All my white show shirts seem to get dingy after a few months. I only wash with like/neutral colors but some of them are the ones with white only where the shirt shows with a jacket on and the rest of the shirt is a different darker color. Wonder if maybe some of it bleeds on to white parts. Anyone has any tips/tricks to prevent this? I just got a killer deal on a new show shirt, it’s so bright crisp white and I want to keep it that way.
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I use the oxy white revive liquid. Soak it for 15-30 mins, then wash (with other whites). Also use to wash my sheepskin girths/white polos. So good!
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Laundry blueing (used very conservatively) works wonders to brighten up whites.
Bonus points for being able to use it it on your horse’s white bits, too.
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@ilovetheadd27 @chestnutmarebeware Thanks! Think both these methods would be ok for shirts that are only partially white? Both my show shirts are white with another darker color
Yes! The white revive is safe for colors, and the blueing agent won’t change the darker color. I also use the OxiClean White Revive Powder as well, which is awesome. Also, if you can pretreat the garment with the OxiClean stain spray and the stain gel for an hour before you wash, that’ll help, too. Just spray wherever it’s needed.
Additionally, and this obviously doesn’t work for everyone, but you can try switching to an aluminum free deodorant to help avoid the yellowing/browning that occurs on the shirt’s underarms, sleeves and chest. There’s some weird science reaction that occurs (but that’s above my pay grade!) when you wear aluminum deodorant with white clothes that causes it to stain when you sweat. This isn’t for everyone, because aluminum free deodorant works in varying degrees based on the brand and person, but you have to stick with it for a few weeks before the aluminum free stuff starts to work (
), but it really can be worth it. I did it and I haven’t gone back. I really like the Native brand.
Something else you can do (but do it sparingly, only 1-2 times per year) is laundry stripping. If you google it, there should be exact recipes for what you need and how much of it you need, but IIRC you basically fill a bathtub or sink with warm to hot water and put it powdered detergent, borax, and washing soda, put in the clothes, and let them sit for a few hours, stirring periodically. I had awesome results with this, and it was safe even on my nicest clothes (I had Tailored Sportsman’s snd Cavalleria Toscana breeches in there, along with Essex show shirts and a few other brands)
Hope this helps!
we have used Borax to whiten whites, add a 1/2 cup Borax to your laundry directly in with the clothes – not in the detergent dispenser on a front loader. It also softens hard water.
Something that may help are color catching sheets. They look like a dryer sheet but it goes in the washer and it absorbs color from the water.
I use them all the time in mixed color loads, keeps the white shirts from getting dingy.
I usually find them in the stain removal section. I use whichever brand is cheapest, they all seem to work the same.
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@PintoPony Fellow color catcher fan here. They have made my laundry so much easier to do: less sorting and fewer washes needed. There are similar sheets that are specifically to ‘brighten’ whites.
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It doesn’t sound like an interesting topic, but check out the book “Laundry Love.” It’s great. The author gives some great tips. If I recall correctly, one tip was to add washing soda (not baking soda) to stop minerals or dirt from redepositing on your clothes.
OxyClean. Fun fact…you can soak clothing in in for DAYS. I have the powder and the spray.
When my friends and I stay together in houses at horse shows, we have what’s known as the Sunday soak…first spray any spots with oxy clean spray, then I start the tub with HOT water and mix in the oxy clean powder. I let it mix together and wait for the water to cool and then put all of our clothes in overnight. Then wash and hang the next day!
Another Color Catcher user here! I use it even on loads with just whites, as it seems to stop the dingy-ness from ever starting.
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Third or fourth or whatever on the Color Catcher, although I haven’t tried endlessclimb’s trick of using one on an all white load (thanks for the suggestion!).
I find that one can be used a few times, until it’s noticeably discolored (moderately so) – no need to toss if it’s only picked up slight color from a load.
