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Judy asked: How do I whiten vintage baby woolens that have yellowed with age? I have a hand-knit woolen hat and booties that were mine as a baby 56 years ago. I now have my first grandchild to whom I want to pass the set. However, it has yellowed with age. I would like to whiten it before I give it to my grandbaby.
Wool
is a natural fiber that is affected by many factors of the environment. Sunlight, moisture and storing methods can all lead to discoloration over time. This discoloration is difficult to reverse. Here are two methods that can be used to return the woolen piece back to its original whiteness.
Peroxide Method
You Will Need:
- Hydrogen peroxide
- Water
- Soft cloths or sponges
- Bucket
- Soft towels
- Plastic
Steps to Whiten Wool:
- Peroxide can be used in small amounts to bleach the yellow discoloration out.
- Fill a bucket or small container with enough water to submerge the item.
- Add peroxide to the water for a ratio of about 1 part peroxide for every 3 parts water. Use the regular 3% peroxide sold at pharmacies.
- Use a soft cloth to blot the mixture onto the yellowed piece.
- Launder as usual. No wait time is needed nor recommended. Put the item in the wash as soon as you have finished blotting on the peroxide solution.
- If the piece cannot be machine or hand washed, such as a rug, rinse by blotting with plain water and a clean cloth.
- Allow the piece to air dry completely.
- Repeat if necessary.
Vinegar Method
You Will Need:
- White vinegar
- Water
- Sponges
- Bucket
- Soft towels
- Plastic
Steps to Whiten Wool:
- Begin by combining one tablespoon of white vinegar with two cups of water.
- Lay the piece on top of a piece of plastic, or work over a sink.
- Moisten a sponge with the mixture and blot the wool cloth or piece with the damp sponge.
- Continue until the piece has been covered with mixture.
- Wash as normal to remove the vinegar. No wait time is required between applying the mixture and washing.
- Allow the piece to air dry completely, then check the coloring.
- Repeat if necessary.
Additional Tips and Ideas
- To keep your wool pieces from yellowing, store them in a cool dry place with NO moisture. Any moisture present will speed up the yellowing process.
- White wool especially should never be dried or stored in sunlight as it can cause yellowing.
- There are special wool shampoos available that will clean wool more thoroughly.
- Though some wool can be machine washed with cold water, NEVER dry wool in the dryer.
Sources:
- How to Clean Practically Anything by Consumer Reports
- The Super Stain Remover Book by Jack Cassimatis
- Home Comforts: The Art & Science of Keeping House by Cheryl Mendelson
I took out the “white” color of my wool carpet by bleaching with laundry bleach. Now it is a “goldish color” (natural sheep color). I need to dye it back to whitish. Could you tell me if I can use hair tint on sheep, as you do human hair? It seems the more I bleach (laundry bleach) the wool, the yellower it gets; I haven’t used hair bleach and toner though yet, and I am a colorist.
Please write me.
Debbie
I was thinking the same thing, or perhaps the peroxide method would be the way to go. Did you try the hair bleach? Have any success?
I have got some ammonia which I am about to try too.
Bleach degrades wool…disintegrates it in fact. Peroxide also damages wool fibers.
Just sayin’.
Hi. I need advice please. I have a sheepskin white rug and a dog peed on it. I tried to wash it out with Bi carb soda; it sort of helped but was light yellow, then I stupidly put bleach on it and it went nasty bright yellow. :'( Please HELP ME…Thank you in advance. x
Gen,
When bleach leaves a yellow stain on something white, it is usually from the yellow dye that is used to color the bleach. Treat the stain as you would for a dye stain. The article How to Remove Dye Stains from Clothing might work, but keep in mind that wool is a special kind of material, so any instructions for clothing in general need to be adjusted according to the need of your wool item. There are a few more ideas on the How to Fix Dye Transfer article as well.
Hair is not the same as wool. Bleach yellows and destroys wool permanently. Wool is acidic and adding highly alkaline. Anything (bleach, etc.) will ruin it. The yellowing resulting from using bleach is permanent.
I would like to do the reverse. I have a very old “shearling” wool fleece lined jacket. Someone has cleaned the collar fleece bright white and I would like to naturally match the collar to the lining, which has yellowed with age. How can I do that?
Rex,
Two things that cause wool to yellow or age are sunlight and moisture. So, you could try covering everything execpt the collar with a black trash bag or thick black fabric, then putting it out in the sun for a few days to see if the collar yellows that way. You could also try lightly misting the collar with water every couple hours to see if that helps. Another option is to dye the wool to a matching color.
Get a light champagne rose color by treating a yellow with a violet. I used a small amount of violet hair conditioner (shimmering lights) to tone the yellow. I may do it to my entire skin so it matches. Pretty color.
Can I wash a wool coat with peroxide then submerge it in water to make it white again? Thanks.
Linda,
No, do not use peroxide alone. The peroxide should be diluted to the ratio described in step 3 of the Peroxide Method (1 part peroxide in 3 parts water). It’s very strong and can damage the fabric if it’s not diluted. Good luck!