Laundry - How do I keep work shirts and school blouses looking good?

Jacks_xxx

:wave: Hello lovelies!

I'm a bit of a rubbish housewife but I'm keen to improve.

At the moment I wash in Tesco Value biological at 30 or 40 degrees with a scoop of Vanish whitening stuff. I don't use fabric softener.

As soon as the wash is done I whisk them out and put them straight on a hanger and put them out on the line for a blow.

But our shirts and blouses never look "cared for".

I do need a new iron as mine is 20 years old and somewhat temperamental but whilst I save up for an all singing all dancing one, can anybody give me any suggestions?

Thanks ever so much,

Love Jacks xxx

whatatwit

I often put my daughters school blouses in with my towels/whites and use a drop of bleach.
If the collars and cuffs are looking grubby, then I will give them a rub over with a bar of soap and some water before going into the machine.
I do iron them, usually whilst they are a bit damp.

But, I do think that a lot depends upon when the item was bought from and what the fibres are. 3 of hers are from Tesco, the cheapie range and they don't seem to have any "body" left in them. 2 are from M&S, bought in a sale, there should have been 3 in the pack, but as there were only 2 they were reduced to £1 (age 14)
They are both still gleaming white and when ironed, they come up as new.

Just checked, they are both 65% Polyester and 35% Cotton, maybe it's to do with the type of cotton.

saving-grace

A friend introduced me to spray starch. I don't use it on all my shirts, just the ones that are tricky to get all the creases out of when ironing. Might be worth a try? But it is hard work if you've got a duff iron, a good one makes such a difference.
Other than that I do pretty much as you do, 40 degrees, bio powder and a scoop of Vanish (or Napisan). I haven't tried a 30 deg wash for shirts, maybe you'd be better sticking to 40deg?

pigpen

I use tesco value powder too.. minimal amount.. I do use fabric conditioner.. bulk buy when on a good offer!

If the shirts ar elooking rather manky I put a cap full of bleach in a prewash and turn it off when it is full of water and let it soak for a bit.. usually until I remember it is in there.. then wash as usual..

We have Next shirts and rarely have the manky shirt look.. though with 2 sweaty adolescent boys and black 100% wool sweaters they do get a bit greyish when worn!

badkitti

You can use a dollop of white vinegar as a fabric softener (which is supposed to be better for towelling anyways as it doesn't reduce its absorbancy).

Read something about a tablespoon (I think?) of bicarb in a load of whites keeping them white as well

poodlehorse

Sorry to sound thick but when you say bleach do you mean a special laundry bleach or jsut bog standard clean your drains type stuff?

janb5

I would use a hotter wash periodically - 50 degrees - rather than 40 degrees and make sure you wash similar colours together( separate whites from coloured)

Knitwear etc can be done on a cooler wash - 40 degrees. I agree with your idea of hanging on hangers - often avoids ironing - but I would invest in a new iron! I think it is deserved after 20 years service - I have never managed to keep an iron that long!

carolt

Any tips for those limited to non-bio for allergy reasons?

Re the iron, our old one finally gave up and I bought a new one - nothing fancy just a fiver or so at Argos, either the cheapest or second-cheapest, I don't remember - but it does a fantastic job and has made my ironing SO much easier. So maybe it's worth investing in a cheap one - I think iron design must have improved over time or something (either that, or my old one was just particularly rubbish...).

Jacks_xxx

:T Thank you everybody, that's brilliant! :T

I'm going to try out all of your suggestions and see what helps.

I have some bleach and white vinegar in the house already, and I'm going to but some spray starch tomorrow.

And thanks Carolt, I'll have a look at the cheaper end of the iron market in Argos. My iron is so old that I suppose most modern ones would be an improvement even if they weren't "all singing and all dancing"

I'm a bit overwhelmed by the choice, and all the different features but if a simple one works well for you then I'll give it a try.

I didn't really want to spend £60 on an iron to be honest so if I can get one for just a few £££ then that would be fab.

*wanders off to find Argos Catalogue immediately*

:A Thanks lovelies! :A

Love Jacks xxx

Debt_Free_Chick

Grubby clothes - I put on a rinse programme first (no spin), followed immediately by a wash programme.

I like to think that the rinse loosens the dirt and that the washing powder works more efficiently on clothes that are already wet. But it could all be in my head

Skint_Catt

Any suggestions for sweat smells in my OH's work shirts? Sometimes I get to the ironing stage before I smell it, then I have to go back and soak them in stardrops before washing again - or should I just soak them anyway?

Thanks