After a few nights sleep, those crisp white sheets you just bought don’t look so crisp and white anymore. Similarly, the bright white t-shirt you love to wear starts getting yellow underarm stains after a few wears. The good news is that while discoloration can be a part of laundry life, it doesn’t have to stick around. And, you don’t have to spend an arm and a leg or too much time to get rid of them.
All you need to do is go back and grab a box of borax. Borax powderor sodium borate, is a mineral mixture of sodium, boron and oxygen. People have been using it in their laundry since the 19th century, thanks to its ability to soften water and remove impurities, help disperse oils, prevent dirt from re-depositing on clothes, and act as a bleaching agent.
You have a few options for using borax in laundry. Either make a paste out of it to spot treat stains (like underarm yellowing) or add it directly to a full load of whites to remove yellowness. As always, practice common sense and safety when handling borax. It can irritate your eyes and is toxic (Borax is also used as a weed killer). Keep the box out of the reach of pets and children.
How to use borax in laundry
To remove common yellowing from bed linens, towels or clothing, mix half a cup of borax with one gallon of water in a basin, then let the item soak overnight. Adjust the amount of borax and water you use depending on the amount of laundry. If necessary, fill the bathtub with water and add half a cup of borax per gallon of water, then soak everything in the tub. Wash laundry normally the next day.
To remove yellow stains, mix a small amount of the powder with a little water to make a borax paste. Rub the paste directly onto the stain, scrub it for a few minutes, then leave it on for about 30 minutes before washing off. Note that it is usually easier to get rid of yellowing immediately after it appears, rather than waiting. If possible, treat the scar within a week of its appearance.
try Laundry Stripping Hack Give your clothes and linens a deep clean by removing built-up detergent, body oils, dirt and minerals from hard water. Mix one part borax, one part washing soda, and two parts of your favorite detergent in a bathtub or basin filled with warm water. Add the laundry, and stir it, then let it soak for several hours, stirring it occasionally. Place the clothes or linens in the washing machine and run the rinse cycle.
