How do I whiten yellowed linens?

The white linen fabric is universal and can be used anywhere - curtains in the kitchen, festive tablecloths for dining or coffee tables and, of course, snow-white bedding.

Linen does not require special, enhanced care, and it will last for many years. The only thing that can happen is bright white color fading. But there are many options and methods to restore your favorite white linen to its original state.

The most popular linen home whitening agents

Most often, yellowed fabrics are washed with harsh bleach. This option, although very effective for most fabrics, is extremely bad for pure flax linen.

Bleaching linen is not just NOT recommended, but is strictly prohibited - this method can destroy flax fibers and turn a noble white textured fabric into a rag.

But there are several ways to restore your linen’s whiteness. Here is a list of four best at home whitening methods that are safe for white linen.

1. Ammonia and water - a proven method

Whitening with ammonia and water is a popular method that has been used for many years to eliminate unwanted yellowness from flax linen. Ammonia is an effective and gentle way to get rid of yellowness. Add ammonia (proportion is 1 tablespoon of ammonia per 1 liter of water) to soapy water. Soak your white linen in the resulting solution for several hours. Then rinse well and wash as usual. Instead of ammonia, turpentine can also be used.

2. Laundry bluing - from yellow to white

Blue and yellow colors are radically opposite from each other on the color spectrum. All white fabrics turn yellow over time and bluing, providing its pigment, counteracts this process. The human eye perceives a huge number of blue colors and therefore sees fabric washed with bluing, whiter.

Today you can easily find special bluing agents for hand and machine wash. Bluing is normally added in small quantities to the rinsing water. The main thing here is to not overdo it; otherwise, your linen fabric will acquire a bluish shade.

3. Potassium permanganate and its wonder crystals

Nowadays, potassium permanganate crystals can be found in stores specializing in gardening products and in pharmacies. To whiten using this method, you need to add a small amount of potassium permanganate (literally a few crystals) to a large amount of hot water - the water should turn light pink. Then, detergent is added to the pink water and is mixed well. In the resulting water, linen is soaked for 4-5 hours, and then rinsed and washed as usual. Do not let the unpleasant color of water concern you - it will not stain your items.

4. Look for vinegar or hydrogen peroxide in your home

A weak vinegar solution or bubbly hydrogen peroxide are often used for whitening as well. In the first case, linen is soaked in 7% vinegar for 2-3 hours. Then it is washed as usual and is thoroughly rinsed in cool clean water.

Hydrogen peroxide whitening method requires more time - soaking usually takes a day. For that dilute 3 tablespoons of peroxide in 1 liter of water. This is a very effective way - linen become whiter immediately after soaking.

It should be remembered that white linen fabric should NOT be washed with colorful items, as well as with synthetics and wool - otherwise the material will become gray sooner.