Why do my white clothes that get stored away turn all yellow!? ?

Question

Why do my white clothes that get stored away turn all yellow!? ?

Answer 1

Do you smoke? nicotine will cause whites to turn yellow..best thing to do is to put your whites in plastic bags if you are storing them away

Answer 2

If you use bleach this can be cause of yellowing.

Use rust remover to try to get them white again.

Answer 3

It is caused by detergent and other residues.  I collect vintage and antique linens and they have often been improperly stored.  Often people use plastic to store garments which will react with those residues and turn the fibers yellow.  A simple vinegar rinse after washing white garments helps, as does storing items in acid free tissue and boxes.  You can treat the white garments and make them white again.  If it is  a small item, like napkin, handerchief, table linens, you can soak the item in denture cleaning tablets letting them fully dissolve in warm water and soaking the item over night. If it is a larger item, dissolve 3 scoops of oxyclean in warm water and add some oxygenated bleach free detergent soaking the item until the stains are gone.  Then, add a full cup of white vinegar to the rinse water water.

Answer 4

They just do, I don't know why.  This happens very quickly in a heated airing cupboard.  I have seen people store wedding dresses and christening gowns in blue paper to prevent this.  You could also store them in some sort of bag but I think a plastic bag my not be the best thing because of air circulation.  I have found this on white clothes that have not been worn for some time and in this case they always return to their former whiteness once washed.