How to Keep White Clothes White
Short answer: White clothes stay white when you wash them separately from anything coloured, use the right dose of detergent and avoid overfilling the machine. A grey cast rarely comes from dirt, but from colour residue and detergent residue. The same applies to white bamboo clothing, just without chlorine bleach.
Wash whites on their own, always
Even light pastel colours release tiny amounts of dye, which layer by layer give white clothes a grey or yellowish cast. So keep a pure white pile for white undershirts, white T-shirts and white underwear, and never throw in a single dark sock.
Dosing and filling the machine
Too little detergent leaves dirt behind, too much leaves a greyish film. Dose according to the packaging and the hardness of your water, and fill the machine only three quarters full, so the laundry is rinsed properly. For whites you can use a detergent with optical brighteners, but on bamboo it should be used sparingly, and chlorine bleach is entirely off limits, as we explain in the complete washing guide for bamboo clothing.
Dry smartly, and keep the whites white
Sunlight bleaches naturally, so white clothes are welcome to dry outside in the sun. Treat yellow deodorant marks with vinegar water before washing, and do not leave sweaty clothes sitting in the laundry basket for days. White bamboo bedding and white bamboo underwear for women repay you by looking new for longer.
Frequently asked questions
Why do white clothes turn grey?
Usually because of dye transfer from other garments and a build-up of detergent residue, not because the clothes are dirty. Wash whites separately and dose correctly.
Can I use chlorine bleach on white bamboo clothing?
No. Chlorine bleach breaks down bamboo fibres and can leave yellow marks. Use a mild oxygen-based bleach sparingly instead, if it is needed at all.
Does drying white clothes in the sun help?
Yes. Sunlight has a natural bleaching effect that keeps white clothes bright. Coloured clothes, on the other hand, should be dried in the shade.
