Tuesday, July 28, 2009

State of the Towels

Previous attempts: See Friday's post, #2.

Biz: check
Murphy's Oil overnight soak: check
Lemon water boil: check
Oxiclean overnight soak (retry): check
Rit Color Remover overnight soak: check

Today's Status: still dingy, still blue (but lighter blue!)

I-AM-NOT-GIVING-UP!

14 comments:

Charlotte (Matilda) said...

How about dying them blue? :)

Jamie said...

Are these the "flour sack" dishtowels? What's your address? I'll get you some new ones!!
:)

Anonymous said...

please keep us posted...i'm in this same situation!

Michele Quigley said...

Chlorine bleach? I know, it's nasty stuff, but it would probably work.

Cheryl M. said...

I'm with Michele, I would soak those towels in a bucket, bathtub, or washing machine with a mixture of HOT water and clorox....that should do the job...hopefully. :)

Emily (Laundry and Lullabies) said...

Michele, I have personal experience with chlorine bleach, and it does NOT work. It turns them an ugly shade of yellow.

Cheryl M. said...

Maybe instead of stinking up your house with clorox.....I bought some wonderful bathtowels at Tuesday Morning a few years back. They are used and washed daily and have held up so very well!

stephanie said...

I'm with Charlotte (Matilda). We have a LOT of manganese in our water and whites don't stay white very long around here. When life hands you lemons...

jordin said...

Well, i think you have done everything within and beyond within reason. you deserve to reward yourself for you efforts and buy yourself (and your family) some new towels!!

Anonymous said...

I have same problem and I am buying new.

Ellen said...

It just occurred to me that if you are buying all these things to try to clean your towels, you have probably spent almost as much as replacing them. But then, I would probably do as you are doing - try to salvage what you have. Good luck!

Kristen said...

Ha! Ellen, I love your comment! So right, and too funny.

Jordin, "...and beyond within reason" - love that too! LOL!

For me, it's more about figuring out what works and why rather than salvaging the towels. Though I do like my towels and don't really want to buy new ones.

Charlotte, I may just do that. Unfortunately I'll likely have to dye them a dark shade to even out the oil/makeup stains which are localized. :(

Jamie - no, they're bath towels, but you're sweet.

Michele, chlorine bleach is the only kind I believe in. :) Sadly, it hasn't worked.

Towels are at the cleaners today. My final attempt!

the momma said...

have you tried "yellow out" yet?? I found mine at a hardware store

Michelle said...

This is why I use navy towels or a dark sage green. Every book I've read has suggested white for a neutral and easy decorating style (important in not-remodeled-since-the-70s-miliary-housing), but then the whole world sees every stain. I think navy is very neutral.

Did you try sun bleaching them?