100% cotton, do not bleach. Why? Why? Why?

7 years ago

I know there has been a 1000 posts about sheets. But I don't remember this being addressed. I want white sheets, 100% cotton I can bleach. DIdn't we all bleach white sheets years ago?

I bought a set of white pillowcases today to test to see if I like the feel etc. I can always use more pillowcases. You can't get to the actual product anymore due to those little shoplifter things in the zipper of the bag. So when I got the pillowcases open at home, the little tag says "cold water wash, no bleach". Are you kidding me? Why? They are 100% cotton and white. Does anyone have an answer to this? Do you bleach them anyway? IS the cotton so poor that holes will immediately fall into them?

Featured Answer

Lars

7 years ago

Chlorine bleach weakens the cotton fibers, and so if they are thin/fine to begin with, they can develop holes. Better to use Oxyclean - I have found that it works better to get my whites whiter. You can also check the laundry forum. I try not to post there, but I do use the search function there. I was told that they do not like for you to ask a question there that they have already discussed, but I managed to come up with some original questions anyway - not deliberately, but by accident.

Comments (11)

Kim in PL (SoCal zone 10/Sunset 24)
7 years ago
Repeated bleaching will yellow whites.
ladypat1 thanked Kim in PL (SoCal zone 10/Sunset 24)
lascatx
7 years ago
There are white cotton fabrics that will discolor with a single application of bleach -- not even an issue of repeated use. I don't know what they are doing, but I had a shirt where I carefully tired to spot treat a stain that would not come turn dark. It was 100% white cotton, so I felt safe -- then later spotted a side tag that said not to use bleach. Shirt was ruined If it says no bleach, I wouldn't use bleach.
ladypat1 thanked lascatx
Related Discussions
When I take a picture why do my flowers bleach out?
Q
Comments (20)
Your problem is that the pale pink flowers are overexposed, in a see of dark green leaves. This is what your camera will automatically do if you set it to the "automatic" or "point and shoot" mode. The key is to control the following: 1. The object lighting 2. The background (and foreground) lighting 3. Controlling contrast in your composition 4. Camera settings of speed, aperture and ISO. You need to experiment - i.e. "fool around" - with your camera. It's much easier to learn nowadays with the digital camera. In the "old days" of film cameras, one would have to shoot at different apertures, speed, ISO, take the film to develop and then see the results. And, of course, there is the cost of the film and the developing. I would start off with simple manouvres - try varying the aperture - which determines how much light is allowed in to hit the sensor for a given period of time that the shutter is open. The smaller the number, the more light that's allowed in. The higher the number, the less light. You can do this either with the manual setting (usually "M") or a selection on your camera called aperture priority ("A" or "Av"). Once you have "fixed" the aperture size, you then compensate for the variation in light hitting the sensor by varying the shutter speed, and the "film" speed - the ISO setting. If your camera has an Av or A setting, then, I won't worry about those - just switch to Av, select the aperture size and camera will do the rest. Unfortunately, I don't believe there is an Av or A setting on the Power Shot SD400 - you have to set it to M (manual mode) and get into the menu to select the ISO's. Refer to the owner's manual. An interesting impact of varying the aperture is that you will vary the "depth of field". The depth of field is the distance range of the picture where all objects will be withing focus. The larger the aperture, the narrower the range, rendering every thing outside of that range out of focus. You can use this to advantage, as, together with careful lighting, you can make an object "pop" out of the background, like this: However, it won't be much good if you want a picture of a whole bush or a whole bed - in which case, you would use a smaller aperture setting. There is an excellent on-line resource, DigitalPhotography.com, which gives fairly clear tutorials on the various aspects of digital photography.
...See More
why is my red salvia looking so bleached?m
Q
Comments (13)
Tropical sage (salvia coccinea) is a tender perennial which gets 3 feet or taller and has smallish red blooms. Salvia splendens is the typical bedding salvia which is sold most commonly. It is an annual and stays fairly short and compact. Both come in more colors than just red. Personally, I don't like salvia splendens nearly as much as I like the bigger, airier looking salvias. It is pretty colorful, but somehow seems a more rigid, upright little plant that doesn't excite me. However, hummers and butterflies like it anyway, and it's just a matter of personal taste. Here are some pictures to help you differentiate. (BTW, there are HUNDREDS of salvias in lots of colors, leaf types, and sizes.) Salvia splendens in several colors (bedding salvia, red salvia): And a row of salvia splendens to show plant form: Salvia coccinea in a pink form: And salvia coccinea Lady In Red, same as plant above, but in a different color: The term "red sage" or "red salvia" really doesn't tell you much at all, since many are red, including pineapple sage and more. With salvias, you almost have to learn some of the Latin names to keep them straight. Hope this helps a little bit. Marcia
...See More
Why isn't cotton fabric pre-shrunk?
Q
Comments (6)
I'm a technical nerd, and went looking at trade publications regarding cotton and shrinkage. I'm linking to that site. It's more than you'd ever want to know about fabric shrinking. If you don't want to wade through it, in a nutshell when fabric shrinks, it is essentially 'relaxing' to its natural state, having been stretched through the various process used in its manufacture. How much it shrinks will depend on the quality of the cotton fibre itself, how tightly it was spun as a thread, the tension it was put under when looming it, the type of weave it is, if the processes to make it were wet or dry, and would include the dye application, etc. etc. etc. IOW there is a tremendous amount of variability to how much a piece of cotton fabric will shrink, initially and over time. Here is a link that might be useful: Guide to improved shrinkage performance technical bulletin
...See More
Why flannel instead of cotton batting for a rag quilt?
Q
Comments (11)
I would agree with Beverly. I'm lazy too. Or maybe I just want to get my quilts done faster. :) I did a tied rag quilt a few years back with cotton batting inside. I love the quilt & the weight, but thought it was a pain to cut the batting a different size & have to sandwich each square, then sew around the batting & then sew an X or whatever inside each square...all before I assemble the quilt. The most recent rag quilts I've done with just 2 layers of flannel, I have not sewn X's in the squares (because there wasn't any batting/flannel) & they've turned out fine.
...See More
mamapinky0
7 years ago
Cold water washing and no bleach Is standard washing instructions now days. Its there to protect the manufacturer because often the cotton is poor quality...not like it used to be for sure. I always use hot water on sheets. Chlorine Bleach can cause yellowing expecially if not used properly..add last 5 minutes of wash cycle and rinse well. All of the benefits of bleach are achived in 5 minutes any longer and its eating the fibers.

I also would never add undiluted bleach to any fabric.
ladypat1 thanked mamapinky0
mamapinky0
7 years ago
Lars..I don't know why anyone would tell you that about the Laundry Room. they are mostly all a great group of helpful folks that truely enjoy answering questions regardless how many times it may have been asked. You are right though about chlorine bleach damaging fabrics. I do however think something 100% cotton can handle a normal dose of it occasionally..if its used correctly.

Personally I only use it if I have a sick bed to disinfect. I much prefer Persil Pearls or Tide with Bleach powder to keep whites screaming white along with hot water.

I'm not a fan of OxiClean as its loaded in sodium carbonate and I don't think it has a bleach activator or does it??
ladypat1 thanked mamapinky0
Olychick
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
I think one of the problems is you can't trust the 100% cotton label any more. I've used chlorine bleach for years on whites and the only time there has been a problem with something yellowing is when I think they've surreptitiously blended polyester into cotton. Poly is very prone to yellowing when bleached. You know - those t shirts that have a little lycra in them (too stretchy for 100% cotton) or sheets that you can actually get a shock from or see sparks when you raise the top sheet in the dark. 100% cotton doesn't shock or spark, so I know there is unmarked poly in lots of things these days.

I have a front loader with a bleach dispenser and it only uses about a tablespoon or two of bleach per load.
ladypat1 thanked Olychick
mamapinky0
7 years ago
I think manufactures are allowed to add a small % of *other* in textiles and still label it 100% cotton. So yes I know what you mean Olychick. I don't buy new sheets, in order to get high quality its going to cost a fortune. I prefer the vintage 100% cotton percale made in the USA..too bad those days are gone.
ladypat1 thanked mamapinky0
practigal
7 years ago
Laundry room forum is great, Mamapinky and Lars are much appreciated.

Thanks about the sparks olychick I only buy 100% cotton but have noticed the sparking with one set in particular....
ladypat1 thanked practigal
kittymoonbeam
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
Sneaky fibers in the cotton. Also, the generic warning covers poor quality, fading of dyes but mostly it protects the maker of the product much the way that many clothes say dry clean only.
ladypat1 thanked kittymoonbeam
User
7 years ago
As has been mentioned, I was told by Sferra the bleach weakens the fabric.

FWIW, I've posted questions on the Laundry Forum and everyone was incredibly nice and helpful!!!!
ladypat1 thanked User
mamapinky0
7 years ago
Chlorine Bleach can for sure weeken fabrics. I have found a lot of people do not use it correctly. Some add it to the start of the wash cycle which should never be done, and some even soak in it. I think I mentioned above but, Chlorine Bleach should always be added the last five or six minutes of the wash cycle. All of the benefits take place within 5 minutes, any contact after that and its eating the fibers. Rinsing is also very important, if you can still smell it when the washing is done its still there and will continue damaging the fabric even after its dry.

100% cotton, do not bleach. Why? Why? Why?

Lars

Comments (11)

Kim in PL (SoCal zone 10/Sunset 24)

lascatx

Related Discussions

mamapinky0

mamapinky0

Olychick

mamapinky0

practigal

kittymoonbeam

User

mamapinky0

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US