Washing a white shirt in the washing machine

It’s not for nothing that light-colored items belong to the basic wardrobe - they are universal and harmonize with all shades and prints. But keeping clothes white is not so easy: the fabric quickly gets dirty, and over time it turns yellow and gray. But you can return snow-whiteness: you just need to know how to properly wash a white shirt in a washing machine or by hand. We suggest dealing with all possible stains, choosing the appropriate powder and providing step-by-step instructions.

Choosing a cleaning method

Each white shirt requires special care: it all depends on the type of material. In order not to make a mistake, it is better to first pay attention to the label - the tag on which the manufacturer provides all the recommendations for washing the item. When there is an icon with a crossed out “basin”, the product cannot be washed at all if there is an image of a hand next to it - only by hand.

If the label is lost or faded, you will have to navigate by the fabric:

• cotton can be washed both by hand and in a washing machine, in any case shrinking by 4-5%;
• It is better to clean silk by hand without soaking or squeezing, maintaining the water temperature within 30 degrees;
• wool can be loaded into the washing machine, but only with a special program;
• synthetics do not deteriorate from the machine if you heat the water to a maximum of 40 degrees;
• non-natural materials, modal, bamboo, viscose, acetate, prefer hand washing at 20-40 degrees and are reduced by 7-8%.

As a rule, almost all shirts can be washed in an automatic machine without any problems. The main thing is to choose the appropriate mode, adjust the degrees and spin speed.But before loading the item into the drum, it is worth preparing the laundry for washing. We proceed like this:

• sort by color (colored, dark and white are washed separately, otherwise shedding, staining and further damage cannot be avoided);

White is washed with light blue and pink, if these materials do not fade.

• We pre-treat old and stubborn stains with a stain remover (it is also recommended to additionally wash the sleeves, collar and armpit area);
• We check all pockets for forgotten items;
• fasten all buttons, zippers and snaps;
• turn the shirt inside out;
• we select a detergent suitable for the type of fabric (cotton can be cleaned with any composition, synthetics can be cleaned with gentle ones, and delicate fabrics, silk, wool, lace can be cleaned with special ones);

Next, it is recommended to soak the light shirt to enhance the further effect of washing. Dilute the grated mixture in water laundry soap or add any bleach. If there is no ready-made composition for pre-soaking, then you can use a mixture of powder, soda and 2-3 drops of ammonia.

Let's use an automatic machine

If machine wash is allowed, you can start loading the shirt into the drum. But before you turn on the “Start” button, you should adjust the cycle settings and take into account several related points. We are talking about the following nuances:

• We set the temperature for delicate fabrics within 30-40 degrees, for cotton and linen we increase it to 90 degrees, and for synthetics we set it to 50;
• we give preference to gels, since powder mixtures dissolve less well at low temperatures and are less easy to rinse out of fabric;
• turn off spinning, ironing and automatic drying (delicate fabrics do not like excessive mechanical stress and are deformed at high speeds);
• add an additional rinse;
• We wash viscose shirts in special bags, which will protect the fragile material from possible damage.

It is recommended to wash viscose shirts only in special protective bags.

Modern machines have many modes that simplify the process of using the machine. It is enough to select “Wool”, “Delicate”, “Synthetics” or “Cotton” with the programmer and just check the automatically specified settings. If everything is in order, we start the cycle and wait for the measured time.

Traditional care

Shirts are washed differently by hand. First, you need to wash off existing stains and particularly dirty areas: moisten with stain remover diluted in water. Ammonia with glycerin or soda with lemon juice can also cope with dirt. Laundry soap, which just needs to be rubbed onto the fabric, has a similar effect.

Next we proceed to washing:

• fill the basin or bathtub with warm water;
• dilute a suitable gel or powder;
• dip the shirt into the solution and wash it, carefully massaging the fabric;
• rinse;
• Lightly squeeze the product without twisting.

Shirts should not be wrung or twisted.

Experienced housewives recommend washing white shirts only by hand. Gentle cleansing is less risky, but more effective due to the use of natural bleaches.

Returning the whiteness to the shirt

White clothes get dirty more often and faster than colored and black ones, especially in the collar and cuff areas. You can return things to their original whiteness, but you will have to spend a lot of time and effort.The surest way to bleach is to wash the stained areas before the main wash:

• moisten the collar and wipe with a sponge;
• fasten the cuffs, turn them inside out and pull them over the bottle, and then treat them with soap, dish gel or bleach.

Vanish oxygen bleach removes third-party stains perfectly.

In order for the shirt to retain its original light tone for a long time, you should take cleaning products seriously. Oxygen bleaches, for example, Vanish, do an excellent job of removing grayness. The main thing is to add the concentrate according to the instructions.

Among the “folk” remedies, hydrogen peroxide effectively whitens. To return whiteness, you need to dilute 150 g of grated laundry soap and 40-50 ml of peroxide in 5 liters of water. Stir until smooth and soak the product for 30-40 minutes. Then we take it out, rinse and thoroughly clean it.

Getting rid of yellowness

White linen often deteriorates due to yellow streaks and stains. Conventional powders and gels cannot remove yellowness, so more stringent measures are needed. So, you can return whiteness using the following methods:

• use oxygen-based bleaches and stain removers (but the stains must be fresh);
• Boil the item with chlorine-free bleach (if the shirt is made of cotton or linen).

If there are old and bright yellow spots, it is necessary to prepare a special paste. Mix equal amounts of liquid soap, salt and baking soda until smooth. Spread the resulting porridge evenly over the contaminated areas and leave for 30-40 minutes. Then we remove the mixture and start the cycle in an automatic machine.

Cosmetics stains

If foundation, concealer or lipstick gets on your shirt, you will need other products.The fact is that cosmetics contain large amounts of fat. Not all bleaches can remove such stains. It is better to give preference to the following options:

• a mixture of lemon juice and baking soda;
• dish gel;
• toothpaste;
• pure or diluted ammonia;
• special chemical stain remover.

Any mixture mentioned should be applied to the stain and left for a few minutes, lightly rubbing with a sponge or hand. Afterwards, we rinse and wash the laundry in a machine or by hand.

Wine stains

It is not difficult to remove red wine from white fabric if you immediately react to the stain. It is strongly not recommended to delay cleansing, as completely absorbed and dried “redness” will damage the item irrevocably. Therefore, we do not hesitate and act immediately.

1. Lay the shirt out on the table, not allowing the stain to transfer to the clean fabric.
2. Fill the wine mark with warm wine or vodka.
3. Add salt, pour boiling water on top and leave for 1-2 hours.
4. Dry with a dry cloth.
5. Cover the trail with powdered citric acid and pour citrus juice on top.
6. We wash by hand or in a machine.

If the shirt material is too thick, then it is better to go the other way and treat the contaminated area with liquid Domestos. Lubricate the wine stain, leave for 5 minutes and rinse. Be sure to load it into the washing machine and run a full cycle.

It is easier to remove white wine residue from a shirt. Crushed ice on the laundry and washing in a solution of soap and soda will help get rid of wine stains. A shirt is also effectively cleaned when, after washing, the mark is rubbed with laundry soap or washed with a water-alcohol mixture. In severe cases, mix ammonia, turpentine oil and soap, and then lubricate problem areas with the mixture.

Dye and paste

It is easy to remove from light and paint. But the tactics of action depend on the freshness of the contamination. The dried dye is brushed off and washed off under cold water. Treat the remaining trace with soap or bleach. In the first case, you will need to soak for 25-30 minutes, and in the second, it is enough to keep the stain remover on the shirt for 5-6 minutes. Then we wash as usual.

If dye gets on the fabric, you should not immerse the clothes in hot water - at high temperatures, the dye penetrates deeply into the structure of the material and settles there firmly.

Ink is removed from white after treatment with pure medical alcohol with a concentration of at least 70%. Aseptolin, a medicinal drug sold from pharmacies without a prescription, is also effective.

Getting rid of moisture

How to dry a light shirt depends on the type of fabric. If the product is of high quality and does not wrinkle, then you can hang it on the balcony, having first fastened all the fasteners and straightened out the folds. It is better to place blouses made of delicate materials on hangers, and then send them out to sunlight and wind. Viscose items dry, the main thing is to place them on a dry terry towel.

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