A basic white shirt is the
perfect crossover garment as winter warms to spring. It
looks fresh - and it makes getting dressed so easy.
Going out for Saturday-morning brunch? Toss it on with
your favorite jeans and ballet flats, and you’re all
set. In a rush on Monday morning? Pull on a pair of
slacks and the collared shirt and out the door you go.
And this year, we love the white shirt even more than
usual because it’s a perfect match for spring ‘08’s
eye-popping greens, oranges, blues and corals.
HOW TO KEEP WHITES BRIGHT
A white shirt looks crisp with minimal effort. But
how do you keep the white bright?
Follow these expert tips.
-To keep stains from setting, sponge immediately with
cool water.
-Don’t give up after one washing. If a stain
lessens with treatment and washing, try again and even
again. Don’t put it in the dryer until the stain is
gone.
-Sprinkle salt on oily stains to soak up some of the
oil before washing.
-To remove yellow sweat stains, soak the shirts in
oxygen bleach overnight.
-For an all-natural stain-remover, mix four4
tablespoons of baking soda with 4four tablespoons of
water and apply to the stain. Wash as usual.
-To brighten a load of whites, add 6 1/8 to 1/2 a cup
of white vinegar to the washing machine. Add during the
first rinse cycle, so it gets rinsed out during the
second.
-Give the bleach (check the care label for specifics
on whether to use chlorine or non-chlorine bleachis most
appropriate) a chance to work. Leave whites to soak for
a few hours before washing.
-Don’t wash your white work shirts with dirty
socks.
Sources: Alexis Givens, deputy home editor for Martha
Stewart Living; Carolyn Forte, Good Housekeeping
Research Institute; Norma Keyes, stain guru for Cotton
Inc.
