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Comment by 'Mark Tamayo' on Whitening Cotton/Polyester Blends

Mark Tamayo — Fri, 24 May 2013 15:57:42 -0700

I soaked a white shirt longer than I should have and it turned a little yellow. Can I get it back to white?

Comment by 'Dr. Laundry' on Whitening Cotton/Polyester Blends

Dr. Laundry — Fri, 24 May 2013 15:57:42 -0700

Hi Mark, Unforunately the damage (yellowing) to your shirt is permanent. We never recommend soaking garmets for longer than 5 minutes. Sorry I don't have better news!

Comment by 'Cindy Lloyd' on Whitening Cotton/Polyester Blends

Cindy Lloyd — Fri, 24 May 2013 15:57:42 -0700

Many say that you actually shouldn't use chlorine bleach for cotton/polyester blends (e.g., http://bit.ly/rQO5IR). So is there a definitive answer to this? Perhaps it is a percentage such as "no more than 40% polyester". Instead, it may be that we shouldn't use bleach every single time the garment is laundered or perhaps no more than once per month. Anything like these. I'm trying to figure out what the real truth is. I know that many people are alarmists, so information such as "never use chlorine bleach on polyester" may not even be factual at all. It's very hard to obtain reliable information sometimes. Any help is appreciated.

Comment by 'Dr. Laundry' on Whitening Cotton/Polyester Blends

Dr. Laundry — Fri, 24 May 2013 15:57:42 -0700

Hi Cindy, The best place for a definitive answer to whether or not polyester fibers can be safely washed with sodium hypochlorite bleaches like Clorox Regular-Bleach is any textile chemistry textbook. So yes, the fiber can be safely laundered with bleach. Typically, colored polyester fibers can also be bleached since the dye is applied to the liquid polyester polymer before it is extruded into fiber form. And polyester blended with cotton, regardless of the ratio of polyester to cotton, can also be bleached as long as the item is colorfast to bleach. What you have to watch out for is spandex, which can NOT be washed with sodium hypochlorite bleach. For those items, an overnight pre-soak with an oxygen bleach like Clorox2® Stain Fighter and Color Booster followed by a hot water wash (or at least the warmest water recommended on the care label) with detergent and more Clorox2 gives excellent whitening results. To determine if an item is colorfast to bleach, you can always use the bleachability test: add 2 teaspoons Clorox Regular-Bleach to ¼ cup water and apply a drop of this solution to a hidden part of the item (like a hem, inside seam or cuff). Wait 1 minute and then blot dry—no color change means the item can be safely bleached. Hope that helps! - Dr. Laundry

Comment by 'Have You Ever Thought About Amazing Flannel Sheets | internet article marketing, read articles online for free, blogging articles' on Whitening Cotton/Polyester Blends

Fri, 24 May 2013 15:57:42 -0700

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