Tips for Caring for Your Summer Whites

Clothes Washer.

If you’re looking for ways to prevent your summer whites from turning yellow by Labor Day, here are a few tips to help you achieve that goal:

Wash Frequently & Treat Stains—It’s good to wash whites every time you wear them, even if you don’t think they’re dirty. Perspiration and body oils will turn your white items quickly to yellow. Always use cold water to rinse fresh stains. Treat stains as soon as possible. If a stain sits, it will discolor the fabric.

Soften Your Water—Minerals in hard water can gray your white clothes, so add ½ cup of vinegar to your rinse water.Use Light—Natural fibers love the sun and hanging them outside to dry is a gentle, natural bleach. However, read the garment label first to determine if the item needs to be kept out of direct sunlight.

Don’t Over Dry—Drying with high heat or too much heat will turn your whites gray over time. Keep it cool and partially dry before hanging for the final dry.

Try OxyClean—For stubborn neck, wrist, and underarm stains, this product has been recommended to me by clients as a great option. On the other hand, household bleaches can break down natural fibers and the optical brighteners that are applied to most white textiles. Overtime, bleach leaves clothes yellowed or gray. So, give OxyClean a try and see what you think.

Have Dry Cleaners Do the Pressing—In order to preserve your white shirts, wash at home using the tips above, then take to the dry cleaners for pressing to give your garments a crisp look.

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