Rather than trying to restore your whites to their former glory, the best way is to care for them properly in the first place.
Divide and conquer!
This one should go without saying (but we’ll say it anyway!). Make sure whites are washed separately from colours. Start a separate washing basket and only put white items in there (although check the basket before putting the clothes into the washing machine to make sure a stray, coloured sock or pair of undies hasn’t found its way in!)
Don’t overfill your machine
It’s tempting to cram as much as you can into the washing machine to save time but avoid overloading the washing machine or each item won’t get washed properly.
Keep it hot
Always wash your whites with hot water – cold water just won't get the stains out. Obviously be careful with garments that shrink - in that case warm water is okay. if you’ve got anything super delicate, it’s best to have it dry cleaned.
A helping hand
You can also add something to the wash which will freshen your whites and help to get rid of stains.
This includes:
- Napisan (or something similar)
- A cup of lemon juice
- Add half a cup of white vinegar
Give them some sun
Line dry your whites outside in the sun whenever possible. This will save on your energy bills (bonus!) and allows the ultraviolet light from the sun to bleach out any stubborn stains. Leave them out there for as long as it is sunny for maximum effect.