How To: Keep Your Whites White
For those of us that reject the old "can't wear white after Labor Day" adage (and, frankly, that should be all of us), but can’t always manage to keep sauce off that crisp shirt, this How To is here to rescue you. Check out all our tips and tricks for keeping your whites more pristine than the Pope, below.
1. Don't Wait, Treat Immediately
Nothing turns a good day into a bad one when you discover you've dribbled a bit of your morning coffee (or happy-hour red wine) on your bright whites. Whether it's a small splash of your latte or an entire pasta dinner, time is of the essence in treating these types of stains. If appropriate, take off your whites and use a stain pen or soda water to immediately dilute the spot.
2. Wash + Soak
This may not come as a surprise, but the next step to treating stained whites is washing or soaking garments with an eco-friendly, nontoxic solution such as an oxygen-based bleach, hydrogen peroxide, or even a cup of lemon juice. Immerse whites for at least 30 minutes and remember to always separate and wash whites alone. Our personal trick? Add a half cup of baking soda to every load of laundry to keep colors and whites bright for longer.
3. That's So Hot
The cardinal rule of washing whites: hot, hot water. Obviously, read the care instructions on each garment you’re treating to ensure shrinkage isn't a concern (think wool, cashmere, organic cotton). In those cases, use warm water and hand wash vs. relying on the spin cycle on your machine—this will reduce the impact on natural fibers.
4. Add Vitamin D
There's something to be said about Grandma's clothesline. Outside of saving energy and reducing environmental impact, ultraviolet light from sunshine actually helps bleach out any residual staining on your favorite whites. Hang your clothes in the sun for as long as humanly possible for maximum effect.
5. Be Prepared
If you find yourself constantly spilling the tea (uh, literally) on your whites, invest in a stain pen or spot-shot solution to tackle spills and messes ASAP. We personally love The Laundress Wash and Stain Bar or Ecover Stain Remover, both eco- and purse-friendly options for emergency situations.
6. Stubborn AF Stain?
We've been there—when your whites are messier than your recent breakup and all else has failed, head to your local green dry cleaner for expert help in removing tricky stains. The idea is to maintain the life of your whites, and the chemicals in traditional dry cleaning practices tend to break down your clothing over time. So, do your research and find a dry cleaner that specializes in environmentally sustainable practices.
