Keeping polo shirts White.

[Madondogs]

A thrilling topic I know but I wondered if you clever ladies could help me 'do better this term'.

Ds school uniform has White polo shirts, they have to be bought from specialist supplier. The make is Trutex, a polyester and cotton mix.

Despite my best efforts they always seem to loose their whiteness, I wash separately, use a bio liquid but after a few months they look quite grey.

What am I doing wrong ?

Are you washing at 60 degrees ?, I've found that a good quality powder ( not liquids) like Persil or Ariel are the only powders that keep my whites looking white ! A lot of mn suggest drying whites in the sunshine to keep them looking good as well.

Have you tried in-wash boosters eg Vanish, Glo-white?

I soak my dc's white things in napisan overnight, than wash as normal. It seems to do the trick. However the fabric doesn't feel very soft.
Sorry to hijack, but if anyone knows how to soften the fabric I'd love to know.

Powders generally contain bleach, liquids don't

I've always had great results from Persil.

Pure cotton is easier to keep white as it will take a higher temperature

You say you are washing separately, which is very important for keeping whites really white.

If you do lots of low-temp washes your machine may have a sludgy residue, try giving it a max-heat cycle with no powder and a cup of washing soda. If the water foams up and goes grey that is the old sludge dissolving, do it again until it stays clean.

Hi thanks for replies, originally I was washing at 60 degrees as I do for all whites, but the label on the shirts says 40 degrees, I think because they are a polyester/cotton mix.

I have also tried various oxyaction things and vanish,do you think I should use a powder rather than a liquid ?

I've found popping a colour catcher in a load of whites really makes a difference. I've no idea why, it makes no sense if it is all whites, but it really does help.

Definitely recommend powder rather than liquids, I swapped a couple of years ago now, use Persil powder for whites and just tesco's own brand for everyting else, I can honestly say my whites are always white now and all my clothes just seem to be cleaner ifswim using powder.

I find polycotton shirts wrinkle and pucker round the collar at hotter washes, I presume the thread or lining won't take the heat.

Loads of powder and a 60 degree wash. Works a treat, I'm still wearing White t shirts that are years old (because I'm skint). Even my MIL has commented in how White my whites are. I use Persil and a small amount of comfort pure

Use a non-bio powder as this is more likely to have bleaches in it and will perform better at 60 degrees than a bio. Definitely powder rather than liquid and definitely keep washing whites separately.