Whiten bed sheets with ‘powerful’ item that ‘dissolves yellow stains’ and ‘kills bacteria’

White sheets are commonly used in bedrooms, but due to the accumulation of sweat and body oils that are produced, it is highly typical for them to yellow over time, making them look unsightly.

By Angela Patrone, Senior Lifestyle Reporter

Cleaning hack: Home expert advises on washing bed sheets

Crisp white can help promote a feeling of calm in your bedroom and make you feel like you’re living in a fancy hotel. 

But the problem with using white sheets as opposed to coloured or patterned ones is that it’s not always that easy to keep them white.

Even if households change and wash their sheets regularly, white sheets can yellow over time due to the accumulation of sweat and body oils. 

But the good news is there are some easy ways to whiten sheets when that happens, according to the bedding experts at Saatva.

Their experts claimed: “You probably already have on hand everything you need to whiten white sheets that have turned yellowish.”

Closeup of yellow stains on bed sheet

White sheets can turn yellow over time due to the accumulation of sweat and body oils (Image: Getty)

Borax 

Borax is a very versatile agent, able to get rid of mould, kill insects, and neutralise odours. 

The “best way” to whiten sheets using borax is to mix half a cup of borax with one gallon of water and soak the sheets in this solution overnight. Then machine wash them as usual.

Baking soda and white vinegar 

Thanks to its acidic nature, “ is a powerful cleaning agent”, able to “dissolve grease and grime that cause yellow stains and kill bacteria”. 

, on the other hand, is known for being a natural odour neutraliser. 

How to use baking soda for cleaning

How to use baking soda for cleaning (Image: EXPRESS)

These two kitchen staple items together, but used separately, make a “powerful cleaning pair”.

Simply add half a cup of baking soda to the drum of the washing machine, then add some vinegar to the fabric softener dispenser and machine wash as usual. 

It’s important, however, not to mix the two ingredients as they will neutralise each other and “become essentially useless”.

Lemon 

Just as with white vinegar, lemon is a natural cleaning agent because it contains , which “kills bacteria”. 

Plus, lemon juice will make bed sheets smell citrusy. There are two ways to use lemon to “brighten white sheets”. 

Households can first decide to squeeze the juice of one lemon and pour it into the washing machine along with the detergent. 

Alternatively, they can mix a solution of half a cup of lemon with one gallon of hot water (check first if your sheets can tolerate hot water) and soak the sheets in it for a few hours, or better yet, overnight. After that, wash them as usual.

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