# blueing? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 23, 2003, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blueing/163614 "2003-03-23T21:17:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![vanilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/f19dbf/32.png) [@vanilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vanilla)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2003, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blueing/163614/1 "2003-03-23T21:17:29Z")
The last few times I’ve done my laundry (in a public laundromat) there are blue splotches on items! This sucks! Is this “blueing”? If so, how do I see if the person before me has used it?☹ ---
**Author:** ![BadBaby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/71c47a/32.png) [@BadBaby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BadBaby)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2003, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blueing/163614/2 "2003-03-23T21:56:38Z")
Blueing is made by satan, this I know for a FACT. So yes, it probably is blueing. Or maybe someone was dying clothes or washing some new jeans, but I’d still blame blueing. Maybe you could use a paper towel to wipe around the tub before you put your stuff in. Especially in nooks and crannies where there might still be a bit of color residue. Then you can avoid that machine. Oh, and start with darker clothes whenever possible, then your whites. Though that blows the advantage of a public laundry and being able to do all your clothes at once. ---
**Author:** ![Brutus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Brutus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brutus)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2003, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blueing/163614/3 "2003-03-23T22:59:55Z")
[Bluing](http://brownells.com/aspx/NS/store/ProductDetail.aspx?p=1108) isn’t too bad. Just make sure you degrease the surface you are working on! ---
**Author:** ![Zabali\_Clawbane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/ecd19e/32.png) [@Zabali\_Clawbane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zabali_Clawbane)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2003, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blueing/163614/4 "2003-03-28T01:52:21Z")
Ummmm:confused: Laundry blueing is used to make whites whiter…I know,because my mom used it sometimes. It probably wasn’t laundry blueing,if there is a definate blue color to your whites. I never saw a definate blue tinge to my whites after using it,it just made the whites more brilliant. Maybe someone washed a whole bunch of brand new blue jeans? It could be the indigo dye from them. ---
**Author:** ![racinchikki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eada6e/32.png) [@racinchikki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racinchikki)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2003, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blueing/163614/5 "2003-03-28T02:29:45Z")
Bluing is meant to make whites seem whiter, because a white that is slightly tinged with blue appears brighter to the human eye than a white of the same technical brightness (light-reflectingness) that is slightly tinged with yellow. It shouldn’t leave blotches. Not saying it can’t or doesn’t, because I’ve personally never used it, but it’s not meant to. Indigo dye from blue jeans is Of The Devil, though. ---
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2003, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blueing/163614/6 "2003-03-28T05:33:54Z")
I’ve had problems with fabric softener - if it gets directly on your clothes it can leave blue blotches. I would think a bit of Snuggle would be a bit more likely.