Wearing a white coat makes a bold fashion statement, but the admiring glances and compliments come at a cost. Without notice, a stray coffee splash or a bird with ill motives could turn your pristine white coat into a stained canvas.
The worst part is that some stains leave indelible marks that ruin your coat and day. Don’t let these blemishes keep you from looking your best. Maintaining the crispness of a white coat can be daunting but not impossible.
Ensuring Your White Coat Remains White
Here are tried-and-tested ways to keep your white coat white throughout its lifetime.
1. Address Stains Immediately
The longer you let stains linger on your white coat, the harder it is to clean them. Use a wet wipe or damp cloth to dab stains from your coat. You can also run cool water on the stain to flush it away. Avoid wiping the stain away, as this will only spread it and make the stain permeate deeper into the fabric. Dab away what you can, and you’ll deal with any residual staining later.
2. Use the Right Detergent
There’s no shortage of detergents for cleaning your clothes. Most of them work great for colored clothes but can be a nightmare for white ones. Regular detergents might fall short when it comes to removing stubborn stains. You’re better off using bleach, but bleach also has its limitations.
While bleach will remove the most stubborn stains, it can also do several things on your coat’s fabric. Your best option is to use hydrogen peroxide or oxygen-based bleaches. These are incredibly effective at stain removal and don’t damage the fabric.
3. Give Hems, Collars, and Scuffs Special Attention
The collar, scuff, and hem are magnets for stains since they rub against your skin, collecting dirt and oils from it. Overlooking these areas could lead to a build-up of stains that may be a nightmare to remove. Use an enzymatic stain remover for these areas and scrub them well before plopping your white coat in the washing machine.
4. Sun Dry for Ultimate Whiteness
Sun dry your white coat if you want it blinding white. Ultra-violet rays from the sun are a natural bleaching agent that can make your white coat even whiter. If you choose to sun dry your white clothes, ensure you do so on a bright, sunny day and turn the coat inside out so the intense heat from the sun doesn’t damage the fabric.
5. Only Wear Your Coat Right Before Leaving the House
Ensure your white coat is the last piece of clothing you put on. The less time you spend with your coat on, the less likely it is to encounter staining agents. As such, wait until the very moment you leave the house to don your favorite white coat.
6. Don’t Wear Your White Coat With a Blue Denim Shirt or Jeans
Pairing a white bubble coat with skinny jeans or layering it with a denim shirt makes for a great look. However, doing so could be devastating to your white coat if it rains. Dark fabrics, especially denim, can transfer dye onto lighter fabrics when wet, leaving unsightly blue stains on your white coat. To avoid this, it’s best to avoid pairing your white coat with dark denim or any fabric prone to color transfer in damp conditions.
7. Don’t Store Your White Coat in Plastic
Did you know that where you store your white coat can affect its whiteness? That’s right. Keeping your coat in plastic laundry bags or airtight plastic containers can cause yellowing. That’s because these restrict airflow. A lack of proper ventilation makes the fabric degrade, turning it yellowish. Instead of plastic storage, opt for breathable cotton or linen bags and bins.
Conclusion
Keeping your white coat white isn’t as difficult as it seems. All you have to do is take extra precautions when wearing it and use the right cleaning techniques to keep it spick-and-span.
Ensure you purchase a coat with high-quality fabric that’s breathable and easy to clean. Follow these tips, and your white coat will retain its whiteness for years.