White clothes that yellow while stored in the wardrobe

Short answer: Yellowing comes from skin oils and detergent residue oxidising in the dark. Wash properly before storing, skip the softener and store with air around it.

Why it happens without wear

Even clothes that look clean hold traces of skin oil and detergent. Over months these react with oxygen in the air and turn yellow. It happens fastest in sealed plastic bags and in warm wardrobes where the air stands still.

Prevention when storing

Wash whites one extra time before putting them away for a season, and make sure they are completely dry. Store them in fabric rather than plastic and keep air between layers. Avoid storing whites together with freshly washed, damp laundry.

How to get the yellow out

Soak the garment overnight in lukewarm water with oxygen bleach and then wash at the highest temperature the fabric allows. Avoid chlorine, which makes yellowing worse on bamboo viscose. See bamboo underwear for men.

What will not come out

Yellowing around the underarms comes from deodorant and is a different matter that rarely clears fully. Even yellowing across a whole garment usually does come out. See bamboo t-shirts for men and bamboo bedding.

Frequently asked questions

Why does white bedding yellow

The same reason. Skin oil binds into the fibre and oxidises over time.

Does sunlight help

Yes. A couple of hours in the sun bleaches white naturally and costs nothing.

Can optical brightener detergent hide it

It masks it for a while but does not remove the cause, and it turns fabric slightly blue over time.