I’m a laundry expert – how to get grotty school polo shirts white again, no matter what they are stained with
IT seems like no matter how hard we try, we can never get our kids’ white school shirts looking crisp and white again.
But there is a simple trick that’ll have them glowing like new no matter if it’s grass-stained or full of sweat.
Laundry expert Deyan Dimitrov reckons it couldn’t be easier to do and it’s all thanks to a little know pantry staple – salt.
“If your child’s polo shirt is looking a little dull in colour, simply soak it in a bucket of cold water with 4 tablespoons of salt,” he tells Fabulous.
“The salt will remove any build-up of dirt and grime that have caused the garments to look faded.”
Regardless of the stain, you should always try this first, but if you find they need a little extra love, follow these tips.
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Ink spills
One of the hardest stains to remove is ink stains, says Deyan, CEO of Laundryheap and for this one time is of the essence.
“Immediately place a towel underneath the affected area and spray an alcohol-based hair spray directly on the stain,” he explains.
“Then, gently dab the area with a cloth to remove any residual liquid.”
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Apply more hairspray and repeat the previous steps until it eventually begins to fade.
“Once the stain has vanished, wash the garment as normal, but be sure to use a biological-based detergent to remove any lingering chemicals,” he says.
Grass stains
For this one, vinegar is your friend.
Deyan: explains: “Using a bucket or washing-up bowl, mix together white vinegar and water in a 1:1 ratio.
“Dunk your child’s clothing into the solution and leave it for roughly 30 minutes.
“Return to the mixture and (wearing rubber gloves) gently work your hands into the stain, rubbing the material lightly.
“Then, rinse the garment out under cold water.”
But be sure to avoid hot water as this will cause any leftover grass stains to bond to the fibres of the clothing.
And if the stain persists (especially on white clothing), repeat the process, but substitute the water-vinegar mixture for standard washing detergent to avoid exposing your garments to acidic solutions for too long.
Juice or milk
Deyan says: “Orange juice is extremely acidic and will bond firmly onto fabrics. If you’re there when the incident happens, try to dab off any excess juice immediately.”
Avoid rubbing the stain as this will work it deeper into the material he adds – the aim is to weaken the bond between the acid and the fabric’s fibres.
“So ideally a soft brush or microfibre towel is better than kitchen roll or toilet paper, as paper fibres may bond to the juice stain and further complicate the situation,” he says.
“If your child’s polo shirt is looking a little dull in colour, simply soak it in a bucket of cold water with 4 tablespoons of salt.
Deyan Dimitrov
“Then, place biological detergent onto the stain and massage this in gently (make sure to wear rubber gloves at this point!).”
Although the stain may still persist faintly, a normal washing machine cycle will remove any leftover sticky residues.
But make sure to always check the clothing label, and adjust the temperature accordingly. The same method can be used for milk.
Blood
As with many others, it’s helpful to move quickly if you want to be successful in removing blood from white shirts.
If you notice a dried bloodstain, you’ll need to soak the item in salty water for several hours before completing the following steps, Deyan advises.
“For fresh stains, provided your child is safe and not in any pain, immediately wash the garment in cold water,” he says.
“This is vital, as hot water will again cause this stain to bond further with the fabric. “
Dab the stain with a soft brush or microfibre towel, working your way inwards to the stain, to prevent it from growing.
Once you’ve done this, apply a paste of baking soda and water in a 2:1 ratio and leave it on the garment for 30 minutes. Follow with a normal wash cycle.
Mud marks
Unlike the others where you should act quickly, it’s best to let mud stains dry out completely before attempting to clean them otherwise you run the risk of rubbing mud further into the fabric.
Deyan says: “ Scrape away at the stain with the edge of a blunt knife to remove any mounds of mud that are still stuck to your child’s clothing.
“Then apply a biological detergent onto the fabric and begin to work this in, wearing rubber gloves.”
If all else fails, you can try a stain remover at this point.
Grease and oil
Polyester, a form of synthetic fibre that is commonly used in children’s clothing, can make grease and oil stains particularly hard for parents to remove.
For these stains, all you need is a little bit of washing-up liquid and water, Deyan says.
“As with the majority of stains (barring mud of course) it’s good to act in a timely fashion,” he says.
“Squeeze a little washing-up liquid onto the garment, rub it in and soak it in relatively hot water. Repeat as required, then wash as normal.”
Sweat and deodorant marks
There are several solutions for sweat and deodorant marks, depending on the colour of the garment and the type of stain.
For white shirts, sprinkle some bicarbonate of soda on the deodorant stain you want to remove, then apply some white vinegar directly onto the stain.
“You’ll see a chemical reaction happening and the mixture will start to fizz. Then, take an old toothbrush and start to brush the stain gently, so as not to damage the fabric,” Deyan ex[lains.
“You’ll see dark, black, gunk come off, which is the remainder of the deodorant.”
Once you’ve got most of it out, pop your item of clothing in the machine and wash it as usual.
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What about dark clothing items?
Deyan adds: “Dark shirts will require the same mixture as jeans: white vinegar and water.
“Use one part white vinegar to two parts warm water, leave the clothes to soak overnight – or for at least two hours – and then transfer to your washing machine and wash them as you usually would.”
