Freshen up your wardrobe now with a great white top that will transition well into spring.
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’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 again. Don’t put it in the dryer until the stain is gone.
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— 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 4 tablespoons of baking soda with 4 tablespoons of water and apply to the stain. Wash as usual.
— To brighten a load of whites, add an eighth to half 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 using chlorine or non-chlorine bleach is 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. ]