The T-shirt is one of the most popular wardrobe items due to its versatility.
Like other clothes, they need to be washed regularly. This needs to be done correctly, then the thing will take a long time to fold and look good.
Read the article about how to properly wash a T-shirt (white, black, colored) by hand, how to remove stains, how to dry it, and whether it should be ironed.
Hand washing rules
Before you start washing, you need to inspect the item.
If there are defects, they must first be eliminated.
An important point is to study the label on the T-shirt.
It contains useful information:
- fabric structure;
- rules of care.
Selecting water temperature
When washing T-shirts, choosing the temperature is an important point. The manufacturer indicates the recommended value on the product label .
If there is no label, then you should focus on the color (for light ones, the temperature may be higher than for dark ones) and the texture of the material. The more plastic the canvas, the lower the water temperature should be.
But washing in cold may not be effective. As a rule, the temperature is selected within the range from +30ºС to +40ºС. The only exceptions are those cases when higher rates are allowed by the manufacturer itself.
Detergent
The detergent must be suitable for hand washing. It is also necessary to consider the type of material (wool, cotton, etc.).
If you choose between powder and gel, then the liquid product has the advantage of being more easily soluble in water.
If things are washed alternately: either by hand or by machine, it is recommended to select universal types of detergents that are suitable for both options. But you can also purchase individual packages.
Instructions
For washing you will need:
- pelvis;
- water;
- hand wash product.
It is advisable to wash the neckline, bottom of the T-shirt and armpit area with soap before the main wash.
Procedure:
- If there are stains on the product, they need to be treated before the main wash.
- Fill a basin with water at a suitable temperature.
Dilute detergent in water.- Dip a T-shirt into the basin.
- If there is significant contamination, soak for an hour.
- Wash the item in a circular motion, paying attention to the collar, bottom edge and armpit area.
- If the item is very dirty, the water needs to be changed to new one. And dilute the detergent again.
- Rinse the T-shirt, changing the water several times.
- Wring out and hang to dry.
Removing stains
This is done before putting the clothes into the machine.
- Grease stains are easily removed with ammonia.
- Warm milk will help remove stains from fruits and wine. You need to pre-soak for half an hour.
- Ammonia will help get rid of coffee or chocolate stains.
- If there is a blood stain, soak the clothing in cold water for a couple of hours. The stain will go away.
- A mixture of ethyl and ammonia in a ratio of 3 to 1 will help get rid of traces of grass.
- In many cases, regular laundry soap helps. With its help, you can get rid of the most difficult stains.
Cotton, although durable, is at the same time a delicate material that is easy to wash and does not require much effort when ironing. Once you have learned all the recommendations for caring for cotton, you can maintain the quality of your items for a long time.
Fabric color
The color and type of material of a T-shirt are very important parameters, taking into account which it is necessary to sort things before washing. Dividing all clothes into colored, black and white will help you avoid many troubles.
Shedding fabrics will require special attention. These T-shirts should be washed separately from other T-shirts.
It is best to wash white T-shirts with powder or gel, which are designed specifically for such things . They contain bleaching agents that give the T-shirts a snowy whiteness. It is advisable to give preference to products that do not contain chlorine. Read more about the rules for washing white T-shirts here.
It is recommended to wash black T-shirts using detergents intended for black and dark-colored items. They contain ingredients that support the brightness and richness of dark shades.
If you wash black T-shirts with this gel every time, the black color will wash out more slowly and the item will retain its appearance longer.
For colored T-shirts, universal detergents without bleach are suitable . Sometimes you can see the “Color” mark on them. If you need to wash white and black T-shirts in addition to colored ones, but you don’t have special products at hand, you can use a universal one.
be careful
Trying too hard to make a white T-shirt look fresh and neat can be detrimental. To avoid this situation, do not apply products to the fabric itself, as this may destroy its fibers. Follow the recommendations for the type of fabric that a particular product is suitable for. Do not mix “Whiteness” and ammonia, this will trigger a chemical reaction with toxic fumes.
Keep medications out of the reach of children and animals. The room where manipulations are performed must be well ventilated.
Even with the most careful wearing of a white T-shirt, it is impossible to avoid stains from sweat, from foundation and lipstick, from accidental contact with surrounding objects and people. You don’t have to immediately rush out for a new thing; this one can also serve you well. Just use the means at hand, and after a few hours the snow-white T-shirt will be pleasing to the eye again.
How to wash a white T-shirt and restore its whiteness
Material type
Since different fabrics require different care, you should determine the type of material before washing. A shortcut will help with this.
Cotton
Cotton T-shirts are the most common option. With proper care, such things last a long time . Most cotton T-shirts can be washed not only by hand, but also in a washing machine.
Unless other information is indicated on the product label, washing is allowed in water at a temperature of +40ºС. Some white T-shirts can even be boiled.
Mixed
Fabrics that contain both cotton and synthetics, such as lycra, are easier to care for. These T-shirts wrinkle less.
T-shirts made from mixed fabrics are washed in non-hot water (from +30ºС to +40ºС).
Active friction for such T-shirts is undesirable , as is intensive washing in a washing machine.
Wool
Wool T-shirts are very demanding to process. Hand washing is the best option for them. And even with this approach, vigorous mechanical impact and high temperature should be avoided - no more than +30ºС.
Synthetics
Pure synthetic T-shirts are easy to process. Hand washing of such T-shirts is carried out in non-hot water (+30ºС).
At what temperature should I wash?
Compliance with the temperature regime will prevent shrinkage and deformation. Acceptable values depend on the characteristics of the product. Thus, it is better to wash brightly colored items and those decorated with complex patterns at moderate temperatures, not exceeding 40 degrees: this will preserve the shade and prevent it from fading.
For dark things, higher values are acceptable - up to 60 degrees. As the temperature rises, products may shed. And white cotton can be washed at 100 degrees to make them white (but it’s still better to lower the temperature to 90 degrees). Modern mercerized cotton can withstand significant heat exposure.
Prints
The presence of a pattern on a T-shirt imposes some restrictions when washing. To ensure that the T-shirt does not lose its qualities, you must adhere to the following recommendations:
- It is recommended to wash items with a print by first turning them inside out;
- the use of hot water is prohibited - the design may fade or lose the brightness of the colors;
- for washing, you should choose a detergent intended for colored items;
- without twisting.
How to remove yellowness, bleach or not?
It is advisable to remove stains, including those from sweat, without delay . Old stains are much more difficult to remove than fresh ones.
If you are using a stain remover for the first time, it is advisable to test its effect on an inconspicuous area. An alternative choice is to use traditional methods.
What not to do with yellow spots:
- use chlorine bleach;
- exposed to high temperatures;
- use acetone for colored fabrics;
- rub and knead vigorously.
"Antipyatin"
Using Antipyatin will help correct the situation, especially with regard to fresh stains. Work order:
- The T-shirt is soaked in water.
- Rub the stains with Antipyatin (if it is not available, use laundry soap).
- Leave the item for 15-30 minutes.
- Carry out washing in the usual way using detergent.
Vinegar
It can be used either pure or diluted in half with water.
Work order:
- Using blotting movements, moisten the stain using a sponge or napkin.
- Wash as usual.
Use the whitening properties of vinegar carefully. Once on a print, acetic acid, even in diluted form, can discolor bright shades.
Lemon acid
Like vinegar, citric acid has a bleaching effect.
To treat yellowed areas use the following recipe:
- pour 1 glass of water into a container;
- dissolve 1 tsp in water. acids;
- moisten the affected areas on the T-shirt;
- stand for 30-60 minutes;
- wash the T-shirt.
Aspirin
To prepare you need:
- Pour ½ cup of warm water.
- Dilute 2 aspirin tablets.
- Apply the liquid to the stains with a sponge.
- Set aside for 1-2 hours.
- Wash.
By varying the degree of thickness of the prepared mixture, you can obtain a more or less concentrated composition.
If the stains are old, then it is possible to either increase the exposure time by an hour or pour 2-3 times less water for the same amount of aspirin.
White spirit and ammonia
To prepare the bleaching solution you need:
pour ½ cup of white spirit into a container;- add ¼ cup of ammonia to the alcohol;
- mix;
- Apply with a sponge to the armpits of the T-shirt;
- leave for an hour;
- rinse;
- wash.
It is advisable to use this recipe on natural fabrics.
Removing stains
On a white item, any stains become very noticeable and attract attention. Even on a light-colored item that is not worn, stains may appear from lying for a long time. Stain removers and simple home recipes will help remove stains.
A fresh stain should be washed off as quickly as possible under running cold water. You cannot wash it with hot water - this effect on the fabric will cause yellow stains that are difficult to remove.
Lathering with laundry soap will help to cope with traces of blood. The affected area is treated and left for half an hour. After this, the item is washed in the usual way.
Hydrogen peroxide is another reliable way to remove stains. To do this, peroxide is carefully applied to the affected area of the T-shirt.
As a result of this treatment, a chemical reaction occurs and the stain gradually disappears. The processing is completed by washing in a machine or by hand.
Wine stains can be a problem, especially if they are well absorbed into the fibers and have dried.
If the stain has just appeared, you should try to remove as much liquid as possible using ordinary dry wipes, without allowing it to be absorbed.
You can try to neutralize a fresh stain by treating it with a mixture of salt and water. After a few minutes, the salt is removed from the fabric.
White cotton items are not affected by acetic acid. You can take advantage of this circumstance.
To prepare a bleaching agent, vinegar is mixed with water in a ratio of 1:3 or 1:2 and the stains are methodically treated until the result is achieved. An alternative to vinegar is citric acid or lemon juice.
It's not just red wine stains that need to be removed as quickly as possible. White wine stains have the insidious quality of appearing on fabric over time.
Zelenka
It is quite difficult to wash off brilliant green from clothes. However, the result cannot be guaranteed 100%. If the T-shirt is an expensive designer one, it is better not to experiment, but to take the item to the dry cleaner.
At home, stain removers and bleaches designed for cleaning white things will come to the rescue.
Marks from a ballpoint pen are a common phenomenon, especially among children and students. Both household chemicals and homemade recipes will help you deal with such stains.
One of the methods is treatment with a mixture of glycerin and ethyl alcohol. The drugs are taken in equal proportions and mixed.
Using a sponge or napkin, carefully treat the stained area of the T-shirt until the pen mark disappears. Completes the treatment - regular washing with powder.
For natural white cotton T-shirts, you can use a paste of salt and lemon juice. It is applied to the spot and left for 60 minutes. After this, the item is washed.
Dye
The removal of paint depends not only on the material of the T-shirt, but also on the composition of the dye. One of the best ways to deal with the problem is to use a solvent that is suitable for a specific type of paint.
To do this, moisten a sponge in a solvent and carefully wipe off the mark from the ballpoint pen. The final stage is washing. It will help wash away solvent residues from the material and remove the specific odor.
Mold
Improper storage of clothes can cause mold to appear on them. Treatment with stain removers will help remove stains and the specific smell of dampness.
For home remedies, you can use vinegar. For soaking, take 7-10 liters of water and a glass of vinegar.
A white T-shirt is immersed in the solution and left for at least 1 hour. After this, the item is washed as usual.
The most thorough washing in a machine or by hand may not rid your favorite model of stubborn stains. The housewives notice with disappointment that the T-shirt has not been washed.
Cotton items are especially difficult to wash; it is not for nothing that in Soviet times it was customary to boil cotton linen for a long time.
The best option for getting rid of stains is to eliminate them as they become dirty. The right thing to do if you find a stain on a white fabric is to wash it immediately.
We suggest you familiarize yourself with the best way to wash cotton clothes in a washing machine or by hand.
The collars of polo shirts are simply a place for dirt to accumulate due to the proximity of the hair and neck area - areas of increased sweating. Dyed collars can be thoroughly soaped with Antipyatin soap; white collars can be washed well with Duru soap, which contains bleaching additives.
After standing for some time, we send the soaped item to the car. There are special stain removers for washing in a washing machine, among which oxygen-containing substances are very effective.
Do not use chlorine products for white T-shirts; after 2-3 washing cycles, the item will simply fall apart in your hands.
If we wash it by hand, we will wash off the soap and dirt, lather it again, and try to wash it carefully. If there is no result, you can try home remedies for stains: solutions of soda, vinegar, ammonia.
When washing by hand or by machine, do not forget to use fabric softener so that your favorite T-shirt does not stand up, but becomes pleasantly soft.
A little patience and effort when washing by hand, valuable advice, gained experience - and your household will spend time in clean, beautiful and elegant T-shirts.
How to remove stains from a faded white or colored T-shirt?
An unsuccessful wash, which results in the fabric fading and streaking, creates a big problem. It is not always possible to correct the situation. The main rule in this situation is to act quickly.
To save a white T-shirt, this method is suitable:
- Rinse the item thoroughly in cool water.
- Dilute bleach (oxygen) in water at a temperature of +30ºС in the proportion indicated on the packaging of the product.
- Soak the T-shirt for 1-2 hours.
- Rinse.
- Wash.
For colored T-shirts, the recipe will be different, involving ammonia:
Rinse the item thoroughly in cool water.- Pour 5 liters of water at +40ºС into a basin.
- Pour in 10 ml of ammonia.
- Stir.
- Dip the item.
- Leave for 60 minutes.
- Rinse.
- Wash.
If the above remedies do not help, you can use special household chemicals to remove faded stains.
Snow white: return and save
Loss of brightness of the snowy white shade can occur with prolonged wear, frequent soiling of the item, and washing with unsuitable washing powder.
. These can be purchased products or prepared independently.
To keep the item white, it is recommended to use detergents with bleaching ingredients every time you wash it.
Hydrogen peroxide
Work order:
- Pour 2 liters of water into a basin.
- Pour in 1 tsp. peroxide.
- Stir.
- Dip a T-shirt into the solution.
- Leave for a quarter of an hour, stirring and turning the wet T-shirt in a basin.
- Rinse.
Adding 1 tsp to the solution prepared for soaking will help enhance the effect of peroxide. soda
Ammonia
Worn linen or cotton T-shirts can be revived in the following way:
- Pour 5 liters into a basin. water.
- Add 2.5 tbsp. l. ammonia.
- Stir.
- Dip the T-shirt.
- Soak in the solution for 2 hours.
- Take it out and rinse.
Potassium permangantsovka
To prepare the whitening composition you will need:
- pelvis;
- a few grains of potassium permanganate;
- 5 l. water;
- 100 g washing powder;
- large plastic bag or cling film.
Work order:
- Pour hot water into the basin.
- Pour in the powder and add potassium permanganate.
- Mix everything well.
- Soak the T-shirt.
- Cover the basin with film so that the water cools more slowly.
- After the solution has cooled, you can take out the T-shirt and rinse it.
It is advisable to bleach a pre-washed item using this method.
Drying rules
Freshly washed T-shirts should be hung to dry. Those that dry most quickly are those hung on a rope in the fresh air. In this case, it is necessary to ensure that clothing is not exposed to direct sunlight.
Proper hanging will allow clothes to dry quickly and not leave creases. To do this, T-shirts are hung, secured on a rope with clothespins at the shoulders, without being thrown over the rope.
To make further processing easier, it is better not to keep things on a rope until they dry out, since slightly damp fabric is easier to iron.
Emergency measures
You can significantly simplify the further washing of a T-shirt by pre-treating newly appeared stains.
Do not hesitate - until the fat is properly absorbed into the fabric and does not dry there, spray it with an absorbent agent:
- salt;
- baking soda;
- mustard powder;
- starch;
- baby powder;
- chalk powder;
- talc.
Dry small crystals of the above substances immediately trap excess moisture. The sooner the stain is treated, the less grease will be absorbed. Before further cleaning, remove the powder with a soft, clean brush or cloth.
You can save suede boots or a skirt in the same way.
Should I iron or not?
The need for ironing is determined by several points:
- fabric structure;
- compliance with washing and drying rules.
T-shirts made from thin synthetic material do not need ironing - they just need to be hung carefully to dry.
If you fold such clothes after removing them from the rope, you won’t have to use the iron at all.
With cotton fabrics a different approach is needed. The specificity of the material is such that without ironing, cotton T-shirts will remain wrinkled .
For cotton T-shirts and T-shirts, the temperature on the iron is set to about 130ºС or higher, and for mixed fabrics containing cotton - 110ºС.
T-shirts with prints and accessories are ironed on the reverse side. Moreover, white paper must be laid between the two layers of material.
Can the product shrink, and what should I do about it?
Washing in violation of the rules can lead to your favorite item shrinking. If the product is made of synthetics, the following technique will help:
- pour water at a temperature of +30ºС into the container;
- dip the T-shirt in water;
- stand for a quarter of an hour;
- wrinkle a T-shirt right in the water;
- hang out to dry, stretching the item from time to time.
There is no need to add detergent.
For knitwear, this option is suitable:
Pour water at a temperature of +30ºС into the container.- Dip the T-shirt in water.
- Leave for a quarter of an hour.
- Take the item out and let the water drain.
- Lay a non-fading cotton cloth on the ironing board.
- Set the iron to a low temperature (up to +90ºС).
- Gently iron the T-shirt, stretching the fabric with your hand in the desired direction.
Recommendations
Expert advice on washing T-shirts will help you keep your item in order and preserve its appearance.
Important recommendations include the following:
- If the T-shirt has decorative or functional fasteners (buttons, zippers), they must be fastened before washing.
- Stains that are on a worn item must be removed before the main wash, and not after it.
- It is recommended to wash colored items no more than 3 times after dressing, and white items no more than 2 times.
- If items have rhinestones, complex appliqués, etc., they should not be caught with the tip of the iron during ironing.
- Adding a couple of tablespoons of vinegar to the rinse water will help maintain the brightness of the shades.
- Hand washing should preferably be done with rubber gloves.
