The Bane of My White Wardrobe
I love white shirts. They go with everything. They can be dressed up or down. I have a drawer full of white T-shirts and about 1/5 of the shirts hanging in my closet are white. Here’s the problem. I also love food and red wine, and I’m a bit of a klutz.
I’m usually pretty good at getting to stains right away, and I keep a small bottle of Shout in the laundry, although I try to use it as sparingly as possible. I’ve become a huge believer in the power of the sun to take care of keeping my whites white.
But last fall, I didn’t notice that there was a stain on one of my favorite white gauze blouses, and when I pulled it out this spring, there it was — big, yellow, front and center. I don’t know what made the stain. I tried the Shout and hung the shirt in the sun, but it didn’t work. I guess the stain had set for too long.
The Lemon and Salt Solution
This past weekend, I decided I was going to tackle that stain. This time, I used a natural combination of lemon juice, Kosher salt, and nine hours in the sun. I’m excited to say that my shirt is now wearable again.
The area where the stain was is still slightly off-color, but I really have to look at it to notice it. I can wear the shirt now, and I’m planning on doing the lemon juice treatment again next time the shirt needs to be washed. I’m hopeful that another treatment will take care of it completely.
To get rid of the stain on my blouse, here’s how I used lemon juice, salt and a day in the sun:
- I squeezed fresh lemon juice directly onto the stain.
- Then I sprinkled a generous amount of Kosher salt over the lemon juice.
- I gently rubbed the lemon juice and salt into the fabric, making sure to work it in well.
- Finally, I hung the shirt out in the sun for about 9 hours, checking on it periodically.
The Science Behind It
But, if table salt is NaCl, and if lemon juice contains water, shouldn’t the salt dissolve releasing Cl- ions? How is that different from using bleach?
According to the Reddit thread, the lemon juice contains citric acid, which reacts with the salt to produce hypochlorous acid. This mild bleaching agent is effective at removing stains without damaging the fabric, unlike harsh chlorine bleach.
The sun’s UV rays also help to lift and fade the stain by breaking down the stain compounds. As the article on TreeHugger explains, the combination of lemon juice, salt, and sunlight is a powerful natural stain-fighting trio.
Beyond Lemon and Salt
Of course, lemon juice and salt won’t work on every type of stain. The experts at the Environmental Working Group suggest using other natural solutions like white vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, and even your own dishwashing detergent for tougher stains.
And sometimes, no matter what you try at home, a stain just won’t budge. That’s when it’s time to call in the professionals. That’s why I’m so glad to have Adam Cleaning in Nottingham – they use eco-friendly products and processes to tackle even the most stubborn stains.
So the next time you’re faced with a stubborn stain, don’t reach for the harsh chemicals. Reach for the lemon juice and salt instead. With a little elbow grease and some sunshine, you can lift even the toughest stains and keep your whites looking bright and fresh.
