Climbing into a clean, freshly-made bed is one of the best feelings in the world. Laying your baby down to sleep on a crisp, fresh crib sheet is just as satisfying.
But unfortunately, bed sheets can begin to turn yellow from the oils on our skin as time passes. You can also be sure that you’ll deal with more than one diaper leak or throw-up incident that requires washing. While a yellow tint does not necessarily mean that sheets are dirty or stained, they can still leave us wondering how to whiten sheets that have yellowed the right way.
The process of whitening yellowing sheets does not need to be difficult and there are several solutions you can try. Whether you’re looking to whiten your sheets to remove a stain or to remove a yellow tint that has built up over the years, you can begin to remove discoloration from your sheets with some ingredients or items you probably already have in your house.
Depending on the kind of whitening solution that you’re looking for, you can use natural ingredients that are safe for your family and children. Other options, such as using bleach, allow you to remove any staining that may have appeared on the sheets.
If you want your baby’s crib sheets to stay clean, crisp, and white, here are a few things you can do!
How to Whiten Sheets that Have Yellowed
Yellow discoloration on bed sheets is not abnormal. Your sheets may develop a yellow tint just from regular use or aging, and crib sheets can be stained from accidents. But regardless of the reason behind the tinting of your sheets, there are many different things you can do to restore the sheets’ best color.
Here are just a few suggestions of how to whiten yellowed sheets.
How to Whiten Sheets with Bleach
Using bleach to whiten your yellowed sheets is a great way to restore the color of sheets that were once bright white. You can use bleach to whiten your sheets as a spot treatment or if you’re looking to whiten the entire sheet.
To whiten the entire sheet, you can use either the washing machine or wash by hand. Using the washing machine can be the easiest way to whiten your sheets using bleach, but the hand-washing option can work efficiently if you don’t have access to a washing machine.
To whiten yellowed sheets in the washing machine, you will want to fill the machine with hot water. Once the machine is full of water, add in a cap of bleach and a cap of detergent. Allow the bleach and detergent to disperse throughout the water, then run the machine as normal.
If you would like to use the hand-washing method, simply fill a bucket with one-half cup of bleach and one gallon of water. Let the sheets soak in the mixture for about ten or fifteen minutes before washing your sheets as normal.
How to Whiten Sheets with Baking Soda
If you’re looking for how to whiten sheets without bleach, baking soda can be a great substitute. To use baking soda to whiten your sheets, you will want to add half a cup of baking soda into your load of laundry at the beginning of your laundry load. Allow the water to disperse the baking soda throughout the washing machine.
Before you start the load, add in a half cup of vinegar and run the washing machine as usual. You will come out with cleaner, whiter, and softer sheets.
How to Whiten Sheets with Vinegar
Vinegar is another great option for sheet whitening. Vinegar allows you to create a wonderful pre-soak that can be used individually or with another sheet-whitening option.
To create your vinegar pre-soak, take about half a cup of white vinegar and mix it with about a gallon of warm water. Make sure you use a tub or barrel large enough to hold your sheet set. Allow your sheets to soak in the vinegar mixture for at least one hour.
Once that hour of soaking has been completed, you can wash your sheets as normal or use one of the other whitening options we’ve mentioned above.
Don’t assume that just because your sheets have yellowed that you need to purchase a new set. With these sheet whitening options, you can remove yellow discoloration or stains in an easy and natural way. Give one or more of these whitening options a shot and you’ll love how your old sheets look.
Liz and Roo fitted crib sheets are made in the USA and created to last a lifetime. Our crib sheets are specially designed to stand up to daily wear and frequent washing, meaning they’ll hold their shape and won’t rip or tear as your little one grows and plays. Liz and Roo crib sheets are a breeze to change and feature deep pockets and a one-inch elastic band that hugs the mattress, so you can always count on a safe, secure fit for your baby.