Have you ever experienced accessing the clothes that you had stored for a considerable amount of time and discovered that they no longer resembled their original condition? This is especially true for white clothing, which appears to have yellow stains.
There are various causes of yellow stains on stored clothing. Let’s identify the causes and discuss how to address them to prevent your favorite garments from becoming discolored.
Common Causes of Yellow Clothing Stains
It has been said that proper storage is the key to prolonging the life of clothing. Although appropriate storage is a significant aspect, there are more factors to consider:
Not Enough Detergent
According to the experts from Durango dry cleaners, your clothes will stay dirty and stained no matter how often you wash them if you don’t use the right amount of detergent. It’s impossible to remove grease, grime, dirt, and body fluids with just water and not enough detergent. Any remaining dirt on your garments will break down during storage, resulting in yellow stains in the long run.
Inadequate Rinsing
Rinsing eliminates the dirt removed by detergent. However, the residual detergent produces a coating of soap scum on the clothing if it is not properly rinsed. Soap scum decomposes, breaks down, and transforms into yellow patches during storage.
Too Much Bleach
White clothes that became yellow in the closet had been bleached with too much bleach or liquid laundry detergent. The longer you store your clothing with bleach, the more probable this will occur, resulting in discoloration issues that may be difficult to correct without professional assistance.
Inadequate Washing
Properly laundering all your clothes is important. Inadequately washed clothing will emerge from the washing machine covered in iron deposits. These deposits might cause yellow stains on your garments if they are not removed before drying.
Oxidation
Oxidation occurs when clothes are improperly cleaned before being stored. Fibers occasionally contain concealed stains that result in yellow stains when exposed to oxygen.
Other Elements
Yellowing is caused by substances such as nicotine, oil, and sweat. The chemical reaction between these elements can alter the fabric’s color.
Ways To Prevent Stored Clothing From Having Yellow Stains
- Regularly wash your clothes and rinse them well.
- Correctly sort your clothes before washing them.
- Use a limited amount of heat when drying out white clothing. Excessive drying can cause yellowing.
- Make sure your clothes are entirely dry before storing your garments. Don’t use lotions and creams before folding your clothes; these products might cause discoloration.
- Place clothes in a cool and dry location. Do not store in heated areas, such as attics, basements, or garages.
- Choose a suitable container. Use acid- and lignin-free archival tissue paper to line storage boxes.
- Utilize a polypropylene storage container (“PP” on the material).
How To Get Rid of Yellow Stains From Stored Clothes
The standard washing method is insufficient when removing yellow stains from stored garments. Before placing your items in the washing machine, try the following procedures to get rid of the yellow stains:
Hydrogen Peroxide and Water
Mix 1/4 cup of hydrogen peroxide and 1/4 cup of water, soak the garments for 45 minutes, launder in cold water, and hang to dry.
Baking Soda, Hydrogen Peroxide, and Water
Combine everything equally, apply to the stained area, and rub with a bristle brush. After 30 to 60 minutes, wash thoroughly.
Hot Water and Baking Soda
Soak garments in 2 cups of boiling water with 2 cups of baking soda before putting them in the washing machine. Utilize a detergent containing enzymes to aid in chemical breakdown.
Lemon Juice
Soak the garments for approximately two hours in a mixture of one gallon of hot water and one-fourth cup of lemon juice. Squeeze and dry in the sun.
Vinegar and Water
Spray or apply a combination of equal parts vinegar and water straight to the discoloration for one hour. Wash in cold water and dry by hanging.
Toothpaste
Apply whitening toothpaste straight to the stain and then wash it off. It would be best to use white toothpaste.
Denture Tablets
Denture tablets help remove yellow stains from white shirts and dark garments. Two to four denture tablets should be dissolved in a gallon of water. Then, soak the stained garments in the mixture for eight to twelve hours. Remove the garments and launder them as usual.
Aspirin
Add four crushed aspirin to a half cup of water. Apply the paste to the soiled garments. Allow it to rest for several hours. Then, place it in the washing machine and wash it as usual.
Key Takeaway
Yellow stains on clothes after storage can be a significant problem, especially if you need to learn how to remove them. Yellow stains on clothing can be tough to remove, but with the correct information and procedures outlined in the previous section, eliminating such stains can be a snap.
