The #1 question I get from families, friends and aquaintances is “How do you whiten your clothes without bleach?”

It’s easy.

Now the number one tip I can give for getting and keeping white clothes really white is pre-soaking them in a sink full of water with 1 cup of hydrogen peroxide.

Another great way to get your clothes white is to add 1/4 cup of lemon juice to your load and line dry OUTSIDE. *

That being said, I rarely remember to pre-wash, and it’s winter, so I’m not line drying my clothes outside. So here’s what I do:

What you’ll need:
1/2 cup hydrogen peroxide or 2 tbsps of Ecover Powder Bleach alternative (or 1/4 cup Ecover Liquid Bleach alternative
3 tbsps Homemade Powder Laundry Detergent
2 scoops Oxo Brite dissolved in warm water (I have a 3.5 lb container that lasts for months, but you can find it smaller here.)

Top-load washer instructions:
Pour all ingredients in and let washer fill with warm water. Then add clothes and pause cycle to let the clothes soak for 30 mins. After 30mins I continue washing and drying as usual. (I usually wash warm and rinse cold to save on my hot water bill!)

Front-load washer instructions:
If you have a front loader (like me), add your dingiest clothes first, (in our house that’s socks usually) then fill the washer partway with water, then stop the cycle and add the rest of your white clothes. Start the cycle again and when it beings to churn

Sexy (my hubby) pre-treats his collars buy spraying hydrogen peroxide directly on them and rubbing them together before throwing them in the laundry. If when I go to wash, they still seem dingy, I’ll make a paste of peroxide and baking soda and rub it on the stain. This works well for underarm stains as well! I only use Hydrogen peroxide on whites and light colored clothing. (It won’t leave those ugly bleach spots either). Oxo Brite I use on my colored wash too.

*Note: Do NOT mix lemon juice and peroxide together in your washer. It will eat holes in your clothes!

How do you get YOUR clothes white without bleach?

Here’s one that will save you tons of money and it’s better for you, your home, the environment, your clothes AND your washing machine. (Even if it’s one of those new fangled HE ones).

• 1 cup Borax
• 1 cup Washing Soda (This is NOT baking soda, it’s found in the laundry aisle)
• 1 bar of Soap – I like Octagon, Fels Naptha laundry soap, or Dr.Bronners, some people even use good-old fashioned Ivory
• Box Grater
• essential oil (optional)
• 1 wide mouth container
• 1 tablespoon or small tbsp scoop

Directions:

1. Grate the soap. I use the medium grade side.You can use the smallest grade if you want, but it takes longer. (I usually do this while watching TV or simmering dinner or even on the phone.)

How to use:

• Small loads – use 1 tablespoon of powder per loads
• Normal loads –  2 tbsps
• Heavy loads – 3 tbsps

Yep. I said it. Kool Aid…Those of you who know me know that I like to make my own stuff, and I happen to make my own dishwashing detergent. Why, you ask? Well have you ever checked the ingredients list on that box of Cascade? Check it out. Most of that unpronounceable stuff includes phosphates, petroleum, bleach and/or chlorine. Why Kool Aid? Well the number 1 ingredient in those little packets of Kool Aid is citric acid, which is a natural preservative, and excellent for cleaning dishes. Lemon works best because it’s practically colorless. (DON’T use cherry or grape KoolAid for this, because you’ll end up with pink or purple dishes).

4-6 packets of Lemon flavored Kool Aid (NOT the Sugar Free kind that comes in a container, you want the “old school” kind)

Instead of using Ajax or Commet use one of the following mixtures to safely scrub your kitchen sink.

- Sprinkle baking soda with a capful of lemon juice and scrub

OR

- Sprinkle baking soda with plain water and scrub

OR

- Sprinkle baking soda withvinegar, let bubble and then scrub

Rinse thoroughly and you’re done!

I use a pastry shaker like this one to hold my “sinkside” Baking Soda.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups of castile soap
• A few drops of essential oil
• 1/2 cup of water

To make the soap, follow these instructions.

1. Combine two cups of liquid castile soap with 1/2 cup of warm water. (You can cut this in half and make a smaller batch if you wish
2. Add a few drops of essential oils for a pleasant scent.
3. Shake or mix well and place in a squeeze bottle.
4. Shake the soap well before using

You can purchase liquid castile soap at the Savvy Shop or at your local health food store.