It can be surprisingly difficult to keep clothes as white as they were when you first bought them. Dinginess and fading can happen over the course of just a few washes.

While many people use bleach to brighten clothes, this can be toxic and irritating to skin, as well as degrading to the fabric material, leading to fraying or holes. Additionally, too much bleach can actually cause yellowing or greying of some materials.

Simple Green Laundry uses plant-based surfactants and a smart enzyme system that's tough on dirt and stains while being gentle on skin and the environment. It's free of chlorine, optical-brighteners, borax and phosphates commonly found in other detergents, which can irritate skin.

For best results, your whites must be washed separately from colors. Temperature is also important in keeping white clothes bright, with the hotter the water the better. Of course, not all fabrics should be washed on hot, since they could shrink or become misshapen, so be sure to follow the instructions on the care label.

Need to remove a laundry stain? Get it out with this tip.

DIRECTIONS:

Check garment label for care instructions. See product label for recommended dose per load.

Separate clothing by color, to be washed separately. Delicate fabrics such as silk, wool and lace should als6o be washed separately, either by hand or on the delicate cycle.

FOR HE WASHING MACHINES:

1. Add clothes. Put clothes loosely in washer. Do not overload.
2. Add cleaner. Pour Simple Green Laundry into dispenser.
3. Start wash cycle. Start washer.

FOR CONVENTIONAL TOP-LOADING WASHING MACHINES:

1. Start washer. Turn on washer and allow tub to fill with water.
2. Add cleaner. Pour Simple Green Laundry into water as tub fills.
3. Add clothes. Place laundry loosely in machine. Do not overload. Wash normally.

Tip: Overloading a washer inhibits thorough cleaning and rinsing. Running smaller loads may take longer, but the results will be much better.

Tip: Washing white clothes every one to two wears washes out body soils and perspiration that are invisible to the naked eye, but which can accumulate over time and cause discoloration.