There’s nothing quite like a crisp white shirt or a freshly made bed with brilliant white sheets. But after a few washes and wears, those whites can lose their sparkle and begin to look dull or slightly grey.
If your once-pristine garments are looking a little tired, don’t worry. We’ve tested a range of methods to help revive white clothes—and explored how to stop new items from fading too quickly.
Restoring heavily greyed whites to their original brightness is a challenge, and no method is guaranteed to bring them back to showroom condition. That said, these techniques did show noticeable results in our trials.
Tried-and-Tested Ways to Brighten White Clothing
Here are the solutions we tested to breathe life back into faded whites:
White vinegar method
We poured half a cup of distilled white vinegar directly into the washing machine drum alongside a load of whites. Clothes were washed as usual using detergent and following care label guidance. This method is gentle and won’t affect any coloured areas on your garments. Plus, any vinegar scent washes out completely, leaving clothes smelling fresh.
Vanish Oxi Action Powder soak
Greyed whites were soaked in a solution of Vanish Oxi Action Powder and then machine washed with an extra scoop of the product. Instructions on the pack were followed precisely.
Dr Beckmann Glowhite Ultra
We added a sachet of Dr Beckmann Glowhite Ultra to the wash and laundered the clothes as per the pack’s directions.
OxiClean White Revive
This method involved soaking the garments in a mix made with OxiClean White Revive, followed by another dose added to the wash cycle.
Ace Gentle Stain Remover
A capful of Ace Gentle Stain Remover was added directly to the drum before running a regular wash cycle.
Our verdict
Unfortunately, none of them were miracle workers when used on already greyed whites, but we did find that Vanish was the most effective out of the group.
Bleaching greyed whites
You can attempt to whiten greying items with diluted household bleach, but it’s vital to handle it carefully. Always wear protective gear (gloves, eye protection, and a mask), and check the garment’s care label first.
First, ensure proper ventilation by opening any windows. Then dilute bleach with cold water according to the pack instructions before soaking the garments for the time advised, and rinsing thoroughly. Avoid leaving them in bleach too long unless the product allows it—if soaking overnight, reduce the bleach concentration accordingly.
Never mix bleach with other cleaners or vinegar, as this can release toxic chlorine gas.
Due to its risks and environmental impact, we recommend opting for eco-friendly methods where possible.
Our advice
If you really want white whites, it’s best to take measures to prevent your whites greying in the first place.
How to prevent discoloured whites
- Wash whites separately. This avoids dye transfer from coloured clothing. If you’re washing mixed items, use a colour catcher sheet or try Dr Beckmann’s Reusable Colour & Dirt Collector, which can be reused up to 30 times.
- Sort by soil level. Washing heavily soiled items with lightly soiled ones can lead to dirt redistribution. Pre-soak very dirty items before mixing them in.
- Avoid overloading your washing machine. Overcrowding means clothes can’t move freely, making it harder for dirt to rinse away. Fill your drum no more than three-quarters full.
- Follow detergent dosing instructions. Too much or too little can hinder washing performance and leave residue.
- Line-dry outdoors. UV rays from the sun naturally help bleach white items and lift any lingering dinginess.
GHI Tip: Hang items outside on a washing line to let UV rays work their natural magic and bleach white items.
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