Hard water (high iron content) and bleach turned my whites yellow...how can i get them white again?

[saz1]

Moved to a new place with hard water. Unknowingly, i soaked my whites in bleach and hard water and everything is now off white (yellow almost). I'm learning its because the bleach rusted the iron in the water which then transfered to my clothes. Well, at least thats my hypothesis. I do know they were bright white before soaking them. Also, the water did turn yellow when i added the bleach. I didn't notice until it was all said and done.

Question now is...how do i get them white again? I heard IronOut can be a solution, but its not available here. I also heard baking soda would do the trick, but that didn't work. Any DIY solution i could put together that would get the job done? I don't think i would be able to get a product for this job from the laundry section at the supermarket so i'm thinking of making a trip to the chemicals store perhaps. Just need the shopping list.

Appreciate any point in the right direction!

 

[polkanut]

You should be able to order Iron Out from Wal Mart and either pick it up in store or have it delivered.

 

Robot or human?

 

[saz1]

polkanut. Yeah...i dont think Walmart delivers internationally.

 

[pumper]

As Phyllis says...

 

[saz1]

pumper...
Any chance you know what the active ingredient is?

 

[thomasortega]

try some oxalic acid mixed with water... very little...

 

[ea56]

Try Whink, its available at most hardware and big box stores. The active ingredient is oxalic acid, which Tomas recommended in the post above. My family had well water, loaded with iron when I was a teen. The first time Mom did a load of whites with Clorox the clothes had streaks of rust all over them. The local hardware store recommended Whink to remove the stains. It also works wonders on toilets stained with iron.

After you get the stains out, NEVER use chlorine bleach again, use Oxi Clean in your white loads, or something comparable instead. And be very cafeful using the oxalic acid, its very caustic.

HTH,
Eddie

http://https//www.amazon.com/Whink-1081-Rust-Stain-Remover/dp/B000LNQNM0?psc=1&SubscriptionId=AKIAJ2F6RDUSIYCWQMFQ&tag=sa-sym-new-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=B000LNQNM0

 

[polkanut]

Ooops!

When I saw the "LA" behind your name I thought it meant Louisiana.

 

 

[saz1]

Can't say i've met anyone who would have Louisiana come to their mind when they see LA

 

[DADoES]

 
LA is the U.S. two-letter postal code for the state of Louisiana.  Also commonly refers to the California city of Los Angeles.