How to bleach a stained white shirt

When someone mentions laundering with bleach, what images does it conjure up? Making cotton shirts bright white? Delivering socks from dinginess? Or getting bleach stains on your favorite pants?

If you use bleach the right way, and with an abundance of caution, it can be a miracle worker in your laundry room. Don’t believe it? Keep reading.

Choosing the right bleach

There are two types of liquid bleach for laundry use: chlorine bleach, and non-chlorine bleach, also known as oxygen bleach or color-safe bleach. Chlorine bleach is great at removing stains and odors on white clothing, but can wreak havoc on colored fabrics by leaving faded splotches or even burning holes. It also has incredible sanitizing power.

Non-chlorine bleach, however, is typically used to clean and brighten colored or patterned clothing. Just check the care labels to make sure it’s acceptable to use on your clothing. Even then, you’ll want to test it on a hidden part of the fabric for colorfastness.

Chlorine bleach: Tips for using this stain-busting star

Nothing can obliterate stains and other discoloration on white clothing like old-fashioned chlorine bleach. Since it sanitizes, it also works well for removing mildew stains and odors. Here’s how to use chlorine bleach in your laundry to brighten your whites:

1. Check the garment’s care label to make sure you can safely use chlorine bleach.
2. Run your washing machine at the highest temperature setting the clothing will allow.
3. Add your usual laundry detergent.
4. Add 3/4 cup liquid chlorine bleach to your washer’s bleach dispenser.
5. Wash as usual.

If you are using bleach for removing stains, follow these steps:

1. Dilute a little bleach in a lot of water to create a weak bleach solution.
2. For spot stain removal, dip a clean, white cloth in the bleach solution and blot the stain.
3. For larger stains, soak your garment in the bleach solution.
4. Repeat until the stain is gone.

However, because of the chemical nature of chlorine bleach, there are a few things to consider when using it.

• Never apply chlorine bleach directly to fabrics. Always dilute it with water before using as it could cause irreparable harm to your clothes.
• Never use bleach on wool or fabrics that contain a wool blend. The chemicals will cause serious damage and likely forever ruin your garment.

Non-chlorinated bleach: The colored clothing companion

To keep your colored clothes brilliantly beautiful, use color-safe, non-chlorinated oxygen bleach. While similar to chlorine bleach, non-chlorinated bleach works a little slower because of the different chemicals used. Don’t add more to make it work faster, as it can ruin your clothing. Also, never use non-chlorinated bleach on silk, acetate, wool, spandex, polypropylene and some flame-retardant fabrics.

Before adding non-chlorinated bleach in your washer, always check the care labels on your clothes to make sure it’s safe to use. Simply add the bleach to your washer’s bleach dispenser following the instructions on the bottle. If your washer doesn’t have a bleach dispenser, just pour 3/4 cup of bleach in after the tub has finished filling.

If you purposely avoid wearing white out of fear of dropping food or spilling your drink on the fabric, we understand. There aren't many laundry dilemmas nearly as frustrating as trying to figure out how to get a stain out of a white shirt, whether we're talking tomato sauce, blue pen, or red wine. The absolute worst-case scenario? That annoying little stain can't be tamed, and you now have to make a replacement purchase. But don't be so quick to grab your wallet.

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Removing stains from a white shirt is tough, but the good news is, it's not mission impossible. As long as you act fast, odds are that your favorite staple is still salvageable. All you need to do is stay calm and follow our advice.

Ahead, we've identified some of the most common types of clothing stains and how to get rid of them according to Marilee Nelson, the co-founder of nontoxic cleaning brand Branch Basics.

Coffee, Tea, and Fruit Juice

1. Mix one tablespoon of white vinegar with one teaspoon of castile soap in a bowl and place the stained shirt in the solution for 30 minutes.
2. Sprinkle baking soda or oxygen bleach on the stain and agitate.
3. Wash in cold water.
4. Repeat if necessary.

Red or Rosé Wine

1. Dab the red wine stain with a damp, white cotton cloth to absorb any excess wine.
2. Spray on a DIY cleaning solution consisting of ¼ cup of hydrogen peroxide, two tablespoons of castile soap, and lemon essential oil, and gently agitate.
3. If needed, sprinkle baking soda or hydrogen peroxide on the stain, spray again and agitate.
4. Let it sit for 15 minutes before rinsing with cold water.
5. If the stain is still visible, soak for an additional 15 minutes or overnight with one teaspoon of laundry detergent mixed with either ¼ cup of baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, or a scoop of Branch Basics Oxygen Boost.

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Dirt, Mud, or Grass

1. Spray your DIY all-purpose cleaning solution (above) on the stained area and let it sit for five to 15 minutes. (Note: Tougher stains may need to soak overnight in warm water with one tsp of laundry detergent mixed with ¼ cup baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, vinegar, or an oxygen booster).
2. Wash as normal in the washing machine the next day.

Blood

1. Treat as soon as possible by running cold water through the shirt from the back of the blood stain.
2. Continue running the water through the fabric for a minute or two while gently rubbing the fabric together under the running water to further help the blood dissipate.
3. If necessary, spray your all-purpose stain remover on the stain and pour hydrogen peroxide over the stain.
4. Let sit for 15 minutes before rinsing in cold water.
5. Repeat if the stain persists, or spray the stain with an all-purpose cleaning solution, gently agitate with a brush, and rinse with cold water.

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Fruit and Tomato Sauce

1. As soon as you notice the stain, wet it with cold water.
2. Spray cleaning solution on a clean rag and gently agitate fabric together with fingers.
3. Blot and rinse with cold water to lift the stain.
4. Keep a clean cloth behind the spot as you work to lift the stain from the front.
5. Soak overnight if needed in ¼ cup baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, or an oxygen booster.

Chocolate

1. Remove any excess chocolate from the material.
2. Spray the stain with an all-purpose stain remover and agitate slightly with cloth until chocolate disappears.
3. Soak in ¼ cup baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, or oxygen boost overnight and wash in the cold water cycle.

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Makeup (All)

1. Mix one teaspoon of laundry detergent, baking soda, and cold water to make a paste together in a cup.
2. Dip a washcloth in the solution and rub the spot.
3. If the stain is difficult, soak the shirt overnight in a solution containing ¼ cup of hydrogen peroxide, vinegar, and baking soda.

Makeup (Lipstick)

1. Wipe excess with a damp cloth or paper towel.
2. Spray the stain and let sit for three to five minutes.
3. Work into the stain and remove it with a damp cloth.
4. Soak if necessary for 15 minutes to overnight in ¼ cup hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, oxygen booster, and/or vinegar.

Sweat

1. Mix ½ cup hydrogen peroxide with two tablespoons of baking soda, one teaspoon of cleaning concentrate or castile soap, and ¼ cup of water.
2. Apply the mixture to the stain and agitate, then let it sit for two hours before washing the shirt in a cold washing cycle.
3. If the stain is still visible, repeat the process again soaking in a scoop of oxygen boost and washing before throwing it in the dryer.

Deodorant

Using deodorants with aluminum or an antiperspirant daily can affect the bacterial microbiome in your armpits, and consistent use can actually make your sweat smellier, and cause yellow stains.

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