As a professional dry cleaner, I get to hear all kinds of complaints from customers. One of the most common is the complaint about yellowing clothes. This happens for several reasons and can be easily prevented. Stay with Edge of the Globe as we solve this problem in no time…
Yellowing clothes is caused by a chemical reaction between the fabric and the chemicals in the detergent. Detergents are not the only cause of yellowing and sometimes yellowing can be caused by water, sunlight and other factors as well. This Edge of the Globe’ lifestyle guideline tell you every thing you need to know about yellow stains so stay tuned…
Iron is the main reason for yellow clothing and is the most common stain you will encounter on your laundry. Iron is found in many things we use daily, such as water and coffee, both of which can leave a yellow mark if they meet your clothes. Moreover, the best way to remove these stains is to use white vinegar or hydrogen peroxide mixed with baking soda and lemon juice. Tap the link to read about outfit trends…
The Main Reason for Yellowing Clothes
The main reason for yellowing clothes is a chemical reaction between the fabric and the sun’s rays. Sunlight contains ultraviolet (UV) radiation, which causes a chemical reaction on your clothing. The chemicals from this reaction are what give off a yellowish hue to your clothes after being exposed to sunlight for an extended period of time. All of these factors can cause yellow stains on clothing and linen, including oxygenation, nicotine, grease, bleach, sun exposure, incorrect rinsing, not using enough detergent, and deodorants.
How to Prevent Yellowing Clothes?
- Use the right detergent.
- Use the right amount of detergent.
- Use a gentle cycle or wash your clothes (specially if they are seasonal clothes) on cold water if possible.
- Check the care label to make sure you’re using the proper settings for your load type and fabric type.
- Don’t leave clothes in too long, as this can cause mildew and mold to grow in your washing machine and that’s never a good thing
How to Get Rid of Yellow Stains?
To remove yellow stains from clothes, mix a lemon juice and salt solution. Start with one part lemon juice to two parts salt. And then, soak the stained clothing in this mixture for 30 minutes before washing as usual.
Homemade Methods for Cleaning Yellowed Clothes
To remove yellow stains from clothes, mix a detergent and water solution with 1 part white vinegar in a spray bottle. Spray the stain with this mixture and let it sit for 5 minutes. Then rub it gently with an old toothbrush or washcloth until the fabric has soaked up all the detergents. Rinse it in cold water to remove any remaining vinegar, then hang your garment to dry. If that didn’t work, go on and give these 5 methods a try:
1. Ammonia
Mix equal water and ammonia to soak up the yellowish stain. Once it is dry, wash the shirt, and if ammonia is unavailable, use hydrogen peroxide instead.
2. Baking soda
You can remove yellow stains with baking soda by mixing 4 tablespoons of baking soda with half a cup of water, stirring well. Apply the solution to the stained area and rub gently.
3. Vodka
Make a mixture of vodka and water in the same amount. Fill a spray bottle with and spray the stain. Let the clothes soak for a while, and wash and clean as usual to restore their luster.
4. Salt
Mix 1 tablespoon salt with 1 cup of water. Once the mixture is ready rub it over the yellow stains with a sponge until they disappear.
5. Oxiclean
Use an old toothbrush to rub the OxiClean and water mixture on yellow stains, and let it sit for a few minutes. If the stain is heavy, let it sit for 2 hours, after that, wash it as usual.
You can use these homemade methods on any colored fabric, but if you’re concerned about removing stains from darker fabrics like denim, cactus leather, or suede leather (Read more about leather products), especially if they are older than you, check in with a professional cleaner first before attempting at home on your own — especially since these items are often prone to yellowing.
Yellowing is a natural process, and there is no way to avoid it. If you want to get rid of yellow stains, follow our tips for cleaning clothes with lemon juice or vinegar.
