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Nothing spoils a crisp white shirt more than it not staying white; which is why when you find one you love, you want to keep it looking fresh for as long as possible. This guide will tell you everything you need to know about taking care of your white shirt, and how to keep it looking white for longer.
How to Look After a White Shirt
Not only do white shirts seem to be a magnet for stains, over time they can begin to lose their whiteness. To avoid this process, or at least slow it down, follow these simple steps below:
Wash Your White Shirt Regularly
While over-washing your shirt can decrease its lifespan, leaving white shirts unwashed can be just as damaging. Perspiration and dirt will build up throughout the day, so your shirt needs to be washed after it has been worn to avoid permanent stains.
To help ensure your shirt stays white for longer, we recommend investing in two or three white shirts which you can rotate. That way, you’re not washing and wearing the same shirt all of the time.
Only Wash a White Shirt With Other Whites
If you’re serious about keeping your white shirts white, you should never wash them with colors. Unfortunately, many of your clothes will not be color-fast, which means it’s likely that they will ‘bleed’ onto your whites and cause staining. To avoid this, simply wash your white shirts separately from anything that’s not white.
Don’t Overload Your Washing Machine
Overloading your washing machine is another mistake that can keep your white shirt from looking its brightest. It may be tempting to fill up every bit of space available, however clothes need to be able to circulate around the washing machine to be properly cleaned. If your machine is completely full, the washing detergent doesn’t have enough room to interact with the dirt on your clothing.
Hot Water Helps
Generally speaking, you should avoid washing your clothes at a high temperature, as not only does it waste energy, but can also cause shrinking. However, by washing your whites with hotter water, it will help shift the dirt particles more effectively.
To strike a good balance between efficiency and cleanliness, wait until you have a good number of white clothes ready to wash and then take a look at the care labels to figure out the hottest water temperature the materials can take.
Pretreat Stains
If your white shirt has a stain, make sure you treat it with stain remover before putting it into the washing machine. To do so, invest in a liquid laundry detergent and then use an up-and-down motion with a soft brush to break up the stain. Once you’ve done this, pop it into the machine with the rest of your white garments.
Discover our full range of men’s white shirts, including linen shirts, Oxford shirts and more. Alternatively, if you need help with your shirt measurements, you can take a look at our shirt size guide.
