of soaps instead of laundry detergent. I use ECO Laundry powder or less expensive Trader Joe's powder. Over time I have noticed that my clothes are a bit dingier looking, less white and the colors are fading much quicker than when I used laundry detergent (Tide, etc).
Nevertheless, I am committed to less toxic products and will stick with it.
Do you still advocate the sodium hexametaphosphate and if so where do you get it?
Thanks for all your help and your dedicated work in your newsletters.
POSTED BY L. W. :: NEW MEXICO USA :: 09/02/2006 1:21 PM
DEBRA'S ANSWER:
I haven't been recommending sodium hexametaphosphate since the new oxygen-based bleaches came out a few years ago. Not that there is anything wrong with sohex, it's just more convenient to use the oxygen bleaches. I covered all this in another Q&A Sodium Hexametaphosphate and Oxygen Bleaches. Remember to search on your question using my on-site search engine, which is accessible via a big purple "SEARCH" button in the right hand column of every page.
Your colors are probably getting dingier and less bright because you may have hard water. Soap is more sticky than detergent. You probably need to use an oxygen bleach or even baking soda to soften the water along with your soap.
Debra :-)
L.W.
IN REGARD TO YOUR WHITES NOT LOOKING AS WHITE, I FIND THAT PLAIN OLD HYDROGREN PEROXIDE PURCHASED IN THE FIRST AID SECTION OF ANY STORE WORKS JUST GREAT. IT'S ALSO VERY INEXPENSIVE.
CG
BRONX,NY
POSTED BY CHRISTINE :: NEW YORK USA :: 09/05/2006 7:45 PM
My whites have never been as white as they are now that I hang them out in the sun (whiter than when I use the oxygen based cleaners or even with actual bleach...back when I use to use it.)
Our white cotton sheets get so dingy looking in summertime from all our sweating in them (sorry if that's too much information, but there you have it) but just two washings with hang drying and they are as white as they were when I bought them.
The reason why is that the sunlight reacts with the water on the damp fabrics and naturally creates hydrogen peroxide which bleaches the fabric.
One warning is not to leave your colors out in the sun for too long as they will be bleached as well and fade quickly. I hang my colors inside out and take them down as soon as they are dry and try to put them out when it's HOT but not necessarily SUNNY (late afternoon for instance).
POSTED BY ALEGRE RAMOS :: GREEN AND GREENER :: WWW.GREEN-AND-GREENER.COM :: CALIFORNIA USA :: 09/06/2006 5:57 AM
