We’ have white cotton sheets and duvet covers. Since I’ve been using savon de Marseille-based laundry stuff, they have become increasingly yellow in patches due to sweat stains. Because I have a fosse septique I don’t really want to bleach them. Does anyone have suggestions for an alternative that actually works? Even if I have to had wash them and throw the solution on the drive 
I soak them in a mix made with Vanish type stuff (either the real one or the cheaper Action / Lidl one). I believe its hydrogen peroxide, not sure how that goes with a septic tsnk but would probably brighten your terrace too if you tip it out!
1 Like
Although I use it for a different purpose, an oxygen based bleach should get rid of the stains. I have used it to get blackcurrant and other fruit based stains out of muslin bags that I use for wine making. The ‘pink’ stain remover can be used to try if it works as it’s the same thing that I use, but you can buy the same stuff in large tubs at a fraction of the price. This is what I buy.
You can buy a 1Kg tub as well.
Edit: The Vanish stuff @toryroo mentions is the ‘pink’ stuff I was referring to I assume. Strangely, it’s actually good for your septic tank as it adds residual oxygen into it which encourages bacterial growth.
2 Likes
Thanks @hairbear and @toryroo ! I wondered about the Vnaish-type stuff but it hasn’t seemed to work too well in the past. However, I’ve not actually soaked things in it so I’ll give that a go…
Really appreciate your input! I feel like the lady in the really old adverts from my childhood who wasn’t using Daz (or whatever it was they were advertising 
)
1 Like
When we were in Marseille last year I got this from Maison Empereur
Which is a bit like the bags of Reckitt’s Blue that we used when I was a child. And I now continue to use it for the gîte sheets as seems to work ok.
It’s bicarb and ground up lapis lazuku apparently
There’s also a similar american product one can get here
And carrefour has a product which also contains an optical thing
1 Like
Thanks very much @JaneJones ! I remember Reckitts blue - golly that makes me feel old 
I shall have a look for those… definitely worth a try. I’ve been puzzled about what other people do because I’ve never been in sheets that look like ours…
Oh gosh blast from the past memory, nan always had a weird blue thing on her laundry sink, I think she’d chuck it in the whites load. Probably the same sort of thing!
1 Like
Pretty sure that’s it @toryroo !
1 Like
Blue bags, I remember those.
Time is whats needed. No not thyme that wont work. I mean time to break down the stain, could be in soak for a day or two. My ballpoint pen issue took 4 days to erradicate.
1 Like
Try drying sheets in the sun as much of the year as possible. I recommend but suggest using sunglasses while attending to them. 
2 Likes
I do that anyway as I prefer to dry everything outside wherever possible and I have been hoping the sun might bleach them but no… perhaps the sun isn’t strong enough in Normandie 
Oh dear! I have linen sheets and they are not yellowing. Sun very string here au Sud. I did find they were getting somewhat grey tinged until I halved the amount of washing liquid. My problem is wear and tear holes from gradual thinning 
(The sheets, not us!)
Have you tried putting bicarbonate of soda powder in the rinse tray of your machine? Sells in the supermarché in small tubs with a ‘40s image of laundry lady. Must be worth a try.
Thanks for the suggestions Susannah. Yes I already use bicarb! Perhaps we’re just very grubby people
A product called Bio Luvil used to be the thing for that in UK. Could leave things in a solution of it for days - stirring occasionally - and eventually stains or dirt would simply drop out.
1 Like
That’s interesting @KarenLot . I seem to remember using Ariel like that, back in the day…
When I suggested the ‘pink’ stuff (which is actually sodium percarbonate, which is a solid that releases hydrogen peroxide when put into water), I actually soak stuff for at least a few hours whilst agitating every 20 minutes or so. I use 4g per litre of water, and also use hot water which seems to speed things up, something you probably can’t do with linen. If you just put a bit in the washer, it won’t be anywhere near as effective.
1 Like
That has sodium percarbonate in it … along with about 30 other ingredients.
It also has optical brighteners that make things ‘whiter’ along with surfactants and other helpful things. It could be the thing to try.
1 Like
Is that what’s commonly called washing soda in the UK? I use it to keep sinks and suchlike clear.
No, but it is one of the ingredients. Washing soda is sodium carbonate. Sodium percarbonate is sodium carbonate plus hydrogen peroxide.
1 Like