The 12p ‘hotel trick’ Mrs Hinch fans use to keep their bed linen white
THERE’S nothing more frustrating than looking for nice white bedding, only for it to turn yellow after a while.
This is exactly what happened to one woman, but luckily thrifty fans of Mrs Hinch came to the rescue with a handbag-friendly trick used in hotels.
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Stowmarket resident Kat Kent, from Suffolk, took to Facebook after her beautiful bed set lost its original pristine white color and wondered if there was a way to bring it back to life.
”Need help please: I bought a beautiful, bright white hotel bed set, but it has turned yellow over time.
“Anyway, can I get this white again?” Kat wrote the mail shared on the popular Mrs Hinch Cleaning Tips Page.
As gorgeous as white bedding may be, staying sparkling white can also be a nightmare — and the sheets can turn an annoying yellow tint for a plethora of reasons, like the buildup of body oils and sweat.
The yellow spots can also be the result of dead skin cells, as well as products used on the body such as lotions, creams and fake tan.
Over time, these substances can gradually build up in the fabric of your sheets, pillows and comforters, causing them to turn a yellow tint.
Luckily for Kat – and anyone looking for simple tips to make their bedding shine again – the post was quickly flooded with more than 200 helpful comments.
The answers ranged from using a few different laundry supplies, like Vanish and Napisan, to more affordable tricks.
One person advised: ”Work in Napisan and then wash with Ariel and wipe off white powder and dry outside when it’s sunny.”
Another agreed: “Honestly a diluted bleach will make this new again (I know some people don’t like using bleach but it never fails me).”
“Machine washing 60 degrees,” someone else advised.
Another popular suggestion, however, was adding a regular closet must-have to the washing machine.
“Cup of white vinegar, cup of bicarbonate of soda in your laundry – hotel trick,” one member of the group enthused about the 12-cent hack.
Someone else was also a fan of the method, writing: “I soak them in white vinegar and baking soda first and you can do that again every few months…it keeps them whiter than white.”
The essential baking agent can keep white clothes white because it is a mild abrasive and alkali that can break down dirt and grease, and it can also improve the effectiveness of bleach, the professionals of The spruce.
Even more winter washing tips
Tackling winter laundry can be a challenge, but these helpful tips can help you stay on top of it:
- Use a dehumidifier: Place a dehumidifier in your drying room to speed up the drying process and prevent moisture.
- Spin cycle boost: Run an extra spin cycle on your washing machine to remove excess water from clothes, which will reduce drying time.
- Indoor drying rack: Invest in a good quality indoor drying rack and place it near a radiator or in a well-ventilated area.
- Tumble dryer balls: Add dryer balls to your dryer to help clothes dry faster and reduce static cling.
- Space saving hangers: Use space-saving hangers or a retractable clothesline to maximize indoor drying space.
- Microfiber towels: Place microfiber cloths over your drying rack to absorb extra moisture from hanging clothes.
- Partly dry outside: Hang the clothes outside on dry days before bringing them inside to dry.
These hacks can help you keep your laundry routine efficient and your clothes fresh, even during the colder months.
Meanwhile, distilled white vinegar can not only be used to remove residue, but it can also brighten clothes that have become yellowed or dull.
For this method, the experts recommended adding one cup of distilled white vinegar to one gallon of hot water. Add white clothing and let it soak overnight, then wash as normal.
Alternatively, you can also use zesty lemon juice, which is especially effective in removing stains from cotton, linen and polyester.
Cleansing fans can use half a cup of bottled lemon juice or the juice of about four lemons and add it to a gallon of hot water. Soak the white clothes for four hours or overnight and then wash as usual.
