Best Ways to Use Vitamin C in Laundry for Stain Removal

When white clothes turn yellow over time, it’s usually due to oxidation – the same process that makes an apple turn brown when cut. But here’s where things get interesting: we can actually use this chemical process to our advantage through a two-step treatment that sounds counterintuitive but works like magic.

The Science Behind the Solution

The process involves two key players: 

1. Potassium permanganate (KMnO4): A powerful oxidizing agent that, somewhat surprisingly, makes the whole garment temporarily more yellow
2. Vitamin C (ascorbic acid): A reducing agent that reverses the oxidation

     Here’s how to perform this chemical magic trick safely:

1. Create a dilute potassium permanganate solution and soak the yellowed clothing for 20 minutes
2. You’ll notice the entire garment turns yellowish – don’t panic! This is actually part of the process
3. Remove the clothing and prepare a solution of dissolved vitamin C in hot water
4. Soak the clothing in the vitamin C solution for 30 minutes
5. Watch as your whites return to their original brightness