Laundry items like a crisp white shirt, a fluffy white towel or a soft white bed sheet are things that most households posses, but they can quickly stain or discolour.
If your clothes, towels or bed sheets look a little grey or off-white, it may be time to brighten them. If you don’t have any laundry bleach on hand or prefer to avoid chemicals, there is one alternative to bleach that will whiten your laundry.
The best part? You probably have the only one thing you need already in your home.
Thomas Bird, textiles expert and owner of Fabrics Online has shared his quick and easy hack to restore your whites to their former glory – and that’s to use lemon juice.
He said: “Lemon juice is a natural and affordable solution to making your whites even whiter.”
He added: “Lemons contain citric acid, a natural bleaching agent that effectively breaks down even the toughest stains.
“Unlike chemical whiteners, such as bleach, it lifts stains without the risk of damage making it the perfect alternative for brightening your whites.”
Beyond its stain-fighting power, Thomas pointed out that lemon juice also leaves your laundry with a fresh, citrusy scent and eliminates unpleasant odours.
Although lemon juice is fantastic at removing stains and brightening garments, Thomas urged against using it on coloured items.
He said: “Whilst lemon juice works wonders on whites, its bleaching effect can fade coloured fabrics.
“So, to avoid unwanted damage, be sure to only use this trick on your whites.”
How to use lemon juice to brighten whites
Start by squeezing three lemons into a glass, which equals about half a cup of lemon juice.
Add the lemon juice directly to your washing machine with your laundry detergent. Set the machine to the normal spin cycle and “let the magic happen”.
After the wash, let your clothes dry as usual, and “watch the noticeable difference appear” as they dry.
