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Ingredients · 1 min read

Optical Brighteners: Why We Leave Them Out

In this article
  1. How they work
  2. Why some people skip them
  3. Why we leave them out
  4. Keeping whites white without them

Some whites aren't whiter. They're just glowing a little. That's optical brighteners at work.

Quick answer: optical brighteners are ingredients that stay on fabric and turn invisible UV light into visible blue light. That makes whites look brighter. Just 7 leaves them out so the only thing on your clothes after washing is clean fabric.†

How they work

They absorb UV light and give off blue light. Your eye reads that as whiter.†

It's a bit like a highlighter for your T-shirts.

Why some people skip them

  • They're designed to stay on fabric.†
  • Some outdoor gear makers advise against them.†
  • Some people simply want less left on clothes.

Why we leave them out

We kept Just 7 to what cleans. Looking clean and being clean aren't the same thing.

Keeping whites white without them

  1. Wash whites separately.
  2. Use enough detergent for the load.
  3. Dry in the sun. It's a natural brightener.
  4. Use oxygen bleach when needed (read it).

FAQ

What do optical brighteners do? They make fabric look brighter under light.†

Are optical brighteners in most detergents? Many include them. Check the list.

Does Just 7 have brighteners? No.

How can I keep whites bright? Wash separately, sun-dry and use oxygen bleach.

Seven ingredients. Zero compromise.

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