Things You'll Need
1 bar Fels Naptha soap
1 1/2 cups washing soda
1 1/2 cups borax
Airtight container
White vinegar
Cheese grater or food processor
Laundry brightener (optional)
A simple homemade laundry soap, with the addition of vinegar, is not only environmentally sound, it's an effective stain remover for those yellow marks that can appear on stored clothes. The vinegar helps with stain busting, acts as a fabric softener, and helps to remove all the soap that might irritate sensitive skin.
Step 1
Grate the bar of soap on the cheese grater. Alternatively, you can run the soap through a food processor.
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Step 2
Mix the grated soap with the washing powder and borax in an airtight container.
Step 3
Start cold water running into your washing machine set to a small load and add 1 tbsp. of the homemade laundry soap and 1/2 cup of white vinegar. When the basin is full, add the garment. Leave the washer lid open to allow the garment to soak for at least an hour, and up to overnight.
Step 4
Close the washer and allow the cycle to complete.
Step 5
If the yellowing has been removed in the soaking process, dry your garment as you normally would, although you will not need a dryer sheet. If some yellowing remains, hang your garment to dry and bleach in the sun. If significant yellowing remains, rub the stain with a wet bar of Fels Naptha soap and repeat the soak and wash process, adding 1 tbsp. of laundry brightener to the soak.
Tip
If the water is very dirty from your soaking, which might occur if the garment is dusty or has been exposed to cigarette smoke, allow the basin to drain and start a new cycle with fresh soap to complete the wash.
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