How do I get white school polo shirts to stay white?!

[Southmouth]

DS wears white polo shirts to school and OH white shirts to work.

I wash whites separately and on a high temp with washing powder and a scoop of white vanish powder but they just aren’t the bright white they used to be! What am I doing wrong?!

Also the polo shirts don't feel very soft anymore, I use fabric softener but they don’t feel any different to if I wasn’t to use any

I used to use Milton baby liquid as a soak. There is some really strong stain remover that a school mum used to bring over from the states - it looked like a white sharpie and would take out anything (I think it was bleach).

Every half term I soak them in the bath for a few days. Works a treat.

One of my work colleagues uses dishwasher tablets- apparently they really work!

Unless they're 100% cotton don't use a hot wash as it will turn synthetics off-white. Standard bio powder at 40° should be fine.

The only effective way to deal with this is to move schools to one with a dark uniform, sorry.

Honestly, the planet is literally on fire, I live without very bright whites for the sake of not poisoning the earth any more than necessary. I also have about 50,000 more interesting things to do and think about. Can they possibly just be worn the way they are?

You don't have to wash at a high temperature, just only ever pure whites together and always with powder. Also dry in the sunlight whenever possible.

Biotex and fairy non bio here at 40 degrees.

I spray the stains with the ASDA Oxy spray, then soak overnight in vanish white. Then wash as normal, if possible dry in natural light and that seems to shift most stains and keep things white. Apart from the weird black pen he has managed to get on his polo shirts that won’t come out at all, no parent at the school has figured out a way to removed that yet!

Only wash whites with other whites 😊

Don't wash them at high temp - they aren't pure cotton and it makes them go grey and yuck. A 30' wash with bio powder (Lidl powder is brilliant) and a slug of Napisan works

Dishwasher tablet in the machine with your whites and normal powder/ liquid.
Alternatively Ace for whites.

40 wash with Ariel and a scoop of vanish gold. Dry in sunlight. Never mix whites with anything else ever, even pastels.

Also, move schools so your dc can wear pale blue shirts cos then you can bung all the uniform in the wash together.

Napisan for washing Terry nappies,wash at 40 (to high and thet will go yellow)

Fuzzy penguin

Have you tried dabbing the black pen mark with bleach on a cotton bud (so you apply only to the marks) then swill under a cold tap and see how it is? Then into the usual wash.
If you’re desperate, and nothing else has worked - try this..?

@FuzzyPenguin have you tried Dr Beckmann pen remover? DS often comes home with black pen on his polo shirts and jumper when they use the white board pens and it works a treat!

I can’t believe I didn’t know a hot temp would turn them off white maybe that’s what I’m doing wrong then!

I used to use a scoop of soda crystals. I'm a slattern these days though as my mental health can't compete with my own high standards. Whites go on a white only wash with powder not liquid/gel.

Hit send too soon...

If they aren't bright white then tough. If the DC dont like it they can do the laundry (they are 13 and 15 )

Am I right in thinking that washing powder is better at keeping them white then tablets or gel?

Wash at 30 or 40 degrees, no higher, better for the white polos, better for the planet. A little Milton may help, well diluted, don't let undiluted Milton in contact with any clothes.

Dry outside where possible. Ironing helps to soften.

@FuzzyPenguin Have you tried hand gel on the pen ink?

Hang them outside for a good few hours. All day if the weather will let you.
Sunlight is amazing at getting rid of stains, even this weak winter stuff.

If no logo on them. Soak them in bit bleach and washing powder over night then wash. Can do with white shirts too.

Re the lack of softness do you have hard water?