Doing laundry is one of the most common household chores. Keeping clothes clean is necessary to maintain good hygiene both inside and outside the home. However, this task can become somewhat tedious and increasingly complex depending on the clothes to be washed.
The oldest clothes in the closet are always those that have special sentimental value. There is nothing wrong with keeping the clothes we love most for years, although prolonged use can lead to the appearance of embedded stains and yellowish areas, especially on white clothes.
It is necessary to carry out regular maintenance on our favorite clothes so that they last as long as possible, although yellowing can appear on even the best-maintained clothes. So there are methods to remove these types of stains and leave white clothes looking like new.
Baking soda and water
Yellow spots usually appear in the armpits and neck, mainly caused by the accumulation of sweat. In this way, removing them as soon as possible can prevent our garment from deteriorating. One of the main ways to remove yellowish stains from white clothes is to use baking soda.
The compound is effective in removing yellowish stains because it is an excellent natural bleaching agent. In addition, it is not very abrasive, thanks to it it will be possible to carry out gentle cleaning, without damaging the fabrics of the garment.
Not only is baking soda great for removing stains from clothes, but it will also deodorize dirty areas, eliminating the smell of sweat. Its application is simple and requires only a few simple steps.
First, mix four tablespoons of baking soda with a quarter glass of water. The goal is for the mixture to be thick enough to adhere to the garment without seeping through the fabric fibers.
Once the mixture is prepared, apply it generously to the spots, especially the most yellowish areas (like the armpits and neck) and rub gently in circles. It is possible to use a brush to avoid doing this step manually.
Then let the dough sit for at least half an hour. If the stains are very deep, it is possible to leave it longer, since the low abrasive properties of baking soda will not damage the garment. Once the time has elapsed and the paste has worked, wash the garment normally with the rest of the laundry.
When you take the clothes out of the washing machine, check to see if the stain is still there. If this is the case, you can repeat the operation as many times as necessary until the yellowish stains completely disappear from the fabric.
lemon and salt
One of the most effective natural remedies for removing sweat stains from clothes can be made with commonly used ingredients at home. In this case you will only need a lemon and a little salt. This is due to the citric acid contained in this fruit, which is a natural whitening agent.
To apply it, squeeze the juice of one or two lemons – depending on the clothes to be cleaned – directly on the yellow stains. Next, sprinkle a small layer of salt on the stain already wet from the citrus and gently rub each stain without using too much force.
Once finished cleaning the garment, it is advisable to let it dry in the sun for an hour, as the combination of the properties of lemon added to those of sunlight enhances the whitening effect of the mixture. If this is not possible, let the mixture sit for an hour and wash it with the rest of the clothes.
This method is particularly effective for new stains, so it is advisable not to let cleaning go on for too long and to apply the combination once yellow stains are detected. Otherwise, multiple applications may be necessary to remove stubborn stains.
Clean white vinegar
Another one of the most effective products for its stain removal capabilities is white cleaning vinegar. It is a mild acid that dissolves yellowish stains caused not only by sweat, but also by the accumulation of deodorant products, among others.
To apply it, simply add half a cup of white cleaning vinegar to the washing machine cycle while adding detergent and fabric softener. This way the stains will dissolve during washing, thus obtaining completely white clothes once taken out of the washing machine.
On the other hand, if the stains are very persistent, it is possible to apply a mixture of water and white vinegar in equal parts to the affected areas, leaving it to act for half an hour before putting it in the washing machine with the rest. laundry. It can also be combined with baking soda to create an effervescent reaction that helps dislodge deeper traces of dirt.
