A woman in a blue blouse moves an article of clothing from one Maytag Laundry Appliance to another.

How to Properly Wash White Clothes

Keeping white clothes stain-free is challenging, but the correct techniques can help them stay pristine. This guide will help you discover the best wash temperatures, cycle settings and additives to wash whites effectively. Additionally, it will review answers to frequently asked questions about removing stains, separating whites from darks, and best practices to help preserve your whites for longer.

HOW TO MACHINE WASH WHITE CLOTHES

A proper laundry day routine can help clean your white clothes effectively. These five steps will teach you how to separate clothes, select the right additives and choose the right cycles and settings for your loads.

A man in a blue shirt removes bedding from a Maytag Dryer

STEP #1: SEPARATE CLOTHES INTO TWO PILES

Separate your laundry into two loads: 

  • One load for plain whites 

  • One load for embroidered whites, light pastels, tans or grays

You need to wash these two loads in your washing machine separately.

Someone pretreats a stain on an article of clothing at the pretreating station of a Maytag Washer.

STEP #2: PRETREAT ANY STAINS

Start tackling stains by blotting or scraping off the excess residue. Then rinse the affected area with cold water from the inside out. Apply an enzyme detergent or stain remover right onto the stain. The last step is to let it sit for several minutes before washing. 

Use a gentle detergent and cold water for delicate fabrics. Work in the detergent by lightly squeezing the material, but be mindful not to damage it.

Laundry detergent is being poured from the bottle into a container.

STEP #3: SELECT ADDITIVES

If using bleach, ensure that it’s the correct type. Chlorine bleach works well for white clothes and colourfast fabrics but may harm more delicate materials such as silk and wool. Try a gentler option like oxygen bleach, which can help keep whites looking their whitest. You must refer to the care tag to confirm if bleach can be used for a specific fabric and which type to use.

Add baking soda to your wash cycle to enhance an article of clothing’s whiteness. Pour it directly into the drum or use a whitening solution with detergent.

A white cat watches someone select a setting on a Maytag Washer.

STEP #4: SELECT THE APPROPRIATE CYCLE

Some washing machines—like select front load and top load models from Maytag brand—have a Whites cycle that removes the guesswork. 

This cycle employs the following to provide a thorough clean:

  • Hot or very warm water
  • Fast spin speeds
  • An extra-long wash time
  • An extra rinse 

If your washing machine doesn’t offer a White cycle, use hot water and add an extra rinse. 


Always check care tags for fabrics that shouldn’t be washed in hot or warm water. These fabrics can include certain wools, linens, cotton, and silk. Wash these fabrics separately with cool water.

An opened washing machine filled with clothes. Someone holds a light blue article of clothing above the drum.

STEP #5. INSPECT FOR STAINS

Dryer heat can help set stains, so you must double-check that treated stains have been removed after the wash cycle is complete but before you put your whites in the dryer. If there are any lingering stains, it’s best to pretreat and wash your clothes again.

KEEP YOUR WHITE CLOTHES BRIGHT

It only takes certain common household products and a few simple practices to help preserve your whites and ensure they maintain their brightness. 

These tips can help your clothes look bright and vibrant even after you’ve worn and washed them for a long time.

  • Soak in vinegar: Start by creating a mixture of vinegar and hot water. Place the white clothing in the mixture and allow it to soak for at least one hour or even overnight. Then, rinse the clothing thoroughly before you wash them in the washing machine. 
  • Add a whitening solution: Using a whitening solution can help brighten your whites and help reduce or eliminate any colour bleeding. Follow the instructions on the solution’s packaging, as they often differ by brand. You have two options: use these solutions to pretreat stains or add them to your washing machine with detergent.
  • Soak in oxygen-based bleach: Soaking whites in oxygen-based bleach instead of chlorine-based bleach can help maintain their brightness, but it is time-consuming. Consult your bleach product packaging for specific details and always check the clothing care tags, as this method shouldn’t be used with certain fabrics like silk, wool or suede.
  • Use a water and baking soda solution: Make a solution by mixing water and baking soda and then pouring it into a spray bottle. Spray the solution onto your clothes and let them soak for an hour. This should help brighten them. Another way is to sprinkle baking soda right into the washer drum (not the dispenser) to help enhance your laundry’s brightness.
  • Hang dry outdoors: Drying clothes is a natural way to help brighten fabrics and may provide your clothes with a fresh look and smell.
Someone pretreats a stain on an article of clothing at the pretreating station in a Maytag Washer. In the drum are a few blue articles of clothing.

PROVEN METHODS TO REMOVE STAINS FROM WHITE CLOTHES

Removing stains from white clothes can help keep them in your wardrobe and not have to spend money replacing them. From red wine and foundation to grass stains and lipstick, these tips help you tackle tough stains on white clothes.

  • Don’t wait: Act fast on fresh stains so they have less of a chance to set. If you can't treat the stain quickly, it’s recommended to at least soak the clothes in a solution of laundry detergent and water until you’re ready to treat and wash it.

  • Use a detergent with enzymes: Use an enzyme detergent during pretreatment to help tackle stains. Due to an accelerated chemical reaction, detergents with enzymes are designed to help break down dirt and stains faster.

  • Pretreat and wash with the correct water temperature: Warm or hot water is proven to help fight certain stains, yet many still require a cold water pretreatment as part of the stain-fighting process. 

  • Inspect the stain before transferring the item to the dryer: After washing a stained article of white clothing, inspect it to confirm that the stain has been removed before transferring it to the dryer. Heat has the ability to set residual stains, making them tougher to remove. If the stain persists, you should pretreat and rewash it.

  • Blot stains: Rubbing a stain can cause it to spread or embed deeper. A better method is to blot or scrape off any excess right away or rinse it from the inside out.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT WASHING WHITE CLOTHES

Understanding how to sort your laundry and selecting the correct water temperature and cycle settings can help preserve your whites and maintain their brightness. 

Review these FAQs to learn how to keep your whites looking bright and clean.

DO YOU WASH WHITES IN COLD OR HOT WATER?

Washing white clothing in hot water can provide more stain-fighting power, helping keep clothes bright. Certain fabrics, such as linen or wool, may require a cold water wash to help them avoid shrinking. It’s typically best to pretreat most stains with cold water.

CAN YOU WASH COLOUR CLOTHES AND WHITES IN THE SAME LOAD?

No, you should always separate bright and dark clothing from your whites to prevent any colours from seeping into your whites. It’s okay to wash some lighter colours with whites, but it’s recommended to wash a load of plain white clothes on their own. Furthermore, wash whites with prints or embroidery with softer shades like light grays, pastels or light browns.

WHAT SETTING IS BEST FOR WHITE CLOTHES

Some washing machines let you easily handle white clothes by being equipped with a dedicated Whites cycle. This cycle typically includes an extended wash time, a fast spin, an extra rinse and hot or very warm water—all of which can help tackle challenging stains. If your laundry appliance doesn’t have a Whites cycle, you can still achieve desirable results by selecting warm or hot water and including an extra rinse.

Always consult the care tags for your laundry before you select a cycle and settings since certain white fabrics are delicate and could shrink in hot water.

SHOULD YOU DRY COLOURS AND WHITES IN ONE LOAD?

You need to separate whites and colours when drying just like you do with washing. Drying wet whites and colours can result in colours bleeding into your whites. Also, coloured clothing can shed lint or pilled fibres that may cling to clothing made of lighter fabrics.

A finger is about to push the "EXTRA POWER" button on a Maytag Washer

Explore Maytag® Dryers

Maytag® Washers and Dryers are equipped with convenient and powerful features that help simplify your laundry routine. Select washers have a built-in water faucet for rinsing, spot treatments or soaking clothes directly in the washer. The Extra Power button—available on select models—improves the stain-fighting ability on any wash cycle, and Advanced Moisture Sensing monitors air temperature and inside moisture to help ensure that loads are evenly dried.

DISCOVER MORE FROM MAYTAG BRAND