Stained whites are a gamble when it comes to doing laundry, whether it’s a ruined new T-shirt or once crisp white bath towels.
Bleach-fuelled powders and stain solutions are often the first choice for colour-correcting laundry, plus baking soda for those who prefer natural remedies.
However, according to self-proclaimed clothing hacks expert and fashion stylist, Christie Moeller, denture tablets are all you need. And they cost just £1 to buy in Boots.
In a TikTok video, @christiemoeller shared how she uses this unusual item to revive off-white garments in an instant.
She stated: “Here’s a trick for brightening dingy whites. All you need is a basin of warm water and denture cleanser.”
The fashion stylist suggested using two tablets per bowl of water (around two litres), simply drop them in and let them dissolve before adding your white garments.
Once the water has turned white and cloudy, you can “submerge” the laundry items – be it shirts, trousers, towels or socks.
Christie advised leaving the white clothing to “brew” in the water for about half an hour for the denture tablets to fully get to work on stains and discolouration.
She elaborated: “Denture tablets have whitening properties that break down stains, so they’re great on white clothes. After it’s soaked, take it to the washing machine and launder as normal.”
The results are quite interesting, according to the TikTok star, who claimed: “When you get it back, that shirt’s going to be whiter and brighter than before – just like dentures!”
Her advice was well received by other TikTok users who had tried the laundry whitening method. However, Christie warned against using this method on clothing with “decorative” colours.
She further explained that it “won’t get rid of really deep stains” such as sweat, but it will brighten surface issues like grey tones and light residue from food and other substances.
According to Ariel’s detergent experts, a warm or hot cycle is best when laundering your pre-treated white clothing. This rule applies to most clothing, towels and bedding, but there are some exceptions.
The Ariel team advised: “Sheer or delicate fabrics, such as lingerie and swimwear, require lower temperatures, while stains like blood, wine, and coffee might set if washed in warm or hot water, so you’re safer using a cold wash.”
Adding white vinegar, another household cleaning staple, to your wash cycle can also help to boost the vibrancy of white items.
To use it in your washing machine, wait until the final rinse cycle and pour one-quarter of a cup of distilled white vinegar into the already running machine.
You can do this in the detergent compartment if you are unable to pour it directly into the drum. If you don’t have vinegar, lemon juice works just as well.