primitives discuss cleaning brassieres

[franksolich]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=353x1839

This is from the "frugal living" forum on Skins's island.

yy4me  Donating Member  (1000+ posts) Fri Apr-11-08 05:42 PM
Original message

Anyone found a good product to whiten clothes that have yellowed? Ladies, you know what I mean. The perfectly good bras that have yellowed from a chlorine bleach trip or just age and washing. They are too expensive to toss and are in good condition. Soon lighter clothing will make it necessary to whiten up these old grey or yellow things. This also applies to cotton/poly blouses.

Just got a delivery from a e-bay seller--my ebay store. The prices were good on the bras I buy. I can't seem to find them around here any more. Search by style # and Manufacturer. I know that size fits. Brand new, in box, never unfolded.

CC  Donating Member  (1000+ posts) Fri Apr-11-08 06:03 PM
Response to Original message

1. When I used to have to wear a white uniform I used Rit whitener & brightener. It worked great to bring the white back to white and even worked pretty at brightening colors. I've never found anything else that worked as well.

I dunno; the primitives, again, make things harder than they need to be.  Just plain Clorox works fine for me, when whitening something.

yy4me  Donating Member  (1000+ posts) Mon May-05-08 06:52 AM
Response to Reply #1

11. Hi CC, I tried the Rit as you suggested and the blouses look great. Will buy another package for future use. It did nothing for the bras however, I'll keep up that search.

I have a feeling the spandex, or whatever the stuff is, has turned and will not whiten. They just look unattractive but I can't get myself to throw then out

Thanks for the Rit tip.

calico1  Donating Member  (1000+ posts) Fri Apr-11-08 06:24 PM
Response to Original message

2. Are these bras white?
   
If they are, consider changing to skin tone color for bras. It shows less under white tops than white, contrary to popular opinion. My mom was no fashion plate but this was one very good piece of advice she gave me. I never buy white bras except for the occasional sport bra.454

For your existing bras, try hanging them out on a sunny day. As long as it isn't hot it shouldn't ruin them. For your white tops the same applies. Especially if they are white the sun is great for whitening them.

yy4me  Donating Member  (1000+ posts) Fri Apr-11-08 07:03 PM
Response to Reply #2

6. Yes, they are white--or were. When we have good weather
   
I hang clothes on the line. This has been a long winter, no clothesline, no sun. Maybe the sun has made some difference before. I think I'll take your advice and buy beige in the future.

Again, the primitives make life harder than it needs to be.

What is this deal, about hanging out clothes to dry only in warm weather?

franksolich hangs clothes out to dry in all weather, including snow and rain.  It takes a couple of days, sure, to get dry under such circumstances, but no big deal.  And one does get another rinse out of it, a natural rinse.

Warpy  Donating Member  (1000+ posts) Mon Apr-21-08 05:38 PM
Response to Reply #2

10. I discovered the tan bra in junior high
   
the first spring a spotty oaf yelled "Nice bra!" and snapped the strap that was all too easy to see under a thin white shirt.

(My Irish backhand made sure he never did it again, but the lesson was learned by both of us)

AZDemDist6  Donating Member  (1000+ posts) Fri Apr-11-08 06:25 PM
Response to Original message

3. Mrs Stewarts Liquid Blueing?
   
that's what my Grammy always used on her white uniforms

Sounds something like Lydia Pinkham's Special Vegetable Compound for Female Complaints.

yy4me  Donating Member  (1000+ posts) Fri Apr-11-08 06:47 PM
Response to Reply #3

4. I have not seen blueing since I was a kid, back in the days when starch came in little meltable blue rectangles, and to iron, you sprinkled water from a soda bottle with a sprinkle cap, rolled your clothes up and refrigerated them overnight. Nice and damp. You could iron carefully but would probably scorch half of the pile.

hippywife  Donating Member  (1000+ posts) Sun Apr-13-08 04:32 PM
Response to Original message

7. I always add borax.
   
And then let the whites soak in it and the laundry soap for awhile. I don't know if this will whiten something that's yellowed but it seems to keep things from yellowing.

You know, despite that she doesn't treat chickens with dignity and respect, I'm sort of beginning to grow a little affection for the hippowife; she's far from our Delilah, but a cut above most other primitives.

wakemeupwhenitsover  DU Moderator Donating Member  (1000+ posts) Sun Apr-13-08 11:23 PM
Response to Original message

8. I have some old linen napkins that had yellowed. I tried all of them: oxyclean, Mrs. Stewart's bluing & YellowOut. Nothing worked. I asked in the cooking & baking group and was told to try Biz. I thought it would be harmful, but was told that that is what linen antique dealers use. Worked like a charm. You can even leave them in up to week if you have to.

yy4me  Donating Member  (1000+ posts) Mon May-05-08 06:58 AM
Response to Reply #8

12. HI wakemeupwhenitsover,( bless copy and paste),
   
Thanks for your tip about yellowing of clothes. I checked out everyones suggestions and did use the Rit. I read the Biz box and put that one back because of the enzymes. Have quite a bit of trouble with allergies and products that contain enzymes are on the list.

Thanks for the tip.

AnotherMother4Peace  Donating Member  (915 posts) Sat Apr-19-08 11:15 PM
Response to Original message

9. Thank you for this thread. I have several favorite blouses that are getting dingy.
   
I'm going to try the Biz and Rit, & see which works the best.

Viva_La_Revolution  Donating Member  (1000+ posts) Tue May-27-08 11:55 AM
Response to Original message

13. I'm going to try all of this tips on my Painter's Whites...

[Tantal]

The only thing that's somewhat amusing about this thread is that yy4me is probably a cross-dressing dude.

[franksolich]

The only thing that's somewhat amusing about this thread is that yy4me is probably a cross-dressing dude.

Well, what's intriguing about it to me is that the primitives make things harder than they need to be.

[miskie]

I wonder if channeling white light at dingy,yellowed clothing would help ? Its cost effective, contains no chemicals or allergens, and leaves no residue or smell behind...

Perhaps I need to invest in that - Hire a few out of work 1-900 psychics and have them concentrate on dirty clothes all day....   

[Chris_]

Um, bras are UNDERWEAR. Who cares if they are yellowed?

Unless it might bring the price down.

[franksolich]

Um, bras are UNDERWEAR. Who cares if they are yellowed?

Unless it might bring the price down.

I kind of wondered about that myself.

One usually wears brassieres underneath clothing.

Then I remember these are primitives here.

[Lord Undies]

I'll help the DUmmies out just this once -

My wife was going to toss a perfectly good bra because it had yellowed.  I got it out of the trash and sprayed the heck out of it with Clorox Kitchen Cleaner with Bleach.  I left it in the sink overnight.  After rinsing it I threw it in the washer with the other white washables.  It looked new again.

I don't think my wife knows I put it back in her closet.  

[dandi]

I thought they burned all their bras back in the '60's.

[Lord Undies]

Um, bras are UNDERWEAR. Who cares if they are yellowed?

Unless it might bring the price down.

It's not like they turn a solid even yellow.  They look blotched and stained.  No lady wants to go around like that even if it doesn't show.  What if she was in an accident?  The hospital staff would point and laugh while she bled to death.

[Chris_]

Um, bras are UNDERWEAR. Who cares if they are yellowed?

Unless it might bring the price down.

It's not like they turn a solid even yellow.  They look blotched and stained.  No lady wants to go around like that even if it doesn't show.  What if she was in an accident?  The hospital staff would point and laugh while she bled to death.

Then they will have a GREAT time with the 4 pieces of elastic and swatch of cloth that I call "underwear."

[Lord Undies]

Um, bras are UNDERWEAR. Who cares if they are yellowed?

Unless it might bring the price down.

It's not like they turn a solid even yellow.  They look blotched and stained.  No lady wants to go around like that even if it doesn't show.  What if she was in an accident?  The hospital staff would point and laugh while she bled to death.

Then they will have a GREAT time with the 4 pieces of elastic and swatch of cloth that I call "underwear."

I'm familar.

Her: "Honey, what are those white ashes in your top drawer?"

Me:  "Those aren't ashes!  That's my underwear!"

[miskie]

I'll help the DUmmies out just this once -

My wife was going to toss a perfectly good bra because it had yellowed.  I got it out of the trash and sprayed the heck out of it with Clorox Kitchen Cleaner with Bleach.  I left it in the sink overnight.  After rinsing it I threw it in the washer with the other white washables.  It looked new again.

I don't think my wife knows I put it back in her closet.   

Dummies, Id listen to this advice -- With a name like "Lord Undies", how could he possibly be wrong ? 

[jukin]

I'm going to go waaaaaaay out on a limb here and suggest that if the DUmpmonkettes took a shower or bath more than bi-weekly those undies might just stay white with normal bleach and laundry detergent.

[stickyboot]

Um, bras are UNDERWEAR. Who cares if they are yellowed?

Unless it might bring the price down.

Uh, Freedumb, Frank, anyone wondering...take it from a chick...a dingy yellow or grey bra looks DIRTY. Nasty.
And when the "good" ones are $25-35 these days, you don't just toss them.

Not that I do a lot of disrobing except for husband, around female relatives, health care people, but straps do show unintentionally once in a while. So it's an effort of pride thing with me. Like not having the proverbial holes and safety pins your mom warned you about should you get into an accident.

I never found an ultimate "whitening" solution to the problem, just tricks to extend the life like: wash cold, never mix with colored laundry, hang to air dry. It also doesn't hurt to change them frequently instead of wearing the same grimy thing for a week, something I'm aware some women do. Yet they all eventually turn dingy. My solution for those still too good to discard - get a package of Rit dye and make 'em pink or purple or whatever tickles your fancy and throw in a pair of white panties to make a matched set.

Now you all know more than you ever wanted to know.

[morningAngel]

Um, bras are UNDERWEAR. Who cares if they are yellowed?

Unless it might bring the price down.

It's not like they turn a solid even yellow.  They look blotched and stained.  No lady wants to go around like that even if it doesn't show.  What if she was in an accident?  The hospital staff would point and laugh while she bled to death.

contrary to popular belief and my mother's admonishments...hospital staff do not notice if you have clean underwear on or not..
we tend to notice things like that lovely tinge of country blue that your lips are turning after your heart attack..you know..boring stuff like that

[USA4ME]

Uh, Freedumb, Frank, anyone wondering...take it from a chick...a dingy yellow or grey bra looks DIRTY. Nasty.

That does explain why a normal, healthy woman would not desire a discolored undergarmet.  It doesn't explain why liberal women would care, though.

.

[Ptarmigan]

Okay.............. Why do they discuss this? 

[megimoo]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=353x1839

This is from the "frugal living" forum on Skins's island.

yy4me  Donating Member  (1000+ posts) Fri Apr-11-08 05:42 PM
Original message

Anyone found a good product to whiten clothes that have yellowed? Ladies, you know what I mean. The perfectly good bras that have yellowed from a chlorine bleach trip or just age and washing. They are too expensive to toss and are in good condition. Soon lighter clothing will make it necessary to whiten up these old grey or yellow things. This also applies to cotton/poly blouses.

Just got a delivery from a e-bay seller--my ebay store. The prices were good on the bras I buy. I can't seem to find them around here any more. Search by style # and Manufacturer. I know that size fits. Brand new, in box, never unfolded.

CC  Donating Member  (1000+ posts) Fri Apr-11-08 06:03 PM
Response to Original message

1. When I used to have to wear a white uniform I used Rit whitener & brightener. It worked great to bring the white back to white and even worked pretty at brightening colors. I've never found anything else that worked as well.

I dunno; the primitives, again, make things harder than they need to be.  Just plain Clorox works fine for me, when whitening something.

yy4me  Donating Member  (1000+ posts) Mon May-05-08 06:52 AM
Response to Reply #1

11. Hi CC, I tried the Rit as you suggested and the blouses look great. Will buy another package for future use. It did nothing for the bras however, I'll keep up that search.

I have a feeling the spandex, or whatever the stuff is, has turned and will not whiten. They just look unattractive but I can't get myself to throw then out

Thanks for the Rit tip.

calico1  Donating Member  (1000+ posts) Fri Apr-11-08 06:24 PM
Response to Original message

2. Are these bras white?
   
If they are, consider changing to skin tone color for bras. It shows less under white tops than white, contrary to popular opinion. My mom was no fashion plate but this was one very good piece of advice she gave me. I never buy white bras except for the occasional sport bra.454

For your existing bras, try hanging them out on a sunny day. As long as it isn't hot it shouldn't ruin them. For your white tops the same applies. Especially if they are white the sun is great for whitening them.

yy4me  Donating Member  (1000+ posts) Fri Apr-11-08 07:03 PM
Response to Reply #2

6. Yes, they are white--or were. When we have good weather
   
I hang clothes on the line. This has been a long winter, no clothesline, no sun. Maybe the sun has made some difference before. I think I'll take your advice and buy beige in the future.

Again, the primitives make life harder than it needs to be.

What is this deal, about hanging out clothes to dry only in warm weather?

franksolich hangs clothes out to dry in all weather, including snow and rain.  It takes a couple of days, sure, to get dry under such circumstances, but no big deal.  And one does get another rinse out of it, a natural rinse.

Warpy  Donating Member  (1000+ posts) Mon Apr-21-08 05:38 PM
Response to Reply #2

10. I discovered the tan bra in junior high
   
the first spring a spotty oaf yelled "Nice bra!" and snapped the strap that was all too easy to see under a thin white shirt.

(My Irish backhand made sure he never did it again, but the lesson was learned by both of us)

AZDemDist6  Donating Member  (1000+ posts) Fri Apr-11-08 06:25 PM
Response to Original message

3. Mrs Stewarts Liquid Blueing?
   
that's what my Grammy always used on her white uniforms

Sounds something like Lydia Pinkham's Special Vegetable Compound for Female Complaints.

yy4me  Donating Member  (1000+ posts) Fri Apr-11-08 06:47 PM
Response to Reply #3

4. I have not seen blueing since I was a kid, back in the days when starch came in little meltable blue rectangles, and to iron, you sprinkled water from a soda bottle with a sprinkle cap, rolled your clothes up and refrigerated them overnight. Nice and damp. You could iron carefully but would probably scorch half of the pile.

hippywife  Donating Member  (1000+ posts) Sun Apr-13-08 04:32 PM
Response to Original message

7. I always add borax.
   
And then let the whites soak in it and the laundry soap for awhile. I don't know if this will whiten something that's yellowed but it seems to keep things from yellowing.

You know, despite that she doesn't treat chickens with dignity and respect, I'm sort of beginning to grow a little affection for the hippowife; she's far from our Delilah, but a cut above most other primitives.

wakemeupwhenitsover  DU Moderator Donating Member  (1000+ posts) Sun Apr-13-08 11:23 PM
Response to Original message

8. I have some old linen napkins that had yellowed. I tried all of them: oxyclean, Mrs. Stewart's bluing & YellowOut. Nothing worked. I asked in the cooking & baking group and was told to try Biz. I thought it would be harmful, but was told that that is what linen antique dealers use. Worked like a charm. You can even leave them in up to week if you have to.

yy4me  Donating Member  (1000+ posts) Mon May-05-08 06:58 AM
Response to Reply #8

12. HI wakemeupwhenitsover,( bless copy and paste),
   
Thanks for your tip about yellowing of clothes. I checked out everyones suggestions and did use the Rit. I read the Biz box and put that one back because of the enzymes. Have quite a bit of trouble with allergies and products that contain enzymes are on the list.

Thanks for the tip.

AnotherMother4Peace  Donating Member  (915 posts) Sat Apr-19-08 11:15 PM
Response to Original message

9. Thank you for this thread. I have several favorite blouses that are getting dingy.
   
I'm going to try the Biz and Rit, & see which works the best.

Viva_La_Revolution  Donating Member  (1000+ posts) Tue May-27-08 11:55 AM
Response to Original message

13. I'm going to try all of this tips on my Painter's Whites...

I wonder if all that whitning will turn their boobs pasty white ?

[miskie]

I wonder if all that whitning will turn their boobs pasty white ?

Naaa, lack of exposure to the sun has already insured that. Living underground has its drawbacks.

[Vagabond]

Isn't it a huge leap to think that it's the DUmmie women who are wearing brassierre's.

[Miss Mia]

Um, bras are UNDERWEAR. Who cares if they are yellowed?

Unless it might bring the price down.

Uh, Freedumb, Frank, anyone wondering...take it from a chick...a dingy yellow or grey bra looks DIRTY. Nasty.
And when the "good" ones are $25-35 these days, you don't just toss them.

Not that I do a lot of disrobing except for husband, around female relatives, health care people, but straps do show unintentionally once in a while. So it's an effort of pride thing with me. Like not having the proverbial holes and safety pins your mom warned you about should you get into an accident.

I never found an ultimate "whitening" solution to the problem, just tricks to extend the life like: wash cold, never mix with colored laundry, hang to air dry. It also doesn't hurt to change them frequently instead of wearing the same grimy thing for a week, something I'm aware some women do. Yet they all eventually turn dingy. My solution for those still too good to discard - get a package of Rit dye and make 'em pink or purple or whatever tickles your fancy and throw in a pair of white panties to make a matched set.

Now you all know more than you ever wanted to know.

I've done the Rit black to dye faded black clothing to black again.  Works great.

[stickyboot]

Again, the primitives make life harder than it needs to be.

What is this deal, about hanging out clothes to dry only in warm weather?

franksolich hangs clothes out to dry in all weather, including snow and rain.  It takes a couple of days, sure, to get dry under such circumstances, but no big deal.  And one does get another rinse out of it, a natural rinse.

My brothers and I used to think it was one of the funnier things in the world to see our socks and underwear hanging out on the clothesline with icicles dripping from them when Grandma miscalculated the weather.

[franksolich]

Again, the primitives make life harder than it needs to be.

What is this deal, about hanging out clothes to dry only in warm weather?

franksolich hangs clothes out to dry in all weather, including snow and rain.  It takes a couple of days, sure, to get dry under such circumstances, but no big deal.  And one does get another rinse out of it, a natural rinse.

My brothers and I used to think it was one of the funnier things in the world to see our socks and underwear hanging out on the clothesline with icicles dripping from them when Grandma miscalculated the weather.

But did you ever notice when the clothes were dry, they were softer, because of their natural rinse?

I think the primitives are just being silly, with their insistence that it has to be sunny, to hang out clothes to dry.

[LC EFA]

I think the primitives are just being silly, with their insistence that it has to be sunny, to hang out clothes to dry.

Agreed.

I have an undercover and a "in the open" clothes line at home. I also live in the tropics where we might get several days of fairly heavy rain interspersed with very overcast periods.  I do not own a clothes dryer. In extended wet patches, clothing still dries fast enough provided there's enough airflow over it.

[mamacags]

Cascade liquid dishwasher detergent works wonders too.  However, you can NOT use the orange scented one.  It turns the clothes orangish yellow.  I also use it to bleach my white counter tops.