Surely some of these situations have already happened to you: you went to pick up that white cold blouse that had been kept in the closet since last winter and realized that it was all yellowish. Or you wear your shirts so much that they have yellowish spots on the armpit spot. Isn’t that right?
The yellowing and embellishment of garments and other fabrics are quite common, although very unpleasant. So today we’re going to show you how to get the yellowing off your clothes so you can wear your favourite garments whenever you want!
Table of Contents
Why do tissues turn yellow?
But first, it is worth understanding: why do clothes, towels, sheets and even upholstery turn yellow? Well, there’s not a single answer, you see:
Parts stored for too long can accumulate microorganisms like bacteria and fungi, which end up burning them and changing their color.
In other cases, bacteria, oils and proteins present in sweat and underarms can leave residues on clothes, even with washing. Although sweat is colourless, when it meets detergent, it can form yellow stains.
Some everyday chemicals can also accelerate the formation of stains. This is the case with antiperspirant deodorant and sunscreen
Even pollution can make your clothes yellow, believe me?
Besides being yellowish, for these same reasons some pieces of clothing usually stink. Learn now how to remove the smell of sweat from clothes and fabrics.
How to remove yellow stains from white clothes
The biggest victims of the yellowing of fabrics are white clothes and cotton fabric. Due to its light color, it is more affected by stains and tone changes.
But you don’t have to worry, because we’re going to teach you tips on how to get the yellowing out of your white clothes with ingredients you have at home. Check it out!
1. Soap powder
The first tip is a miraculous mix that will sanitize the fabric, removing the yellowish spots.
Mix in a container with water:
- 70 g of powder soap, approximately, and
- 3 (three) tablespoons of baking soda.
Then soak the piece for about 6 (six) hours. Rinse well.
2. Coconut Soap
Besides powder soap, another very potent product in stain removal is coconut soap.
Make a pre-wash using baking soda, alcohol and coconut soap. Then wash normally and leave to dry.
3. Sanitary water
Sanitary water is also an excellent way to return the original colour of white clothes. To clean:
- Dissolve 1 cup of sugar in 1 liter of bleach.
- Soak the garment in the mixture for 30 minutes.
- To finish, wash normally with soap and water.
Remember that bleach is a bleach and can never be used on colored or black clothes. They may lose their coloring and become even more stained.
4. Integral Milk
Did you know that Integral milk is a great secret for removing yellowish spots from more delicate pieces, such as silk fabrics?
Soak your clothes in whole milk for one day. After that, rinse to remove the milk, allow it to dry out of the sun and then wash it again with soap and water.
5. Lemon
You got a forgotten lemon in the fridge? Time to use it to remove the yellowish spots from your clothes!
- In a container with water, add ¼ of liquid soap cup.
- Then add ¼ of salt cup and juice of 2 lemons.
- Soak the garment for 30 minutes and rinse with soap and water.
Reletad: How to remove mustard from clothes
How to remove yellow stains from colored or dark clothing
As we mentioned earlier, white clothes are more vulnerable to yellowish spots because they are light. However, this problem can also happen with colored or dark pieces.
If this is the case, follow some of the tips below and you will soon get rid of the dreaded stains!
6. White vinegar
- In a cup of water, dissolve 2 tablespoons of vinegar.
- Apply this mixture over the stain.
- Soak the colored piece in the mixture for 30 minutes.
- Finally, wash normally in the machine.
7. Sodium bicarbonate
Our old friend bicarbonate also helps to remove stains from colored or dark parts. Make the following mixture:
- 5 tablespoons of bicarbonate,
- 5 tablespoons of salt and
- 5 liters of water.
Soak the garment so that the product can act. Then rub the stain and wash as normal.
8. Oxygenated water
Still using the bicarbonate, you can also make a homogeneous mixture with hydrogen peroxide.
Apply the solution over the stain and rub gently. Then wash normally.
9. How to remove yellowish from couch and upholstery
The tips we just gave are perfect for those with yellowish clothes, towels or bedclothes. But what to do when the couch, armchair and other upholstery come out with yellow stains?
Home cleaning, besides being more difficult to do, can end up damaging upholstered furniture. Therefore, the ideal is to have the help of a professional company, which removes or minimizes the stains more efficiently.
Mr. Cleaning Jersey City a company specialized in upholstery cleaning and leader in the segment in Jersey City, may be the best solution to remove stains. We use equipment that reaches the deepest layers of fabric and shampoos suitable for fabrics.
Besides, do you remember when we said that yellowish can be a sign of the presence of microorganisms? These same microbes, like bacteria, mites and fungi, multiply in the tissues due to the release of sweat and other residues from which they feed, and can cause diseases and allergies.
Therefore, more important than eliminating the stains, it is indispensable to eliminate them!
Check out Mr. Cleaning Jersey City home services now !
Additional Care
Do you want to prevent your tissues from staining again?
- Don’t overuse the deodorant and wait for it to dry before wearing light clothes;
- Don’t wear it more than once without washing;
- Wash according to the instructions on the label;
- Before applying our tips, do a test on a small area of the fabric to make sure it will not be damaged by any substance;
- Do not wash the garment with hot water. The heat may cause the stain to become even more impregnated. The same goes for irons. Before ironing, remove the stain completely.
- Always wash your white clothes separately. This way you avoid staining them with other colourful clothes. In case this accident happens, check our tips to remove this kind of stain.
- Be careful with more delicate fabrics. Do not use abrasive products and do not rub them.
- Be quick to wash. As soon as you notice that your pieces are yellowish, put some of our tips into practice. The more time you spend, the harder it will be to remove the stains.
Did you like the tips? Share with that friend or relative who’s always out there with the stained clothes!