Whiten bed sheets fast with 1 ‘effective’ natural item - not white vinegar or baking soda

When you notice that your sheets have begun to yellow or turn a dingy grey shade, it doesn't mean they're ruined. Try your hand at this natural method to restore its natural white colour.

By Angela Patrone, Lifestyle Reporter

cropped shot of hands holding clean white bed linen indoors

Whiten bed sheets fast with 1 ‘effective’ natural item - not white vinegar or baking soda (Image: Getty)

can become quite discoloured and yellow over time. When you’re sleeping, your body releases natural oils and sweat that leave behind .

This unpleasant hue can be stubborn and difficult to get rid of with just regular washing. 

Fortunately, there are ways to get your sheets back to the crisp white you love without the need for bleach.

Bleach is always a popular option for whitening sheets and other white fabrics. Whether you need to restore the colour of the entire sheet, or just need to spot-treat a stain, bleach is a powerful ingredient.

While bleach can be very helpful, it is very harsh on the natural fibres that make up your bed sheets. 

A Caucasian man and a washing machine. Man with plastic bottle of bleach

Overdoing it with bleach can cause your bed sheets to feel rough (Image: Getty)

Overdoing it with bleach can cause your bed sheets to feel rough and it can even cause the bonds of the fibres to weaken and make them more susceptible to rips and tears.

Instead, bedding experts at Delilah Home recommend using an alternative product that’s natural, but not your usual or .

They recommend using borax. However, as borax is banned in the UK you can pick up a borax substitute which is non-toxic and safe to use.

Borax

Borax is a “highly effective whitening agent” that aids in “lifting discolourations and stains” (Image: Getty)

According to the experts, this product is a “highly effective whitening agent” that aids in “lifting discolourations and stains”, and returning “back to sparkling white”. 

They added that it works best when it’s exposed to the fabric for long periods of time. For this reason, adding it to water and soaking your white sheets overnight is often “the most effective way” to use it.

Borax substitute is gentler than soda crystals, yet stronger than bicarbonate of soda. It is so effective it can even be used on a lower temperature wash.

Borax substitute can be picked up online from Natural Collection for £1.99 or from retailer Robert Dyas for £2.69.

On both websites, the product received five-star reviews and many claimed that the borax substitute works “extremely well” on laundry and can even help with unblocking drains and cleaning washing machines.

Alternatively, the experts also claimed that households can “increase in the brightness of sheets” with citric acid alongside their detergent.

Citric acid can be picked up for a similar price to borax substitute of £2.25 from B&Q or for £2.29 at Ethical Superstore.

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