Why do white clothes turn yellow? How to prevent white clothes from turning yellow

It is very common for white clothes to turn yellow. Many people like to wear white clothes, but white clothes will turn yellow and discolor after being worn for a long time. In fact, proper washing and storage can prevent white clothes from turning yellow.

There are many reasons why white clothes turn yellow. It may be because the white clothes are not dried after washing and left for too long. It may also be because the clothes are stained with various stains, sweat stains are not cleaned in time, or they are not properly cleaned and decontaminated. In addition, the water used to wash clothes is highly alkaline, which will cause the clothes to become more and more yellow.

How to prevent white clothes from turning yellow

1. Clean in time

We sweat a lot in summer, so clothes must be washed in time. If they are left unwashed for a long time, yellow stains will be left on them.

2. Wash separately

White clothes should be washed separately to avoid being stained by the color of other clothes.

3. Add color fixing agent before cleaning

Before washing clothes, add color fixative (usually sold in regular laundry shops), about 13-14 grams for one piece of clothing, soak for 2-3 minutes, and then wash with soap. This will ensure that the color of the clothes will not fade easily.

4. Pay attention to the water temperature

It is best to wash white clothes in cold water, or use a rinse water temperature close to the wash water temperature. For example, after washing white clothes in warm detergent or soapy water, it is best to use water of similar temperature for the first rinse. If the clothes are put into cold water immediately after washing, the detergent contained in the fibers will be surrounded by the clothes when the clothes suddenly cool and shrink, making it difficult to wash out. The detergent left in the clothes will cause the clothes to turn yellow.

5. Clean

Try not to leave soap, washing powder and other washing products on clothes, as they will have side effects on the skin. And try to wash off the stains on clothes as completely as possible. In addition to water, inorganic salts and urea, sweat also contains lactic acid, fatty acids and various amino acids. Organic matter that is not completely washed off will remain on clothes and turn yellow after a long period of oxidation.

6. Avoid exposure to the sun after washing

After cleaning, place it in a cool place to dry slowly, and do not expose it to the sun. This is to dry it after cleaning, which does not conflict with exposing it to the sun when washing with lemon water.

7. Dry the clothes inside out

When drying clothes, turn them inside out with the inside facing the sun and the outside facing the shade.

8. Proper storage

Keep it dry during storage. Fabrics turn yellow more when wet than when dry. You can find a clean white plastic bag, put all the light-colored clothes in it, seal the plastic bag, tie the bag mouth a little tighter, and expel the air inside. Then tighten the plastic bag mouth, and find a tape or rope to tie the plastic bag mouth tightly.

How to wash yellowed white clothes

Maintenance Tip 1: Wash after wearing

Don't think you don't need to wash it if you don't sweat! White T-shirts will turn yellow if there is moisture. Regardless of whether you sweat or not, the moisture from wearing it and the high humidity in the air will affect the white T-shirt. If you want to prevent yellowing and extend its life, it is recommended to wash it after wearing it once.

Maintenance Tip 2: Hand washing is best, and a laundry bag is recommended

White T-shirts are just like underwear. The best way to wash them is by hand in cold water. However, for those who are not so diligent like me (laughing), when washing white clothes, in addition to putting them in a laundry bag to avoid stretching and deformation, it is also recommended to turn them inside out to slow down the growth of pilling!

Maintenance Tip 3: No high temperature

White T-shirts have a low tolerance for high temperatures and may turn yellow when exposed to high temperatures. We recommend that you wash with cold water and dry in the shade (drying in the sun may also cause yellowing due to high temperatures). If you use a dryer, please choose a low temperature so that the white T-shirt will look as good as when you first bought it!

Maintenance Tip 4: It’s better to hang it up during the season change

As mentioned before, white T-shirts are not resistant to high temperatures and humidity. A relatively dry way to store them during the season change is to "hang them up", which is much more ideal than folding them up in a box. If possible, cover the white T-shirts with a breathable dust bag, and they will still be in good condition when you take them out later!

There are several reasons why white clothes turn yellow

The yellowing of white clothes may be caused by sweat stains, weakening of the fluorescent agent of white clothes, improper washing of clothes, wrong water quality and temperature, improper storage, etc. White clothes are prone to yellowing when they encounter sweat stains, and the fluorescent agent of white clothes will be lost and the clothes will turn yellow and old. If clothes are not washed properly or not cleaned, clothes are more likely to turn yellow and old. The storage of white clothes is also very particular. The longer the storage time, the more serious the yellowing.