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Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

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Original poster

Getting school shirts white again!

30 replies

sheeplikessleep · 13/09/2012 11:40

DS1 started reception this week.
Every night, his shirt is stained with various paints, food, the usual suspects.
But it isn't cleaning up in the wash (I use 30' wash, non-bio liquid). I've always used non-bio since he was little, I guess just habit.

I cannot be arsed to soak school shirts every night.
I just wondered what others use to get whites white again and get rid of normal school stains! I obviously need to use something else - will bio washing liquid suffice?
Cheers

OP posts:

SarkyWench · 13/09/2012 11:43

hot wash.
spoonful for 'vanish whites' in with the powder.

MoaningMingeWhingesAgain · 13/09/2012 11:43

I would do them on a hotter wash, with other whites only, with bio detergent to start with. That may well do the trick. I do a weeks worth at a time as I don't have many other whites for a full load, but don't leave them a week if very stained.

A good rub with some Fairy liquid before washing them can help too, but only use a bit. Or there are various stain removing sprays etc which I have never found to be very useful, I like the Vanish soap bar though.

Original poster

sheeplikessleep · 13/09/2012 11:47

Great, thanks, will 40 be hot enough? They're just white polo shirts.
I'll buy some 'vanish whites' too and some bio detergent, thanks.
I don't have loads of just white stuff tbh, so it will be a weekly wash I'll have to do.

OP posts:

MrsJohnDeere · 13/09/2012 11:54

You need a hotter wash.

Pre-wash with Biotex and hang out to dry in the sun if you can.

Soak overnight in Napisan if stains still don't come out.

Original poster

sheeplikessleep · 13/09/2012 11:57

Thanks all

OP posts:

MoaningMingeWhingesAgain · 13/09/2012 11:59

Try 40, if it's not working try 60. And no 'quick wash' or 'timesaver' nonsense

But if that doesn't work, sod them. Just send them to school in stained stuff. White is a stupid colour for young children, I don't buy anything white if I can help it.

PigletJohn · 13/09/2012 12:00

what are they made of? Hot washes will get them cleaner. Powders are better than liquids for whites.

in hot washes, proper shirts willl tend to pucker or wrinkle, at the collar especially due to the different materials of band and thread. However polo shirts have none of this.

The various laundry sprays are quite good for stained patches, own-brand much cheaper, or you can check them in a bucket with powder overnight for a pre-soak. Aldi is particularly good for cleaning products

I was convinced for years that non-bio Persil was best for sensitive skin, but recent research seems to cast doubt. Maybe the bio powders have got less troublesome over the years.

Persil is especially good for whites (this is not just an old wives' tale).

BloooCowWonders · 13/09/2012 12:01

Sunshine! Hang out to dry in the garden, leave as long as you can. Always works for me.

Hopeforever · 13/09/2012 12:03

Give up! School should know better than having white shirts, blue ones are soooo much easier.
Agree with both the napisan and vanish tablets, but why bother

SarkyWench · 13/09/2012 12:06

oh and most important...

encourage them to wear their jumper at lunch time

Original poster

sheeplikessleep · 13/09/2012 12:10

Thanks for your thoughts, I will buy Persil bio powder and see if that helps. I thought a 60 wash might shrink them? That would work better, as I can throw them in with the white towels at the end of the week.

OP posts:

PigletJohn · 13/09/2012 13:06

they are probably knitted polycotton, so read the wash label and don't overcook them.

Sunshine78 · 13/09/2012 13:29

I often soak mine for an hour or 2 in cold water with a dash of bleach then wash as normal -people have often asked how I keep my whites white - only do though if item is all white as would bleach any other colour.

rainbowsprite1 · 14/09/2012 10:12

I have exactly the same problem and I'm currently using Persil Bio so don't bother buying any because it wont shift the stains. I sent DD2 into school today with a clean but stained shirt. I can't use vanish or anything similar because she has eczema and it sets her off, same goes for changing the washing powder, so I just explained to the teacher this morning I have washed her uniform but I'm stuck when it comes to shifting the stains & I refuse to buy a new shirt every day!

notso · 14/09/2012 10:28

Dr Beckman whitening sachets are good and only about 90p for a five pack from Wilko. They are quite mild as well DD has eczema and is fine with them.

rainbowsprite1 · 14/09/2012 13:25

notso - thanks for the tip. I'll go to wilko today to get some :)

StaceymReadyForNumber3 · 14/09/2012 13:34

rainbow the school will be able to tell a clean stained shirt from a dirty one.

I've never bothered trying to remove stains from ds's shirts. As long as they are clean and (almost) presentable, he gets sent in them. The school have never complained!

PigletJohn · 14/09/2012 13:39

I wonder what the stains are? food stains will mostly wash out, but biro and car-oil are very persistent.

StaceymReadyForNumber3 · 14/09/2012 13:41

My stains are bloody pen and paint that the school reckon is 'washable' tell that to the 60 sets of parents moaning about the stains they can't all be as shit at washing as me

kweggie · 14/09/2012 13:43

as long as they are clean, does it really matter? It is work gear for kids! You could always keep one back for' best 'for assemblies, photos etc(assuming the little so-and-so's tell you/hand over the note in time to warn you!)

Original poster

sheeplikessleep · 14/09/2012 14:28

I've managed to get most of the stains out with OxyAction soaking.
One shirt has a black mark on it, it does look like pen. I've even left bleach on it for a few minutes and rubbed it in and it is still there. It's not even fading.

Kweggie - it doesn't matter really, but I'm still in the first week reception 'they look so cute' shallowness at the moment, so humour me (seriously, I am such a slattern normally!). I'm sure it'll wear off and I'll be sending him off in much worse in the future!

OP posts:

mistlethrush · 14/09/2012 14:34

We've got some shirts with obvious pen marks on them (on his back, so not DS!) which I've not managed to get out in 18 months (I buy largish sizes so that they last more than a year!!!) despite putting them in 'vanish' white washes every now and then. I've just decided its one of those things and that, as its not obvious from the front, I shouldn't worry too much!

clippityclop · 14/09/2012 14:40

Can't remember what it's called, could be Glo White, but I soak white socks, T shirts etc anything in the stuff fro net curtains, works wonders and sutiable for synthetic fabrics. Good luck.

Startailoforangeandgold · 14/09/2012 14:41

Reception polo shirts are meant to be interesting colours.

That said some makes are better than others for not going grey and poly cotton blouses are better still.

DD swapped because of a huge plaster cast on her arm and never went back to polo shirts. A lot of her class wear shirts too.

Lovemy3kids · 14/09/2012 14:44

I've given up trying to get the stains out of my kids t-shirts/shirts.....they get them stained, they get washed, and if stain still there - they go to school in clean, stained shirts/t-shirts!!

i got fed up of trying to remove all the stains!!!

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