Fabric brighteners can liven up your old, faded clothing. But they don’t actually clean your clothes, and they’re often banned in the military! Hosted by: Olivia Gordon SciShow has a spinoff podcast! It's called SciShow Tangents. Check it out at www.scishowtangents.org ---------- Support SciShow by becoming a patron on Patreon: www.patreon.com/scishow ---------- Dooblydoo thanks go to the following Patreon supporters: rokoko, Alex Hackman, Andrew Finley Brenan, Lazarus G, Sam Lutfi, D.A. Noe, الخليفي سلطان, Piya Shedden, KatieMarie Magnone, Scott Satovsky Jr, Charles Southerland, Patrick D. Ashmore, charles george, Kevin Bealer, Chris Peters ---------- Looking for SciShow elsewhere on the internet? Facebook: www.facebook.com/scishow Twitter: www.twitter.com/scishow Tumblr: scishow.tumblr.com Instagram: instagram.com/thescishow ---------- Sources: www.sciencedirect.com/topics/biochemistry-genetics-and-molecular-biology/optical-brightener www.speedqueen.com/smart/2017-q2/the-secrets-to-stopping-colors-from-bleeding-and-fading.aspx www.fsw.cc/dyes-fade-look-low-lightfast-dyes/ www.britannica.com/science/fluorescence www.dispersions-pigments.basf.com/portal/basf/ien/dt.jsp?setCursor=1_556358 www.thespruce.com/optical-brighteners-chemicals-not-needed-1707025 mrsstewart.com/purpose-of-bluing/ www.thespruce.com/how-to-use-laundry-bluing-2146367 books.google.com/books?id=bqspAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA924&lpg=PA924 science.howstuffworks.com/innovation/everyday-innovations/black-light.htm www.leptraps.com/aboutblacklight.htm van.physics.illinois.edu/qa/listing.php?id=1913 www.explainthatstuff.com/hownightvisionworks.html www.armystudyguide.com/content/army_board_study_guide_topics/uniforms/laundry-detergents-for-use-with-the-acu-army-combat-uniform.shtml Images: pxhere.com/en/photo/796941 commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Airman_Battle_Uniform_washing_effects.jpg