There are many things that are increasingly concerning people. Some of the big concerns include the constantly rising prices and the potentially hazardous health warnings. But the good thing is that these harmful things we have been using daily are now being increasingly replaced by their safe and natural alternatives. When whitening clothes, chlorine bleach or optical brighteners are just a few of the compounds which are being substituted by these natural replacements.
Most detergents made from laundry cleaning are loaded with optical brighteners. These compounds turn your fabrics into something whiter and brighter than they actually are. But even when you have cleansed and dried the laundry, these particles continue to remain as microscopic fluorescent layers.
They work when the UV rays fall on these particles. These particles will transform these invisible UV rays into visible light, which creates the optical illusion which makes you believe that that fabric is so clean.
Many of these optical brighteners are made from benzene, which is a hazardous chemical. What is even more worrying is that these compounds don’t break down. They get washed away into the water systems causing poisoning of the fish and water life.
Allergies
These optical brighteners are also known for causing allergies in people. This happens because of a process known as phototoxicity. These compounds can get in contact with your skin from the dried fabric. When the UV rays hit them, they can cause irritation or rash, which seems like sunburn.
Chlorine Bleach
Similarly, chlorine-based bleach has been found to cause harmful effects. When mixed the wrong way, it can also cause the release of poisonous dioxins and gases. Some of the health concerns due to such dioxins include respiratory disorders, kidney damage, and even cancers.
Safe & Natural Alternative – Lemon Juice
If it is required to get rid of these harmful bleach or optical brighteners, you don’t have to live with clothes that are not vibrantly white. Lemon juice can help you achieve all this in a safe and green way.
Use the following 2 techniques for using lemon juice for brightening your fabrics:
First Method
- Take a large basin and place all your white clothes in it;
- Fill the basin with hot water;
- Pour a sufficient amount of lemon juice into the basin and leave it through the night;
- Take out the clothes the next day and place them in the washing machine. Add a washing product like Smartklean Laundry Ball to wash the clothes.
Use the standard methods of cleaning and the white clothes will become bright without all the harmful layers.
Tips & Precautions
- Try this method 2 times if you are not satisfied with the results the first time;
- Remove the clothes from the lemon juice in the morning. Don’t leave for a long time.
Second Method
This is a simpler method compared to the first one. When washing the clothes in the washer, add 1 cup of lemon juice. Dry the clothes afterward in the sun.
Other Cleaning Applications of Lemon
Wherever acid is required in the cleaning job, lemon juice can be a perfect choice. You can use it for:
- Removing tarnish;
- Removing hard water stains;
- Cleaning wood;
- Dissolving wax buildup;
- Removing rust.
When combined with salt, it can work effectively in the treatment of rust stains. All you have to do is to squeeze out the juice and pour it over the stain. Then add some salt over it and rub the area. the stains will start breaking out.
Once the rust has loosened, you can use soap water to wash it off. Keep repeating this process until the entire rust stain is gone.
Other Whiten Clothes Methods
- Baking Soda – This compound can not only whiten clothes, but it can also soften and freshen them up. Just add half a cup of baking soda along with the regularly used detergent. If it is required to remove spot stains, you can create a paste using baking soda in water. Apply it directly to the stains.
- Dishwasher Detergent – Although it is not always recommended to use dishwasher detergent for cleaning your laundry, you can still use it for whitening your clothes. Make sure you are using an only environment-friendly detergent that is free from phosphate and chlorine. Just mix a quarter cup of the detergent in the normal laundry detergent to get the best results.
- Hydrogen Peroxide – 3% strong hydrogen peroxide works as a great non-chlorine-based bleach. Mix half a cup of the peroxide with your normal laundry detergent to whiten clothes while you washing them.
- Distilled White Vinegar – Mix half or one cup of this vinegar in your normal laundry detergent. The initial smell of vinegar should not worry you because it will vanish soon. You can also spray this vinegar on the stains on the collar, underarm, and on-the-spot stains.
Via Real Simple