Brighten Up Your Dingy Yellowed Whites With A Common Medicine Cabinet Staple

Getting brand new white clothing or linens can feel amazing. Keeping them that way is another thing entirely and often feels like a losing battle. Over time, white clothing may develop a dingy, yellowed appearance from multiple factors, including hard water minerals, color transfer, sweat and body oils, and detergent residue. It's tempting to try bleach, other harsh chemicals, or specialty laundry products to banish yellow discoloration from whites, but you might not realize there's already a solution sitting in your medicine cabinet. Alka-Seltzer tablets, typically just used to soothe an upset stomach, can actually work wonders on your laundry and brighten up yellowed whites to restore them to like-new condition. According to many fans of convenient cleaning tricks, using Alka-Seltzer tablets is a straightforward and non-toxic way to achieve amazing results.

Alka-Seltzer goes far beyond its marketed use and is often touted as a great cleaning ingredient because of its two main ingredients: citric acid and sodium bicarbonate. When combined with water, these make up a dynamic duo in a stand-alone cleanser. In fact, there are several Alka-Seltzer cleaning hacks to try around the home, from descaling the coffee machine to freshening your fridge. It was only a matter of time before this simple essential made its way into your laundry room. While it may not be a complete replacement for your standard laundry room solutions, it can certainly be worth a try if you need an alternative to refresh your whites in a pinch.

To use this method, first find a large bin to soak your clothes. You can even use your bathtub if needed. You'll want to use about a gallon of warm water for every two Alka-Seltzer tablets and wait to hear that notable fizzing as they begin to dissolve. Once the tablets are completely dissolved in the water, submerge your dingy white garments in the solution. Make sure each item is fully covered, and allow them to soak for at least 30 minutes. For older clothes with more stubborn yellowing, let them sit overnight to give the tablets more time to work. After they've soaked for a sufficient amount of time, remove them and rinse with cool water. Then, wash them as normal with your regular laundry detergent.

The famous fizzing of Alka-Seltzer happens when the citric acid and baking soda are combined, potentially becoming even stronger than commonly used white vinegar or lemon juice solutions. We love clever laundry hacks that leave your clothes smelling fresh and looking their best, and when the tablets get to work, they do just that by breaking down stains without damaging the garments. For an added bonus, you can skip the dryer on this load of whites. Instead, hang your clothes in the sun after washing them with Alka-Seltzer to let the natural bleaching properties further enhance the whitening effect.