Getting poly cotton scool polo shirts white

Penny_Farthing_2

Hi
My son's school-in their wisdom-uses white poly-cotton polo shirts. The mix is 65% polyester and 35% cotton. They have an embroidered badge and can only be bought from the school. I have 3 boys so by the time they get to son2 they are grey and yukky-looking. I've tried boiling and every oxy whitener I could find but they're still grey.

Does anyone know whether soda crystals would be safe and effective on poly-cotton, please?

Any other ideas?
Thanks

Olliebeak

I know that my daughter's children wear these for school. They are allowed to have plain ones as well as the official school one (with embroidered badge) - but like you she has trouble keeping them all looking 'white'.

When I've washed them for her, I've noticed that they are marked for a 40deg wash so not sure if washing them at too high a temp could have an effect on them going 'grey/yellow' in the wash. We've also noticed that if they're washed at too high a temp, they have a tendency to 'shorten' after washing - what used to fit to the hips, very soon only comes to the waistband! - and the child hasn't grown THAT quickly!!

This happens with both the cheap and expensive ones.

Penny_Farthing_2

Thanks Olliebeak. They're not allowed to wear plain ones. A shop near us started selling the shirts and emboidering the badge on at the shop but the school stopped it. This was a real shame because I could get 100% cotton shirts which are easier to keep white and don't pong so badly under the armpits. It's a High School!


Does anyone know how I can edit my title? scool - d'oh!

horseykitty

I think you should protest to the school or complain to one of the school govs. It's silly in these economic times to have schools holding parents to ransom over unifrom that can only be bought from one supplier - especially in state primary schools. A few years ago in my children's school they were allowed to wear either grey or red sweatshirts with either red or white polo shirts underneath - any combination was allowed and usually the boys wore the red and grey (practical) and the girls wore the red and white. The grey sweatshirts washed much better than the red ones.
Then some bright spark decided on just the red sweatshirts and white polos which all had the school name embroidered on them. These naturally cost about four times the price as buying them from a supermarket. I refuse to be bullied into this and my child wears uniform without the logo - lots of others do to.
Washing powders never do what they are supposed to do and give you sparkling whites - its just easier to deal with if you paying £1.50 per poloshirt instead of £6.00

Olliebeak

Good point there, horsekitty!

May be something for a group of parents to approach the head about. What about speaking to a Parent Governor - they are supposed to represent the views of the parents at Board of Governors level. Perhaps 'the school' (or whoever is responsible for placing the order) needs to discuss the matter with the suppliers of the shirts.

dawnybabes

Have you hung them out on the line for a couple of days ? Brightens mine.

liney

You need to speak to the Local Eduaction Authority at your Council who will 'remind' the school they cannot insist children have to wear logo'd items, effectively monopolizing the market and charging whatever they like! Do not let them bully you. (this assumes it's a state school of course)

I only buy a logo'd sweatshirt for my son, as cheap or expensive white polo's seem to go grotty within 3/4 months regardless, so i just replace them as they are so cheap

mother_noah

I bought my son the expensive logo,d red polo shirts and navy sweatshirts for school last year but they soon became shabby and unwearable.This year he is wearing plain white cotton poloshirts and plain navy sweatshirts.If the shirts become grubby I soak them in a weak bleach solution before washing ,this keeps them white .They only cost about £1.50 each so I am not worried that the bleach will damage them.The sweatshirts when fading will be treated to some cold water dye.A lot of the specialised school wear is not very good quality and is very expensive and in these tough times maybe schools should have a rethink of their policies.

Penny_Farthing_2

Thanks All.
I do agree that it's a very stupid policy but I don't have the time and/or energy to get it changed at this point (new job, 5000 word assignment to write etc etc). Will leaving them out even in the winter really do the job?

Anyone know something that will get them white, please?
Anyone know whether soda crystals will be ok?

loocyloo

never tried it but !!!

i remember being told that if you leave your whites on the line and they 'catch a frost' when they defrost, they will be sparkling!

xxx

Chell

loocyloo wrote: »

never tried it but !!!

i remember being told that if you leave your whites on the line and they 'catch a frost' when they defrost, they will be sparkling!

xxx

I'd be interested to know if this works, DDs nappies could do with the stains removed.