With spring and summer approaching, many people are discovering that their favourite white shirts and blouses have developed unsightly grey tinges or yellowing around the collar and underarms. This can ruin an outfit, often leading to expensive cleaning products. However, a simple and inexpensive solution has been revealed: aspirin.
Nigel Bearman, director of cleaning firm Daily Poppins, explains that white clothing becomes dull not just from dirt, but from an accumulation of proteins from perspiration and body oils. Aspirin contains salicylic acid, which acts as a natural solvent for protein-based stains. When dissolved in a soak, the acid neutralises yellowing and breaks the bond between fabric and grime.
Bearman says this trick has been used quietly by professional launderers for years to achieve a crisp, bright finish without harsh bleaches. A packet of aspirin costs around 69p, making each treatment less than 15p per load—a fraction of the £10 or more spent on high-end whitening products. The method is safe for delicate cottons that could be ruined by chlorine bleach.
