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Rejuvenating uniform shirts
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Posted by cajunmommy (My Page) on Mon, Nov 16, 09 at 9:06
| Recently inherited some pass-me-down school uniform shirts - White, 60/40 poly-cotton, polo style with an iron-on emblem.
I'd love to use them, but they're greyed & dingy, especially the collar area and the sleeves.
Any suggestions?
I'm hesitant to use bleach because of the emblem.
As an FYI - I have a Whirlpool Duet FL and we have soft water. |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Rejuvenating uniform shirts
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| Tide HE powder will brighten them back up. Just do not put them through the drier until you have gotten them to the level of whiteness you would like. If you prefer liquid, I recommend Cheer Bright Clean HE Liquid or Tide W/ Bleach alternative HE liquid. Whatever detergent you decide to wash them in, us the warmest water they can stand. If all else fails you can pick up a bluing agent in the laundry isle of your local grocery store. HTH : D |
RE: Rejuvenating uniform shirts
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| Have you tried putting shampoo and rubbing into the collar area? That might be from body oils which have built up over time. Also, just put some oxyclean (or any oxygen bleach) into the hottest water those shirts can stand and letting them soak overnight. That should brighten them up a lot. And... as Happymomof2kids stated, Mrs. Stewarts Bluing is great. Just be careful when you add it to the wash and be sure to dilute it well before adding to the rinse cycle once it has filled with water. And, don't add too much. I have had a few "accidents" regarding the bluing in the past. It does eventually wash out if you get too much, but it is just easier to be mindful to start with. |
RE: Rejuvenating uniform shirts
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| Thanks - I think I'll give the Oxyclean soak a shot. I don't think it's just a matter of "brightening". The shirts are actually a dingy brownish-grey when held up to some of the newer uniform shirts we have. It's like the fabric has changed color. |
RE: Rejuvenating uniform shirts
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| I agree with xhappyx, a long soak in hot water and any oxy-type bleach would be a great place to start. I've used "Biz" in this way, with good results. It contains activated oxygen bleach, enzymes, optical brighteners and detergent. If that doesn't do the trick, I'd also try washing one of the shirts with liquid chlorine bleach. There are dyes that are not affected by occasional laundering with bleach (they're used in many dishtowels, for example). The iron-on emblem may come out just fine. |
Here is a link that might be useful: Biz Stain Fighter
RE: Rejuvenating uniform shirts
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If you can, hang them on the line in the sun. If you have no line, maybe on hangers on a patio or either thrown over patio chairs. The sun works wonders.
Sounds like they may have been washed with colored clothes and possibly picked up some stray dyes.
The Oxy should help, just may take a few times.
You might also try White Bright and see if that would help. |
RE: Rejuvenating uniform shirts
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| My mom always swore by Biz to soak dirty white socks before she washed them. She also used it as an additive when washing very dirty white rags/towels which we used in heavy-duty cleaning outdoors. I remember it had a very fresh fragrance. I didn't know Biz was still being sold today. Haven't seen it on store shelves in years. |
RE: Rejuvenating uniform shirts
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I know Persil would work on dingy yellow whites.
And last week I saw Oxydol(liquid )in dollar store so I bought it. I washed some dish rags and garrage towels w/ beige doggie bed cover(on 194 degrees)and everything came out clean and spotless ,so Oxydol rocks. It says to use it as a pretreatment too.It is only a dollar.It says 10 loads but w/my washer size I guess I get probably 5-6 loads. Still, it is cheap and does a good job. |
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