How to Keep Your Whites White:

Expert Care Tips for Bedding and Bath

There’s nothing quite like crisp, bright white bedding or a fresh stack of fluffy white towels. They instantly elevate your home—bringing a sense of calm, luxury, and simple beauty to your everyday routines. But anyone who loves white linens knows the challenge: keeping them truly white over time.

The good news? With the right habits and products, maintaining bright whites is absolutely achievable. From washing techniques to stain removal and proper storage, here’s how to keep your white bedding and bath linens looking as beautiful as the day you brought them home.

Start With Quality Fabrics

Before we even get into laundry routines, it’s important to note that natural fibers—such as cotton, linen, or bamboo—naturally resist discoloration better than performance fabrics. They wash cleaner, release stains more easily, and last significantly longer.

Investing in high quality bedding may pay off in the long haul!

Treat Stains Immediately

Nothing affects white bedding and towels faster than untreated stains. Whether it’s makeup, body oils, skincare products, or spills, prompt treatment keeps stains from setting into the fibers.

Your Best Tools for Whites:

• Whoops! Stain Remover: A fast-acting stain treatment perfect for everyday bedding and towel mishaps—makeup marks, food, sweat, pet accidents, or small spills. It works on contact, is safe for delicate fabrics, and is ideal for spot-treating before laundering.
• Wine Stain Remover: Designed specifically for red wine emergencies (because we’ve all had them). This formula lifts fresh or set-in wine stains from bedding, linens, and even upholstery without damaging fibers. Keep it on hand if you enjoy a glass in bed or while lounging.

Treating stains early—ideally right away—makes a dramatic difference in maintaining the brightness of your whites.

Wash Whites the Right Way

Whites require a little extra care in the washing machine. These habits ensure your bedding and towels stay crisp instead of gradually yellowing or turning dull.

Wash Frequently

Invisible oils, skincare residue, sweat, and dust slowly discolor white fabrics. Washing more frequently helps prevent the gradual buildup that creates a dingy look.

For best results:

• Sheets: weekly
• Pillowcases: weekly (sometimes twice per week for skin/hair oils)
• Towels: every 3–4 days

Avoid Overloading the Washer

Crowded loads prevent thorough rinsing and allow oils to redistribute across your whites. Give bedding and towels room to move freely.

Use Warm (Not Hot) Water

Warm water cleans effectively without weakening fibers. Hot water is safe for most towels but can cause long-term breakdown of delicate bedding fabrics.

Choose Gentle Detergent—and Use Less Than You Think

Excess detergent and softeners cause residue buildup that dulls whites. A mild, clean-rinsing formula is best.

Skip Fabric Softeners

Softeners coat fibers, making them appear yellowed over time and reducing absorbency in towels. If you want natural freshness, add:

• ½ cup baking soda to the wash, or
• ½ cup white vinegar during the rinse cycle

Both brighten whites and remove odors without damaging fibers.

Pro Tip: Avoid chlorine bleach. It can yellow natural fibers and deepen stains caused by oils, sunscreen, and skincare products.

The Bottom Line

With a little thoughtful care, your whites can stay bright, clean, and luxurious for years to come.