Comments on: StupidQuestionFilter? Why doesn't detergent stain my whites?

Question: StupidQuestionFilter? Why doesn't detergent stain my whites?

Bud Dickman — Sat, 28 Jul 2007 13:00:48 -0800

I just poured a cupful of dark blue liquid detergent and purple liquid stain remover over a load of white towels. Setting aside the admonition that I should have poured the detergent in BEFORE the clothes: why doesn't dark blue detergent turn white towels blue? I mean it obviously doesn't. But it seems counterintuitive. What kind of coloring is added to detergent that allows it to be blue and pretty but wash right away?

By: caddis

caddis — Sat, 28 Jul 2007 13:13:54 -0800

It does, but only slightly blue and that makes them look more white.

By: paulsc

paulsc — Sat, 28 Jul 2007 13:26:27 -0800

Bluing has been used in laundry products for over a hundred years. More recent improvements in laundry products have included "brightener" agents, that actually leave a residue of UV dyes in fabric, making clothing fluoresce in sunlight or UV, giving a much brighter appearance to light colors than they would otherwise have.

By: MtDewd

MtDewd — Sat, 28 Jul 2007 14:15:01 -0800

Also this was referenced in this post.

By: stormygrey

stormygrey — Sat, 28 Jul 2007 14:30:38 -0800

I accidently poured some on a soft gray carpet and didn't think anything of it, but now I can't get the blue out.

By: lampoil

lampoil — Sat, 28 Jul 2007 14:56:34 -0800

I think it would make a blue stain if you just poured it on and left it. As it stands, you're pouring it on and then immediately sticking it through the wash, where it lathers up then rinses away.

I think I have a stain on a sheet where I spilled some liquid Cheer and didn't wash it for a while.

By: Bud Dickman

Bud Dickman — Sat, 28 Jul 2007 16:40:06 -0800

So the blue color actually has a purpose, aside from just making it look nice. Cool. Thanks!

By: 517

517 — Sat, 28 Jul 2007 22:23:14 -0800

I've had a few Pilot Precise pens "explode" in the washer. The pilot pens have a water soluble ink that's effect is so mild that, even on white clothes, I didn't even bother rewashing the clothes before I put them in the drier.

I chalked this up to the fact that the ink must have been very dilute, even with a whole pen full of ink, and that the very dilute ink it never got a chance to dry and bond to the material before the rinse cycle.