Bedding that has that fresh and crisp feel is unbeatable. However, it becomes harder to achieve when you’re battling sweat-induced stains that seem like they’ve plotted to ruin your lovely white linen.
Never fear, Ruth Welton, laundry guru from Soak and Sleep, has dropped a game-changing tip that’ll rescue your bedding blues.
Instead of opting for bleach or white vinegar, she recommends adding a dash of lemon juice into your regular wash to kiss goodbye to those stubborn spots.
Speaking about the trick, Ruth said: “To help remove stubborn stains, add lemon juice to your wash along with your normal washing powder or liquid.”
She added: “Approximately a quarter of a cup will help shift marks because of the citric acid in the lemon.”
Turns out, lemon juice is not just good for cooking, it’s also a natural stain-fighting warrior.
The citric acid magic inside works wonders on breaking down unsightly sweat patches and other residues leaving your bed sheets less of a yellow mosaic and more of a snowy sanctuary.
Besides busting stains, this citrus saviour is lurking with antibacterial powers ready to zap those germy culprits behind fabric discolouration, giving your bedsheets a brighter complexion and germ-free gleam.
To enhance the whitening power, get those laundered sheets out on the line under the sunshine. Not only does it beam your sheets to an even brighter white, but Ruth says that “the sun acts as a natural bleaching agent, brightening your whites even more”.
She added: “Hanging your sheets on a line can also help to remove creases as they blow in the breeze, minimising the need for ironing which is better for the fibres.”
Once you’ve managed to get your sheets dazzlingly white, be sure to toss them in the wash every fortnight minimum to stop any nasty build-up from turning your linens a dingy shade all over again.
If those sheets refuse to come out crisp and are still looking grey or yellowish, it might be time to swap out that detergent for something with a bit more oomph to knock out those stubborn marks.
Ruth commented: “With good quality washing powder, you can launder your bed linen at lower temperatures which will help protect the fibres.”
She continued: “Unless your bed linen is heavily stained, washing at 40C should be adequate because washing powders and liquids are made to perform at lower temperatures these days.”
The expert warned households to never think about reaching for bleach or other harsh cleaners when it comes to their bedding as they’re the absolute worst for treating stains and will only lead to your sheets losing their lustre faster.
Ruth urged: “Avoid the use of chemical bleach on your sheets as it can damage the fibres and it has a chemical reaction to protein stains like sweat that can make those stains appear more yellow.”
