If the linen gets stained or has begun to yellow, it's time to bleach it.If you are sensitive to chemical bleach products, you can use some natural methods to keep your linens white.You can bleach your linen to its best whiteness by giving it time to soak, treat stains, wash it properly, and use natural bleaching methods like sunlight and baking soda.
Step 1: Immediately wash the linen.
When you first notice a stain, it is best to set the linens soaking as quickly as possible.The quicker the stain is treated, the easier it will be to remove later.The linen should be put in a clean bucket or tub.You can also allow the linens to soak longer.Hot water can make stains set, but others say hot water is the only way to remove stains.If you want to be safe, stick with a cold water soak.The water should be agitated every so often.If the stain is bad, you may want to change the water.If the water becomes dirty, change it out for fresh water and continue the soak.
Step 2: The stains should be treated.
After the linens have soaked, check for stains that need further treatment.A modern stain treatment is spray 'n wash.Modern stain removal methods have made traditional methods obsolete.The spots that need treatment should be sprayed with a liberal amount.Before moving on, allow the stain treatment to soak into the cloth.It is recommended to never use chlorine bleach on linens because it can cause damage to the fabric.Linen releases stains better than other fabrics, so you may not need to do any further treatment.
Step 3: The linen should be washed.
Most of the time, washing linen by hand is what you want to do.The rapid movement of washing machines can cause them to be abrasive.Warm water, a basic mild detergent, and powdered oxygen bleach are what you need to wash.If you follow the instructions, the bleach product is very concentrated and you don't need a lot.To avoid fading of the white linens, be sure to separate them from dark or colored linens.Mild detergent can be used on baby clothes like All Free and Clear.Oxygen bleach is usually made with sodium percarbonate, so you can look for this in the ingredients when buying.It's a standard bleach to use.It is recommended that you wear rubber gloves if you are washing your hands by hand.
Step 4: The linen should be washed thoroughly.
It is possible to send the linens through an extra rinse cycle in a wash cycle.When washing by hand, use fresh water.
Step 5: The linen condition should be checked to see if it has improved.
It is possible that the stain you are fighting is still present or that it has not subsided.It can be worthwhile to treat the stain a second time if this is the case.The linen should be put through the wash a second time.
Step 6: Allow the linen to air dry.
You should never dry your linens in the dryer.It is better to have time to dry the fabric.It is not always possible to lay the linen out flat.You can drape it on a railing or hang it from a clothesline.To keep the linen clean, you will want to cover the railing with another cloth.If you are going to use the linen immediately, this is a good time to iron it.The linen can wear out faster if it is tumble dried.
Step 7: The sun can do the work.
Direct sunlight is a natural way to bleach fabrics.It has been a standard practice for hundreds of years.It is possible to leave the linen in the sun for a few hours or a week.It's important to make sure it doesn't get damaged by exposure.The linen should be damp when you lay it out in the sun.It will bleach better with this.If the piece is small enough, you can either hang it on a clothes line or on the porch.If you want to keep the linen clean, you should put a separate cloth over the wood or other surfaces.If you want the best bleach, spread the linen out and flip it.You should leave the linen out for a certain amount of time.Leaving it out for a long period of time gives the best results.Some feel that too much sun exposure can damage the fabric.Keep an eye on your piece and make sure it doesn't get damaged.If you leave it out for a while, you can avoid this by continuing to dampen it each day.If you have dark stains, try spraying a mixture of lemon juice and water on them before you put them in the sun.The spots will get a boost from this.
Step 8: Non-bleach alternatives can be used in your laundry.
Since bleach irritates a lot of people's skin, it can be helpful to try out more natural alternatives which you can add right into your regular laundry loads.Baking soda, lemon juice, and hydrogen peroxide are some of the best stain removing and bleaching remedies.They may be less powerful than chemical bleach because they are less harsh.Adding 14 cup to a cup of lemon juice, baking soda, or hydrogen peroxide will add to your detergent.
Step 9: Put salt and baking soda on the stove.
This is a good option for small linen items.Place the linens in a large pot of water and add salt and baking soda to it.Put it on the stove.Then turn off the burner.Leave them on the stove for a few days.Changing the water a few times is not necessary.The water can be reheated a couple of times.