Towels, how to whiten them without bleach: it’s very simple

Towels are essential for body care. Every time we wash our body, face or hands, they allow us to dry our skin. However, they can often become damaged due to incorrect washing or turn yellow over time. And this happens especially when the towels are white.

The stains are immediately visible, but there are simple, natural home remedies that will allow you to remove them. All without using bleach. Here’s how to make your towels look like new again.

Remedies to whiten white towels

There are various natural remedies that replace bleach and make towels white again. You need a few ingredients that are easily available in the kitchen pantry and beyond.  Here’s what you can use to whiten towels: 

• Baking soda  : It has bleaching properties and is very effective. Simply put 4 tablespoons of baking soda in a bowl of hot water and then soak the yellowed or stained towels. Leave to soak for a few hours or overnight. Then proceed to wash either by hand or in the washing machine.

• Vinegar  : This also has a strong degreasing and bleaching action. Simply pour half a glass into a bowl of hot water and soak the towels for a few hours or overnight. Then proceed with regular washing either by hand or in a washing machine. Vinegar will also help eliminate bad odors.
• Citric acid  : more environmentally friendly than vinegar and even more effective. Simply dissolve 150 g of citric acid in 1 litre of warm water. Then pour about 100 ml of this mixture into the washing machine tub when you start washing your towels. Otherwise, if you want to do it by hand, simply soak the towels and then rinse them.
• Sodium percarbonate  : This can be considered a relative of bicarbonate and the more environmentally friendly version of bleach. Simply dissolve it in water at high temperatures above at least 30°, so it is best to use it in the washing machine by inserting a measuring spoon into the detergent drawer. Alternatively, however, it is possible to boil the water so that it is very hot and then add 2 tablespoons of sodium percarbonate to the container.

• Lemon  : Simply cut two slices and pour them into 1 L of boiling water, then add the towels and let them soak for about 30 minutes before proceeding with the normal wash. If you prefer to wash in the washing machine, you can put a mixture of half a glass of lemon juice and half a glass of water in the detergent compartment.
• Hydrogen peroxide  : Although this isn’t really a natural method, it does work for bleaching. Simply add a tablespoon of hydrogen peroxide to the washing machine and proceed to wash the towels. However, be careful to only put white items in the washing machine and to use hydrogen peroxide in a low volume.

However, the advice is to always read the labels on your clothes and follow the instructions. Often, some clothes should be washed by hand and avoided in the washing machine. All you have to do is try one of these tricks to make your towels white again.