I try not to use any soaps or detergents with O.Bs, just too weird to me, so on occasion I'll use a little bluing in the first rinse...
Anyone else out there bluing, besides me?
Anyone else out there bluing, besides me?
Bluing
- Thread starter stan
- Start date
launderess
Well-known member
Have Tons Of It
All bluing does is provide shades of blue or blue-green tint to laundry. This on the working theory that in much of Northern Americas and EU blue-white is seen as brighter. In other parts of the world a slightly red tinted white is seen as "whiter".
Being as all this may bluing per se does not contain OBAs and also can make laundry appear dull. The dulling comes from several factors including materials used to make up the blue, and the fact that unlike chemical fabric whitening agents bluing does not reflect UV light.
True bluing should not be confused products like La France or Blue White. Those products had in addition to coloring agents OBAs (La France called theirs "Luminess") which reflected UV light as above.
If you look at vintage white textiles made before such things were routinely treated with OBAS both at time of manufacture and later exposed to laundry products containing FWAs, they will seem duller and less "whiter than white". Same as what happens when modern white/bright fabrics are laundered often without using OBA containing products.
Despite tree-hugger and other such worries, OBAS do not permanently affix to fabrics, but can and are washed away at each laundering. Eventually if not replaced as noted above thing appear dull. You can "brighten" such items again by washing in products containing OBAS.
While one does fine bluing useful, for now when such things are called for use some of the La France in my stash. It is far easier to work with and less likely to cause problems such as staining.
Oh yes, heavy handed use of bluing will not make laundry any whiter/brighter, just darkly stained blue and again duller. Think of bluing as a finishing touch to laundry that is already quite clean and bright or white.
All bluing does is provide shades of blue or blue-green tint to laundry. This on the working theory that in much of Northern Americas and EU blue-white is seen as brighter. In other parts of the world a slightly red tinted white is seen as "whiter".
Being as all this may bluing per se does not contain OBAs and also can make laundry appear dull. The dulling comes from several factors including materials used to make up the blue, and the fact that unlike chemical fabric whitening agents bluing does not reflect UV light.
True bluing should not be confused products like La France or Blue White. Those products had in addition to coloring agents OBAs (La France called theirs "Luminess") which reflected UV light as above.
If you look at vintage white textiles made before such things were routinely treated with OBAS both at time of manufacture and later exposed to laundry products containing FWAs, they will seem duller and less "whiter than white". Same as what happens when modern white/bright fabrics are laundered often without using OBA containing products.
Despite tree-hugger and other such worries, OBAS do not permanently affix to fabrics, but can and are washed away at each laundering. Eventually if not replaced as noted above thing appear dull. You can "brighten" such items again by washing in products containing OBAS.
While one does fine bluing useful, for now when such things are called for use some of the La France in my stash. It is far easier to work with and less likely to cause problems such as staining.
Oh yes, heavy handed use of bluing will not make laundry any whiter/brighter, just darkly stained blue and again duller. Think of bluing as a finishing touch to laundry that is already quite clean and bright or white.
Hello Dear
I've used a true bluing product... vintage Bleachette I got from you! LOL Thanks
If used correctly it works really well, as it contains perfect shades of pigments to achieve a "white" result. Better than Mrs Stewarts. IMHO.
As I say, its only on occasion, not a part of my normal routine, just curious to know if I was alone out here still hanging on to the stuff !
I'm not expecting too many to be using it. As you know, it requires correct dilution, and a little babysitting with the machine to use.
Since I don't have a T.L machine, I'm not sure how, or if those with F.L machine could use?
I've used a true bluing product... vintage Bleachette I got from you! LOL Thanks
If used correctly it works really well, as it contains perfect shades of pigments to achieve a "white" result. Better than Mrs Stewarts. IMHO.
As I say, its only on occasion, not a part of my normal routine, just curious to know if I was alone out here still hanging on to the stuff !
I'm not expecting too many to be using it. As you know, it requires correct dilution, and a little babysitting with the machine to use.
Since I don't have a T.L machine, I'm not sure how, or if those with F.L machine could use?
launderess
Well-known member
Why they call that stuff "bleachette" is beyond me, but then again La France claims to whiten better than any bleach, to there you are.
Recently added another type of bluing (it is in a stick form) to my stash so don't bother with the Reckitt's or Bleachette cube bluing.
IIRC Polkanut still uses bluing and a few other members. Quite honestly most detergents such as Tide are so loading with OBAs the need for adding bluing is minimal at best.
Have used bluing of all sorts in the Miele, but doing so in any front loader requires caution and extreme care. Otherwise you can end up with badly stained/streaked washing. Mrs. Stewarts is a big worry because such stains caused by that product are very difficult to shift. Bleachette OTO seems to wash right out, especially if one does a hot to boil wash.
Recently added another type of bluing (it is in a stick form) to my stash so don't bother with the Reckitt's or Bleachette cube bluing.
IIRC Polkanut still uses bluing and a few other members. Quite honestly most detergents such as Tide are so loading with OBAs the need for adding bluing is minimal at best.
Have used bluing of all sorts in the Miele, but doing so in any front loader requires caution and extreme care. Otherwise you can end up with badly stained/streaked washing. Mrs. Stewarts is a big worry because such stains caused by that product are very difficult to shift. Bleachette OTO seems to wash right out, especially if one does a hot to boil wash.
Stick form?
Must be used similar to Bleachette?
Do tell!
Must be used similar to Bleachette?
Do tell!
launderess
Well-known member
No, different than Bleachette.
Will look tomorrow when in the laundry room and report back. IIRC it was an older product, even before Bleachette. I like it because it gives a clear blue like Mrs. Stewarts, and not the cloudy particulate you get with most cube/powder bluing.
Will look tomorrow when in the laundry room and report back. IIRC it was an older product, even before Bleachette. I like it because it gives a clear blue like Mrs. Stewarts, and not the cloudy particulate you get with most cube/powder bluing.
I still use bluing from time to time. Since it just takes a few drops, I still have a bottle of Mrs. Stewart's I purchased many years ago.
polkanut
Well-known member
Yes I do still use bluing but switch off with BIZ. My Grandma Baumann used Blu White/LaFrance in the washer, and Mrs Stewart's in the rinse at the same time, and her laundry was horribly dull to the point of looking gray. I especially like to use bluing if the laundry is going out on the clothesline.
[this post was last edited: 10/3/2013-16:50]
[this post was last edited: 10/3/2013-16:50]
I haven't blued in ages. I have a bottle of Mrs Stewart that was given to me a long time ago. I guess that one bottle is enough for many years! Will try it on some tighty whiteys soon.
Careful
Don't use too much.
When I do use Mrs Stewarts...
I add about 3, or 4 drops to a cup of water, and stir. Then slowly pour into a already agitating rinse cycle.
As Laundress has pointed out up thread, Mrs Stewarts is hard to get out, if not used correctly, or over used.
Don't use too much.
When I do use Mrs Stewarts...
I add about 3, or 4 drops to a cup of water, and stir. Then slowly pour into a already agitating rinse cycle.
As Laundress has pointed out up thread, Mrs Stewarts is hard to get out, if not used correctly, or over used.
launderess
Well-known member
polkanut
Well-known member
I purchased a case of Bluette about 3yrs ago so I'll be set for quite some time.
angus
Well-known member
I still blue regularly using Bluette liquid. As noted, you really have to be careful and dilute first in a separate container and add during the final rinse fill. I wait until the washer is almost completely full and add the diluted bluing under the fill flume. Of course, you aren't trying to dye the clothes so less is more. This was one area where the GE Filter Flo excelled. I would add the bluing to the filter stream so it was well diluted before it hit the clothes.
My mother used Bleachette for years until it was no longer available. And if I recall, Bluette liquid was originally named Bleachette liquid. And I guess the name Bleachette was intended to mean "sort of like bleach from a whitening standpoint, but isn't".
I have never been a fan of Mrs Stewart's. While I like the clear blue color, it is incredibly difficult to work with and will stain dreadfully. Almost like a dye.
I recently was in a "Food Bazaar" ethnic supermarket and found a few boxes of Reckitt's Crown Blue. I just need to get the cheesecloth to use with it...
My mother used Bleachette for years until it was no longer available. And if I recall, Bluette liquid was originally named Bleachette liquid. And I guess the name Bleachette was intended to mean "sort of like bleach from a whitening standpoint, but isn't".
I have never been a fan of Mrs Stewart's. While I like the clear blue color, it is incredibly difficult to work with and will stain dreadfully. Almost like a dye.
I recently was in a "Food Bazaar" ethnic supermarket and found a few boxes of Reckitt's Crown Blue. I just need to get the cheesecloth to use with it...
launderess
Well-known member
Reckitt's Crown Blue In Ethnic Markets
Bluing is used in voodoo which could explain why it was found where it was.
http://www.luckymojo.com/bluestone.html
Bluing is used in voodoo which could explain why it was found where it was.
http://www.luckymojo.com/bluestone.html
launderess
Well-known member
Certain types of bluing
Could be and were used also as ink, which is why you need to be really careful in usage.
Liquid bluing like Mrs. Stewarts seems to be the main winner in that category.
Thing with any bluing but especially liquids like Mrs. Stewart's it to always have product well diluted before being introduced to the rinse bath, and or said water fully mixed with product before laundry is added. The other thing is that there cannot be "spots" or bits of undiluted bluing in the water. This is less of a problem with cube blues but can be a large one with liquids and or solid forms such as sticks.
What happens is that drips or otherwise leftover bluing dries either around the bottle top or around the stick, these bits flake off into the next batch of prepared solution but may not always fully dissolve. If they aren't then they most likely will spot or stain.
Reason one prefers the stick or Mrs. Stewart's bluing in one's collection is that most cube/powdered blue contains a good amount of clay and other solids. It is these particulate matter that causes much of the "dulling" one sees after using such bluing. You can test how much solids are in your bluing by taking a large glass vessel (measuring cup, jar, etc...), fill it with water then swish about a small amount of blue, then allow the thing to sit. After awhile the solids will fall out of solution and rest on the bottom.
The other reason one does not like cube bluing is most are based on iron oxides. If you do a sour rinse and or use any sort of acid bath you get a scent rather like rotten eggs. This can happen even one or two subsequent launderings later even if the blue wasn't used again. The scent is caused by a chemical reaction between the iron oxides and acids.
Could be and were used also as ink, which is why you need to be really careful in usage.
Liquid bluing like Mrs. Stewarts seems to be the main winner in that category.
Thing with any bluing but especially liquids like Mrs. Stewart's it to always have product well diluted before being introduced to the rinse bath, and or said water fully mixed with product before laundry is added. The other thing is that there cannot be "spots" or bits of undiluted bluing in the water. This is less of a problem with cube blues but can be a large one with liquids and or solid forms such as sticks.
What happens is that drips or otherwise leftover bluing dries either around the bottle top or around the stick, these bits flake off into the next batch of prepared solution but may not always fully dissolve. If they aren't then they most likely will spot or stain.
Reason one prefers the stick or Mrs. Stewart's bluing in one's collection is that most cube/powdered blue contains a good amount of clay and other solids. It is these particulate matter that causes much of the "dulling" one sees after using such bluing. You can test how much solids are in your bluing by taking a large glass vessel (measuring cup, jar, etc...), fill it with water then swish about a small amount of blue, then allow the thing to sit. After awhile the solids will fall out of solution and rest on the bottom.
The other reason one does not like cube bluing is most are based on iron oxides. If you do a sour rinse and or use any sort of acid bath you get a scent rather like rotten eggs. This can happen even one or two subsequent launderings later even if the blue wasn't used again. The scent is caused by a chemical reaction between the iron oxides and acids.
Similar threads
