Answer Line FAQs
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What makes my white clothes look dingy, gray, or yellow when I've just washed them?

If your clothes do not look white and bright, you may not be using water that is hot enough to properly dissolve the detergent and rinse the dirt away during washing. Water temperature must be above 60 degrees F for detergent to be effective, even if it is a "cold" water detergent. Usually a crammed washer with less than recommended detergent and cold water leads to dirty (tattle-tale gray) clothes. Do not overload the washer if you want soil and odor to be completely removed from clothes.


Author: Jan Stone, Extension Specialist
Related Information:
Consumer Choices: Getting Better Laundry Results [http://www.extension.iastate.edu/Publications/PM1664.pdf]
Iowa State University Extension Publication with information about laundry techniques
 
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