Then the detergents were wrecked through the same means, eliminating the phosphates that had always been in soap.
Then the dryers came into play. They were never a true substitute for hanging clothing in the sun. Over time, they have wreaked havoc on fabrics while dulling their color over time. And today they are less hot and powerful than they used to be.
What has been the consequence? Look around at your friends and coworkers. Either they are not wearing white or the whites are vaguely dull and unimpressive. Why is this? All the essential tools for making clothing super white have been taken away from us, mostly by government regulations.
Notice that laundry-room cabinetry is now packed with a huge array of products. They include bleaches, softeners, stain removers, power boosters, sticks, treatments, towelettes, and an array of detergents. Why is this? Because our clothes are not getting clean.
Consistent with the American ethos, we figure that some new product somewhere is likely to fix our problem. We keep buying until we find it. People are simply unaware of the hidden hand of government in this entire fiasco.
Oddly, some of the products are extremely damaging to clothing. Bleach is hideous for cottons, like an acid designed to destroy their substance. There might be times when it is absolutely necessary for spot use but general use is a terrible idea. And yet people do it all the time. They wonder why they keep having to replace their old cottons with new ones.
And yet there is a path forward, through the thicket of government regulations.
The first element is hot water. To get whites really white, you need very hot water. You can add boiling water directly to the washing machine. There should be steam coming out of that water before you add your clothes.
