An expert has shared top tips for keeping school uniforms looking fresher for longer, including how to make your own stain remover and why you should use white vinegar instead

As kids return to school after the Christmas break, it’s inevitable that their crisp white shirts will soon be as grubby as can be.

Often leaving you battling stubborn stains and wondering how they’ve managed to soil them so quickly. Despite your best efforts, some stains just refuse to budge, but a laundry expert has shared tips on how to keep school uniforms looking fresh for longer.

Deyan Dimitrov from Laundryheap suggests creating a homemade stain remover, explains why swapping fabric softener for white vinegar could be beneficial, and advises against using the tumble dryer for the sake of the uniform – and your wallet. Deyan recommends whipping up your own stain remover “easily” by combining “2/3 cup of baking soda with 1/2 cup of white vinegar.”

He instructs: “Apply the paste to any stains and scrub them thoroughly with a damp cloth or microfibre towel. After five minutes, rinse with cold water and the stain should have vanished. If the stain is stubborn, the paste can be left on for an extra 10 minutes. This ensures that it seeps into the fabric fibres.

“Using too much fabric softener can actually cause materials to fade and feel rough as residues build-up on your children’s uniforms. A great homemade alternative to softener is white vinegar.

“This can be bought cheaply from a supermarket or even found in the back of your kitchen cupboard. It works exactly the same as a softener, whilst also removing any unwanted stains and odours. Don’t worry about the acidic smell of the vinegar itself – this will neutralise as your clothes rinse in the washing machine!”

As an affordable option, white vinegar can be purchased from Tesco for as little as 29p. He recommended that washing at a lower temperature may also serve to “prolong a fabric’s lifespan and save you money in the long run.”

And when you’re using your washing machine, take care to not overfill it. He said:” Be careful not to put too much laundry in your machine, as running one big load of washing instead of several smaller cycles can actually damage your school clothing.

“An overfilled washing drum can cause fabrics to push up against one another, overall increasing friction and creating tears in your children’s school uniform. I would advise generally filling your machine to two-thirds of its capacity, as this will give uniforms enough room to spin properly.

“Popping your clothes out to air dry, either on a washing line or on a flat and aired surface. Prevent jumpers or tights from stretching and shirts from creasing, whilst also helping to lower your electricity bills.”

Additionally, for those aiming to save cash during the school year, he added: “Avoid buying brand new replacements! Instead, take these down to your local tailor and they’ll be able to adjust the clothes accordingly. Likewise, if you fancy a challenge, you could opt to repair any faulty buttons or seam-tears yourself, instead of chucking the uniform away.”

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