Remove yellow stains from white clothes with 2p item experts 'use for years'
A professional launderer shares how ordinary item costing just 2p each can help restore yellowed white clothing to brilliant brightness for under 15p per wash
With spring now here and summer rapidly approaching, wardrobes across the country are experiencing their seasonal refresh. Heavy winter coats are being relegated to the rear of closets while lighter shirts and blouses are taking centre stage in daily wear.
Yet, as people retrieve their lighter clothing, many might find their favourite once-spotless white shirt has acquired an unappealing grey hue, or yellowed around the collar and armpits. This can immediately ruin an ensemble, prompting shoppers to spend money on expensive cleaning solutions in a bid to revive them.
But if your previously brilliant white garments have lost their lustre, there's an extraordinarily cheap laundry hack that will remove stains and revitalise all your cherished socks and T-shirts, reports the Express.
Nigel Bearman, director of cleaning company Daily Poppins, has revealed a 2p tablet that will restore faded white clothes, reports the Mirror.
He outlined that the reason white clothing loses its brightness isn't just dirt – it's a build-up of proteins from sweat and body oils.
Nigel said: "Aspirin contains salicylic acid, which is a fantastic natural solvent for protein-based stains.
"When you dissolve it into a soak, the acid works to neutralise the yellowing and break the bond between the fabric and the grime.
"It's a trick that professional launderers have used quietly for years to get that crisp, bright finish without using harsh, fabric-weakening bleaches."
How to brighten stained whites
- To use aspirin in your laundry, Nigel recommends soaking grey or yellowed clothing in aspirin before washing.
- For the best results, he recommends crushing five 325mg aspirin tablets and dissolving them in a gallon of hot water before adding your clothes.
- For especially stubborn stains, such as armpit sweat stains, Nigel recommends making a paste with the aspirin as an additional method.
- Crush two tablets with a tiny bit of water to make a thick paste and rub it directly onto the yellowed area. Let it sit for thirty minutes before you start the main soak.
- Let them soak for at least eight hours, which lets the salicylic acid time to work into the fibres.
- Once the soaking has finished, put the clothes through a normal wash. For an extra boost, you can add two more crushed aspirin directly to the drum.
This method will breathe new life into your garments and is incredibly cost-effective.
A standard pack of aspirin costs merely 69p, which means each "treatment" amounts to less than 15p for a full load of laundry - a tiny fraction of the £10 or more you might pay for premium whitening solutions.
Nigel said: "Aspirin is a safe, gentle, and incredibly cheap way to extend the life of your clothes. It's especially good for delicate cottons that might be ruined by chlorine bleach."
