Whiten Bed Sheets Fast with Borax: A Natural Alternative to Bleach

Over time, bed sheets can become quite discolored and yellow due to natural oils and sweat released by the body during sleep. This unpleasant hue can be stubborn and difficult to get rid of with just regular washing. Fortunately, there are ways to get your sheets back to the crisp white you love without the need for bleach.

While bleach is a popular option for whitening sheets and other white fabrics, it is very harsh on the natural fibers that make up your bed sheets. Overdoing it with bleach can cause your bed sheets to feel rough and it can even cause the bonds of the fibers to weaken and make them more susceptible to rips and tears.

Instead, bedding experts at Delilah Home recommend using an alternative product that’s natural, but not your usual baking soda or white vinegar. They recommend using borax. However, as borax is banned in the UK, you can pick up a

borax substitute

which is

non-toxic and safe to use

.

According to the experts, this product is a “highly effective whitening agent” that aids in “lifting discolourations and stains”, and returning laundry “back to sparkling white”. They added that it works best when it’s exposed to the fabric for long periods of time. For this reason, adding it to water and soaking your white sheets overnight is often “the most effective way” to use it.

Borax substitute is gentler than soda crystals, yet stronger than bicarbonate of soda.

It is so effective it can even be used on a lower temperature wash.

Alternatively

, the experts also claimed that households can “increase in the brightness of sheets” with citric acid alongside their detergent. Citric acid can be picked up for a similar price to borax substitute of £2.25 from B&Q or for £2.29 at Ethical Superstore.