Bedsheets and pillows will look whiter after 1 wash cycle if cleaned with natural item
Most people do not realise that bedding is often covered in bacteria after winter, but sheets, duvet covers, and other bedding can be cleaned with a natural kitchen ingredient.
Many people will be relieved that spring is finally here, so they can hang their laundry outdoors, but certain items like bedsheets and other bedding can often look dingy in spring. Beds can become a hotspot for bacteria in winter, since we have the heating switched on in the evenings, which can cause us to sweat more while we sleep. Sweat will linger in our bedding even if it does not feel damp, and, over the colder months, will make the material look yellow, dull, or, in extreme cases, mouldy.
However, there is no need to throw away your old bedding, as Marilee Nelson from Branch Basics has shared that you can easily whiten fabric and deep clean it with lemon juice. Marilee said: “Lemon juice, either fresh or bottled, contains natural citric acid, which acts as a natural bleaching agent on stains and dingy white clothing.”
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How can lemon juice be used to clean bedding in spring?
It might sound bizarre, but lemon juice contains a compound called citric acid, which can break down sweat, oils and other stains to help clean white fabric.
Lemon juice will weaken the stains so they are mostly gone, and when you hang the bedding outside, the sunlight will react with the citric acid to finish cleaning them.
Sunlight contains ultraviolet rays, which will speed up the breakdown of sweat stains and help naturally whiten laundry, so you can wash your bedding without harsh chemicals.
Bleach is usually not recommended for removing sweat because it does not break down the oils that cause fabrics to appear dull and dingy.
Using bleach can also set the protein in organic stains like sweat, leading to more yellow stains that are harder to wash out.
Spring is the perfect time to remove winter buildup from your bedding using lemon juice, a natural solution that avoids harsh chemicals and protects your skin.
The sunlight laundry method works well on white or light-colored fabrics that are often exposed to sweat, including sheets, duvet covers, pillowcases, t-shirts, and socks
How to deep clean bedding using lemon juice
To clean your bedding, add 250ml of lemon juice to a washing machine and then wash it like you normally would.
Hang your bedding outside before 11am on a sunny day, and then let it dry. They should look dazzling white and brand new within a few hours.
It is important to hang the bedding outside well before noon, when the sun is at its highest, as it will be when the ultraviolet light is stronger and will break down stains faster.
If you want to deep clean your bedding, then you can also soak it in a basin, bathtub or even a sink.
Just mix four litres of hot water with 250ml of lemon juice. It is fine to use bottled lemon juice, but citric acid will be a lot more potent if you are able to use freshly squeezed lemons.
Place your white or light-coloured bedding in the basin and leave it to soak overnight for several hours.
Put the bedding in the washing machine in the morning, then leave it outdoors to dry, and it should be sparkling clean without having to use any harsh chemicals.
