Help with White Shirts

[OverWyreGrower]

I'm not sure where to pu this - mods, please move if needed!

I need your help, wise Grapes!

I am having trouble with Mr OWG's work shirts. At last 4 days out of 5, he is required to wear a proper white work shirt and tie (the other day can be a more casual day if he hasn't got visitors/prospective clients etc).

However, I'm struggling to keep his work shirts whiter than white (as it were). They are currently washed in a 60 degree wash either on their own or with a few other very lights/whites of mine, with non-bio washing powder/liquid (can't use bio stuff as we both itch like crazy). Problem is that the collars and cuffs get very dirty, as Mr OWG spends quite a bit of time in the warehouse doing tours and demonstrations with prospective clients. This means that before every wash each shirt has to have collars and cuffs sprayed with some sort of stain remover, before being put in the wash.

After a few washes (say 2 or 3 months worth) the shirts look rather grubby, even after being washed with stain remover. I've even resorted a few times to whitening powder, which seems expensive, and doesn't seem to do much.

What can I do? Decent shirts are pretty expensive, so I can't keep buying new shirts every couple of months. I'm pretty annoyed that we have to buy a load of new shirts every 3 to 4 months, to be honest!

Does anyone have any top tips for washing etc, that will keep shirts cleaner longer??

Ta muchly!

[PAULW]

You could get him to wash his neck.

[Nicos]

I used to spray first with one of the Oxy products and tip in Oxy powder or Napisan into the wash as well as the non-bio product....worked for me...worth a try eh??

[Nicos]

You could get him to wash his neck.

ha ha ha ...you're going to get a slap for that!!!

[OverWyreGrower]

You could get him to wash his neck.

And behind his ears.....

[zazen999]

Soak in Borax & hot water before the wash. You can make a mix up and paste it onto the collars and cuffs about an hour before the wash....it really works!

[Brengirl]

I keep a bucket made up with an oxy product. Anything white ie glass cloths, smalls etc. get dropped into it and soaked untill a white wash is due.

This reminds me of the 'old days' when shirts came with a spare set of detachable collers.

[buzzingtalk]

On a related tip, anyone know how to 'bleach' whites if possible? I put my OH's very expensive cotton white bedsheets (and it is for this reason that i have never owned anything white) in with some colours and they are a wierd colour now. Can you bleach stuff white again?

And what is the difference bettwen bio and non bio, i could never figure it out. I know Iam allergic to a lot of washing powder and maybe its related to thaot?

[Two_Sheds]

Can you bleach stuff white again?

No!
Bleach weakens the fibres in fabrics, it's very corrosive stuff. Use an 'oxy' whitening powder instead - I was sceptical, but it really does work
I keep a bar of Vanish in my cleaning cupboard, it's really useful for dribble stains on shirts, and dirty cuffs. I've had one bar for 6 years now, how cheap is that?

Keep some colour run remover in the house too, for that red-sock-in-the-whites moment

And what is the difference bettwen bio and non bio,?

Bio has enzymes in it to "eat" protein stains, eg blood, food, oil

[Nicos]

And what is the difference bettwen bio and non bio, i could never figure it out. I know Iam allergic to a lot of washing powder and maybe its related to thaot?

Persil non-bio has always been recommended by the Excema Society...I know there are others o the market- but I've never tried them.

[PAULW]

I used to use bio-tex for riding breeches and white gloves soak overnight then wash in a non bio powder.

[kirsty b]

No!
Bleach weakens the fibres in fabrics, it's very corrosive stuff. Use an 'oxy' whitening powder instead - I was sceptical, but it really does work
I keep a bar of Vanish in my cleaning cupboard, it's really useful for dribble stains on shirts, and dirty cuffs. I've had one bar for 6 years now, how cheap is that?

Keep some colour run remover in the house too, for that red-sock-in-the-whites moment


Bio has enzymes in it to "eat" protein stains, eg blood, food, oil

I find bleach does make stuff go yellow after a bit (dishcloths etc). Have been using the Oxy Crystal white stuff lately and found it to be good. Pickle's school shirts have stayed white so far this term My sister really rates it for her dress uniform shirts too.
I like the vanish bar of soap too.

[Alison]

Not really an answer specifically to your query but why does he have to wear white shirts, I've worked in lots of places where there is quite a formal dress code but very few people would wear white (I always think they look a bit school uniform) and most of the guys would have say, blue, striped or whatever shirts with their ties (so glad women don't have to wear such a stupidly pointless item of clothing) which are obviously a lot easier to keep clean and looks smart and formal. If he really wants to wear white then maybe you could suggest he washes them himself

[Glutton4...]

You could get him to wash his neck.

That was my first thought!

On a related tip, anyone know how to 'bleach' whites if possible? Can you bleach stuff white again?

And what is the difference bettwen bio and non bio, i could never figure it out. I know Iam allergic to a lot of washing powder and maybe its related to thaot?

Bleach takes the colour out. Even white is a colour. If you bleach it, it will probably go cream/ecru/natural/woteva! The only thing to wash with whites, is whites!

No!
Bleach weakens the fibres in fabrics, it's very corrosive stuff. Use an 'oxy' whitening powder instead - I was sceptical, but it really does work
I keep a bar of Vanish in my cleaning cupboard, it's really useful for dribble stains on shirts, and dirty cuffs. I've had one bar for 6 years now, how cheap is that?

Keep some colour run remover in the house too, for that red-sock-in-the-whites moment


Bio has enzymes in it to "eat" protein stains, eg blood, food, oil

I second all that - Colour Run Remover is fab!
Bio makes me itch and triggers Mr. G's Psoriasis. Non Bio doesn't!

Good luck!

[OverWyreGrower]

Not really an answer specifically to your query but why does he have to wear white shirts, I've worked in lots of places where there is quite a formal dress code but very few people would wear white (I always think they look a bit school uniform) and most of the guys would have say, blue, striped or whatever shirts with their ties (so glad women don't have to wear such a stupidly pointless item of clothing) which are obviously a lot easier to keep clean and looks smart and formal. If he really wants to wear white then maybe you could suggest he washes them himself

Unfortunately, that's the company dress code... all non-warehouse-floor staff (i.e. management, admin etc) are in white shirts/tops (including women). I think it's because the warehouse floor staff are in various colour tops depending on their job/role, so it makes people on a fairly dangerous warehouse floor easy to spot and see what they are doing, e.g. warehouse floor managers have a blue polo shirt, pickers are in green, drivers in orange etc.

Friday is technically a dress-down day, however, if they have prospective clients etc, then they are back to shirt and tie.

I do the washing, cos he does all the stuff I hate - cleaning the bathroom, ironing, vacuuming etc... not a bad trade off really