There’s nothing like wearing a brand-new white shirt or other types of white clothes for the first time. It’s vivid and bright, and gives your entire outfit a fresh, polished look. If you don’t launder the piece correctly, however, it can lose its luster and become dull or discolored by the second time you wear it. Even though it may take a little extra time to sort your colored and white clothing, it’s worth it as they require different washing techniques. The effort will save you money in the long run, as you won’t have to replace your white apparel as often. You also need to pay attention to what material your clothing is made of, as different fabrics need different care.
Here are the top 3 tips for keeping your white clothes looking its best and brightest.
Wash White Clothes Separately
When you’re in a hurry to get your laundry done, you may be tempted to throw all of it in the washing machine together. Not only should you not put your white clothes in with darks, such as denim, you shouldn’t throw them in with lights, either.
While it’s common knowledge that dyes from dark denim can bleed onto lighter clothing items, less pigmented colors, such as light pink, can run as well. You’ll then notice that your once-white shirt is now a blush shade. Or, that your new white shorts are now tinted pale yellow.
For the best results, separate all of your white items into a pile and wash them in the highest temperate that the fabric allows. Some materials, such as rayon or cashmere, need to be washed in cool water.
Pre-treat any soiled areas, such as food spills or yellow armpit stains, with a spray-on stain remover before washing the piece. If the discoloration is particularly stubborn, such as a wine or blood stain, allow the spray to soak into the garment for as long as is recommended by the manufacturer. Also, use smaller loads to allow the white pieces to get thoroughly cleaned.
Add a Brightener To the White Clothes Load
For added assurance that your white clothes will stay white, especially if you have hard water. Also, add a bit of brightener to the load before washing it. You can use a commercial brightener designed for use on white clothes. Or, save money by using an eco-friendly product that you already have on hand.
For instance, you can pour 1 cup of distilled white vinegar into the washing machine along with your detergent for extra brightening action. If you don’t have any vinegar in your pantry, 1/2 cup of fresh lemon juice will work just as well.
During the warm spring and summer months, hang your white clothing pieces outside to dry, as the sun’s rays will help brighten the fabric as well.
Get Your White Clothes Professionally Dry-Cleaned
If you have white clothing made of delicate or expensive fabrics, such silk, satin or cashmere, you may need to get them dry-cleaned. Check the fabric care label before washing to make sure. Use a professional dry cleaner who uses fresh, distilled fluid with every white load to prevent the items from looking dull or dingy.
Also, make sure the cleaner is using an adequate amount of detergent, which removes soil and stains, with each load, as cutting corners will not get your white clothing items their brightest. Be sure to take a look at our blog post that elaborates on how to clean white fabric shoes.