How do I restore yellowed or dull white fabric in kurtas and dupattas?

White and off-white cotton and linen garments tend to yellow over time due to sweat, improper storage, and oxidation. Here are the safest whitening methods for Indian ethnic garments:

Methods by fabric type:

• Cotton kurta / dupatta:
  • Soak in warm water with 2 tablespoons of baking soda for 1–2 hours, then wash normally
  • Or: soak in water with 3–4 tablespoons of white vinegar for 30 minutes — vinegar neutralizes yellowing compounds
  • Or: soak in water with a crushed aspirin tablet (salicylic acid whitens fabric naturally)
• Synthetic white fabric: Use an OxiClean-type oxygen bleach product — safer than chlorine bleach and effective on synthetics
• Chikankari or embroidered white fabric: Soak in lukewarm water with mild detergent only — aggressive whitening agents damage delicate embroidery threads