Bluing... when do you add it?

[mrb627]

If you use Bluing, when do you add it and what are you using for a washing machine?

When I used a FL in the past, I hated adding diluted bluing to the dispenser as it would stain the inside of it.

What do you do?

Malcolm

 

[joelippard]

I add it in the wash water before I put any clothes into the water. I start the water, put my detergent in, add the bluing into the water stream and then when it gets up to a half tub I let it agitate and mix everything together, then I let it finish filling while adding the clothes. I'm using Frigidaire Rollermatic Solid Tubs, and 1-18 Perf Tub. It rinses thoroughly and everything turns out nice and bright. I do know you must use it carefully as it can stain if handled improperly. They used to make a wonderful powdered bluing called "Blu-White" My grandmother swore by it, and I wish I could still get it.

 

[danmantn]

Bluing rocks! I always put it in the WASH cycle...but don't use any enzyme products with it!

#### From Mrs. Stewart's Website ####

--Front Load Instructions at bottom.

Always dilute bluing in cold water
BEFORE adding to wash load or rinse water.

1. Mix a few drops or up to 1/4 teaspoon of bluing (depending on wash load size) in a quart or more of water.

2. Add diluted bluing to wash water or final rinse (water should appear light sky blue).
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Determining how much bluing to use depends upon the load setting of the washing machine and whether it is being used in the wash water or in the rinse water. Generally, when using Mrs. Stewart's Bluing in the wash water, use approximately 1/4 teaspoonful and if used in the rinse water, less than 1/8 teaspoon. Always mix the bluing in a container of clear, cold water before pouring into the machine. Avoid pouring bluing from the bottle into the machine when clothes are present, as any fiber can absorb an excess of undiluted bluing, causing spotting. An easy way to use bluing is to measure the bluing into an old empty 2 quart or gallon pitcher or container and fill with cold water. Then it can be poured into the machine with clothes present, in either the wash or rinse cycle.

We do not recommend that bluing be used in conjunction with bleach and/or fabric softener. There is no worry of hazardous chemical reaction. However, we do know that bleach encourages more permanent adherence of bluing to fabric and it is generally recommended by most fabric softener manufactures that fabric softener not be used in conjunction with any other laundry product. It is important to know that bluing is not a stain remover, it is a fabric whitener. Bleach is very good for removing stains but can damage your fabric easily. Bluing is very gentle on fabric and will not harm the fibers. We do not recommend dispensing bluing from your automatic fabric softener dispenser as most dispensers are not large enough to allow for enough dilution and spotting can occur. We also do not recommend soaking clothing in bluing water. A simple dip or rinse is sufficient.

For re-bluing faded denim jeans, use more bluing than directed.

## FRONT LOAD USE ##

If you have used too much bluing or accidentally spilled full-strength bluing on your clothing and are concerned with blue tinting or spotting, please click here for "Removal of Excess Bluing".

Using Mrs. Stewart's Bluing in High Efficiency and Front-Loading Washing Machines

Our general recommendation for automatic top loading washers is to first dilute 1/4 teaspoon of bluing (or less, depending on wash load size) in 1-2 quarts of water. Then, you add the diluted bluing to your already full wash or rinse cycle.

It is important that bluing is well diluted before coming in contact with fabric. This principal still applies with high efficiency and front-loading washing machines.

Most high efficiency and front-loading machines use less water than automatic machines. this means the bluing will ultimately be less diluted.

Do the dispensing drawers on your washer remain unlocked during the cycle, allowing you to add 1-2 quarts of liquid through the dispenser directly into the cycle after it has already filled with water? if so, simply dilute MSB as directed on the bottle and pour the diluted bluing through the dispensing drawer into the cycle after it has filled with water.

If the drawers on your washer lock, we recommend that you dilute MSB as directed on the bottle and then put as much diluted bluing as will fit into the largest available drawer.

You may wish to do some "testing" on old sheets or rags before proceeding to use MSB with garments or good bedding. Today, there are many designs in the high efficiency and front-loading categary of washing machines and each handles the entry of product into the machine differently. So, you may want to experiment.

Many of our loyal customers are using MSB successfully in their high efficiency and front-loading washing machines.

http://www.mrsstewart.com/pages/instructions.htm

 

[mrb627]

Front Loader

With my SQ FL machine, I will mix 2 drops of bluing in a cup of warm water. I pour the bluing into the emtpy tub allowing it to drain through to the outer tub. The I will either dry the tub to remove the excess bluing mixture or turn the tub so that the wet spot is up at the 10 o'clock position. Then load clothes and proceed as normal.

Malcolm

 

[xraytech]

I use a Kenmore Top Loader.

I add a few drops of bluing diluted in a mason jar to the water as I fill the washer before adding clothes.

I also dilute some bluing in a quart of water and add to the 1st rinse also

 

[rll70sman]

Like Sam, I also use a top loader and dilute the bluing with cold water in a quart canning jar. The Mrs. Stewart's Home Washing Guide states that bluing is more effective if added to the rinse water. So, I wait until the wash tub is almost full and then add the bluing solution. It seems to work great; my whites are definitely whiter than washing with laundry soap and OxyClean alone.

 

[jeffg]

I try and remind people whenever this subject comes up: bluing does not make clothes whiter or cleaner. It stains them a very light blue color, which the eye perceives as a bright white.

The reason to keep this in mind is, if you're getting yellowing or graying on your whites, all bluing does is hide the problem, it doesn't fix it. If possible, it's preferable to use Charlie's Laundry Powder or similar product designed to remove detergent buildup from your whites. This should restore their true bright white color.

 

[toggleswitch2]

~It stains them a very light blue color, which the eye perceives as a bright white.

Because yellow + blue= white.

The blue-hairs are simply trying to get the yellow out of their gray. It is not really grey at all; it is white hairs + their original color.

 

[peterh770]

I never got any kind of results unless I used at least a teaspoonful -- probably closer to a tablespoonful -- in the last rinse of a frontloader. The water is decidedly blue.

 

[launderess]

Bluing

Blue and yellow are opposite each other on the colour wheel, so they cancel out. That is our eyes see "blue white" as whiter and brighter than "yellow white".

There was an old laundress adage that properly washed laundry does not require bluing (or that often), and that laundry which has never been blued, will not require it.

That being said here are a few pointers:

If using any sort of laundry blue in a front loader, dilute, dilute DILUTE! Liquid bluings, especially those like Mrs. Stewarts are not that far removed from ink. If they spot or streak laundry often such stains cannot be removed.

I prefer bluing cubes (have a stash of Reckitt's and "Bleachette", because it can be easily washed out if the laundry is over blued.

 

[abcomatic]

the last rinse

When using the wringer machines, I add bluing to the last rinse tub of water. In the automatic, dilute it to the last rinse before adding to the machine as it fills. Great on white clothes when you hang them outside. I can't wait for spring to see the sheets flapping in the breeze.

 

[peterh770]

I heard that if you hang out your wash on the line, then bluing is much more effective. Something about the heat of the dryer destroys it. Any truth to this?

 

[whitekingd]

I follow the directions that Mrs. Stewart's Bluing had on the bottle in the 70's. Use 2 teaspoons in the wash, or one teaspoon in the rinse, diluted of course in a quart or two of water. I swear by it!!

 

[angus]

I use Bluette liquid, a descendant of the Bleachette solid chunks. Always dilute and add to the final rinse around mid fill. When I had my GE filter=flo, always added it to the filter stream as the agitation started.

 

[tomturbomatic]

I remember La France powdered bluing which was added to the wash. Liquid bluing was added to the rinse and had a cork stopper.

Does anyone remember growing a salt garden on a lump of coal? I remember the teacher adding bluing to the salt solution to color the crystals.

 

[tlee618]

Sure do Tom, use to do this every year with my classes and they all though it was so neat!!

 

[launderess]

LaFrance

Technically was not a "bluing" for ages after it's introduction. But rather a blue tinted "laundry booster" with some of the first optical whitening agent chemicals. Boxes of LaFrance first with this feature were called "Luminess"

Historicaly white laundry was only put through a bluing rinse if items required. That is to say in the days of wash tubs, twin tubs, wringers,etc where laundry would have been moved from tub to tub for rinsing, or wrung out in a spin drier or mangle, then rinsed in another tub or fresh machine tub or whatever of water, only items that needed bluing (ie those that were yellowed), got a trip through the final blue rinse.
If one were washing new sheets or shirts that were not yellow tinged, they did not nor should have been blued. Thus such items simply went on to whatever the next step on the laundry process was.

This prevented over bluing items which actually makes things dingy and grey.

Bluing, unlike modern OBAs does tend to make items a bit duller, if not looking whiter. When persons claim their laundry looks really bright white after bluing, that probably has more to do with the combination of OBA agents in the detergent, then the final bluing rinse.

If items are either left in the bluing bath too long, and or too much product is used, they will take on a dull and grey tone. This is one of the reasons bluing was done in the final rinse, which would have been much shorter than a wash.

Also some bluings contain iron, which would react with chemicals in soaps (then most common laundry "detergent" for ages, and produce horrible brown spots when items were ironed. To prevent this laundry that was blued had to be rinsed free of all traces of soap.

Try this test: Either take items that have been blued and rinse them in a bath containing white vinegar. If the bluing used contains iron, you will get a metal type whiff off the laundry/in the wash tub. Same applies if one blues laundry after a rinse bath where white vinegar was added.

Mrs. Stewart's bluing, does not contain iron, but rather is pretty much similar to ink. My vintage bottle is a greenish blue, and like ink undiluted, the stuff will stain anything it comes into contact with. This is why you really only need a drop or two.

 

[dogboy44]

I never put in the wash before

but I will give it a try, I put a couple drops of Mrs. Stewart's in the fabric softner dispeser on my Fridigaire Infinity (diluted) and get great results. I have also put it in with fabric softner with the same success.

 

[westingman123]

final touch

I really liked original Final Touch, "with bluing for extra whiteness". The new version just isn't the same, although far better than the concentrated stuff that packs the grocery shelves, IMO. I use bluing when I wash with the wringers. I add it to the final rinse as Grandma taught us. I'd agree that line dried laundry is often whiter, but I think that has more to do with the sun than anything. What ya'll think?