can I bleach unbleached prefolds? How?

[solarbabies]

I have 3 doz unbleached preemie prefolds. I have washed them a few times and added a little bleach. I am not sure if they are getting whiter or not. I am so scared of bleach eating things so I barely put any.

Is there another trick? How much bleach in my he front loader? soak them?

Anyone done this successfully?

[nonipie]

Why are you bleaching them? You just want them white? Maybe try Hydrogen Peroxide which is what I believe most makers use to whiten them instead of chlorine bleach.

ETA: Over time just from washing and sunning, mine have gotten whiter. I have some unbleached and bleached infant prefolds I have been using for a year and I really have to look closely to tell them apart.

[solarbabies]

DUH! Why didn't I think of that?! Would I do pure peroxide or a mix? I could soak them in a bucket or the sink....is there any risk of it hurting the cotton?

Yeah, I just want them white, I don't really care for the unbleached look. Plus, I am considering dying a few and I want the colors nice and bright, I think it would work better on white, not unbleached.