Need Advice on Laundry That Turned Yellow

Updated on May 15, 2009
C.S. asks from Highland, IL
8 answers

Hello ladies,

I recently washed a load of white laundry, on hot, mainly my husband's undershits and socks, only to realize he had left a yellow washcloth he uses to polish furniture in the midst, and about 6 of his undershirt now have a definite yellow color. I have tried to rewash them on hot, letting the load soak with 1 cup of bleach with it, but even though they are lighter, they are still not white. Do you have any suggestions on how I could get the undershirts white again, or is this a lost cause? Any tip appreciated!

1 mom found this helpful

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So What Happened?

Thank you for the tips, I appreciate it. I did try Oxyclean and even though they are not glowing white, they are to the point where my hubby can wear them! It also works really well on my almost 2 year old messes, which are many, on both his clothes and mine! So once again, thank you ladies!

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A.F.

answers from Columbia on

C.
I don't know if this will work for you, but I would try: Rit Color Remover. It has worked for me on many occasions! Good luck! A.

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B.C.

answers from Joplin on

Hi C., I am sure you have tried bleach? I have very good luck with the oxyclean spray treatment for spots ( like spray n wash) I have never tried the powder that you add to your regular load and use in tandem with your detergent but I have a friend who swears by this oxyclean in powder form.
Lots of luck= )
B.

1 mom found this helpful

S.L.

answers from Kansas City on

I don't know what laundry detergent you use but Tide usually gets out the yellow for me. I used to use Biz, do they still sell it?, and it worked wonders on that sort of thing. Other than that and what you already tried maybe the more you wash them the less yellow they will become.
Sorry this isn't too much help I know. Hopefully someone will have more help.

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T.W.

answers from Kansas City on

Since your husband left the yellow cloth in the mix AND they are undershirts, I say let him wear them or HE can go buy new ones :) OR he can do his own laundry next time. He's a grown man, time he learned how.

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T.N.

answers from Kansas City on

Hi C.!

Best thing I've found is All Stainlifter. I start the load, adding the detergent (generously) and let it fill & agitate - then I stop it and let it soak overnight. Start it again in the morning and let it run it's course. Sometimes I have to do this twice.

The detergent has a blueing in it, so it will help counteract the yellow.
If you've already put the clothes thru the dryer, you have a rough road ahead of you. Not that it's impossible, just that it's going to be lots more work.

Be careful putting Dawn in your washing machine or you could have a Brady-style overflow. Not a bad idea for handwashing oily stuff in the tub though!

My husband's notorious for leaving one of those gel-ink pens in his pocket... of all things, hairspray gets out ink. The cheapest, dollar-store hairspray and a little scrubbing!

I'm sure you'll find your solution - don't give up hope yet!

T.

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D.Z.

answers from St. Louis on

Have you ever tried soaking the laundry in just plain old distilled vinegar in the water? Does not hurt the material of the clothes. Them smell can just be rinsed out on rinse cycle an never be known that you used vinegar.

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R.D.

answers from Kansas City on

Is the furniture polish oil based? If so you might try Dawn dishsoap. Vinegar is another CHEAP thing to try. If that doesn't work, Rit makes a launtry treatment (White-Wash) that is a stain remover & whiitener for non-bleachable whites. I used it on a shirt that had been in the laundry with a blue shirt that ran in the wash, and it removed the dye. Lightened the shirt a bit, but at least it didn't have blue streaks anymore!

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C.S.

answers from St. Louis on

I would also try Biz. It comes as a powder or a liquid. It comes in blue packaging. I just got some at WalMart. My grandmother has sworn by it for years and I must agree, If Biz doesn't get it out, it is probably a lost cause.
In the future, I would recommend Shout Color Catchers. They come in a box by the other Shout products. I always put one in the wash because I never know when I'm going to mix colors when I don't mean to. I use 2 or 3 at a time and rotate them out as they fill up with color. They work great! I don't even sort colors anymore! Good luck!

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