I would have Sin look at the ingredients. ..there's something nagging me about this stuff and I can't remember what it is.

Do not use with bleach, peroxide. I have never seen the stuff, but I would be careful with what detergent it is used with. It could react violently depending on the chemical composition of the detergent. It is a hazardous product. It should not be inhaled or contact with skin. Wear rubber gloves when handling.

What are you trying to whiten?

I bought this after reading Andrew's comment about his super bright whites. I was wondering if this is just TSP. Which will dissolve your skin if it comes into contact. I only use chlorine once in a while but often use Oxi-Clean. I feel my whites only look great after chlorine but I don't want to use it on my white pants, they contain 5% spandex and bleach will shorten their life. I have trouble getting a true hot wash. I live in a condo and I never get water at my sink above 117 and only if no one else is using the water and I let it run for 10 min. I usually get about 105 at the washer and sometimes I boil a gallon and pour it in through the detergent dispenser.

Morton...omg...you know how many times I've carried boiling pots of water..no more..Thank God thats over with..but I know what your going thru. you need a washer with a heater..it has made my life 100% easier..

Rpsinfoman yes I think I am just going to return this product. I have no desire to destroy my machine. I imagine a vinegar and baking soda kind of reaction with hot suds flowing all over the place. I am trying to whiten towels, socks and summer pants. Truly they are not dingy, but after Andrew's description of his white lab coat I and I saw it on the shelf (I did not read the label before purchase) I bought it.

Mamapinky, since it is an old (10 years) machine without a heater and a front loader I boil water and slowly pour it in through the detergent dispenser. I have gotten up to 2 gals. in the washer. I have ordered a tiny, instant point of use hot water heater to be installed in the laundry closet. I will set it up to 150 degrees and then have a true hot wash. That is a lot cheaper than buying a new machine. Also though my machine is old and a BOL machine it uses a good amount of water, cleans well, has three rinses and has a mechanical dial. It won't dumb down my hot water or refuse to start after stopping and adding something I missed. I want a new very "simple" machine, but so far I haven't found one. I know this one will die soon. Everyone in my building is slowly replacing them as they die a slow but sure death.

Thank you for your help.

Sounds good Morton and as long as you have a plan to boost your water temp all the better...I hear those older FL'ers were workhorses..may it run another 10 years.

Thanks Sin...ya I read something about this stuff being very caustic but can't remember where and harmful to machines.

I have been using this recently in my front loader with no problem whatsoever. I start the load with only the White Brite in the dispenser, run it for five minutes, then toss the detergent, etc. directly in with the white clothing and finish the wash. My white socks come out better than they ever did with bleach or with peroxide.

Hisown..I must be truely losing my mind but I thought you only used natural earth friendly products do to skin sensitivity..did I confuse you with someone else? Sorry dear if I did.

I have used it too. Does fine,simple enough. Won't hurt the washer. It does stink when it first goes in, but after adding detergent it's fine.

Mamapinky another ten years would be great. I doubt it as I live in a building with 60 apts and all had these machines, Malber's BOL made in Italy compact washers. The apartments with children (many more loads) have mostly broken and been replaced. I bought this apt from a man who lived her for 8 years alone and then 1 year with a wife and though I live solo I do more laundry than the average single person. So I'm hoping for 3 more years. By then maybe can convince myself that the Miele is worth the splurge, I do love fancy machines but hate the cost and the repair bills. That's why I gave up on Volvo's and drive a Subaru now.

Hisown, have you noticed any fabric wear and tear. I'm a little concerned the stuff is too caustic for my clothes. If you aren't supposed to let it touch your hands what is doing to the fabric? Also I have asthma and looked up the ingredients and one of them is an asthma trigger. Thank you for sharing your experience.

mamapinky,

I'm not concerned with "earth friendly", only with skin issues. I wash white socks only using White Brite. My feet are not bothered by this. I don't wash any other garments this way.

hmorton,

I have not noticed any change in how my socks wear. They seem to hold up just about the same, but they are cleaner looking, and definitely whiter. I don't have asthma, but as long as you dump the powder in without putting your face right down close, I can't see how it would be a problem. There is way less smell while washing than there is with bleach, and none once the items have finished washing and rinsing.

Well, today I decided to try 'White Brite" on two very large white bath sheets and a load of white socks. Since I have a FL I added 1/2 cup (as per directions) to my washer drum and careful turned the drum so all the powder fell into the holes. I then added the laundry shut the door and started the washer. I added a gallon of boiling water to get my un-hot, hot tap water hot. I let it agitate for 2 minutes, stopped the machine and let it soak for 20 minutes. Then I added the normal amount of liquid "Free and Clear All" . Let the machine run with 3 rinses and added two extra rinses because the first three rinses still had some bubbles.

The results are mixed. One towel had a tiny dot of red ink, it had been there for over a year. Surprisingly the red dot had faded to a light darker mark. I also had gotten some BB Cream on the towel and that did not come out at all. This is unusual as I have gotten BB Cream on my towels before and it has always come out with or without additional treatments like bleach or "Oxi". The socks were marginally whiter but the bottoms where I walk without shoes were not 100% white; this too is unusual as my socks are always perfect.

I believe the bubbles were from a combination of liquid detergent and the "White Brite". I think for everyday dirt and greasy marks good old detergent, hot water and "oxi" works better, but for unusual stains such as set in ink "White Brite" is useful.

I did not have any bad chemical reactions. I had been unnecessarily worried about health issues, though do be careful when pouring it as it is dusty.

I use white brite on anything that is white only (think socks, baseball pants) I put some in a wash basin then fill basin with HOT water just to cover items. Leave to soak anywhere from 2 hours to overnight. Launder normally after that.. stains come out completely. Sometimes if you wait a long time to launder something and the stains set there is a slight remnant of the stain, if you wash something within hours of the stain it gets completely clean.

What is it BB cream?

B&b cream is a all in one make-up: moisturizer, color, and spf protection. It can be difficult to remove it requires hit water and good detergent.

White Brite is amazing stuff, saved so many items for me (Tumeric stains anyone?). Like to run towels through it every few months. I run multiple rinses after washing with it and then do a rewash with just standard detergent.

I use it weekly on a load of white socks and whatever other white item is dirty. It works wonderfully at avoiding dinginess.