The expert guide to caring for white clothes

Head-to-toe white might be one of the hottest trends of spring and summer this year, but it can also be a challenge to pull off in real life — especially when you have to deal with unglamorous off-the-runway concerns such as grimy commutes and inevitable food stains.

It's not impossible to keep white clothes perfectly white, but buying into this look will require some additional commitment to mindful shopping and to swiftly taking care of stains as they happen. Certain fabrics are simply more susceptible to marks and blemishes, and having the right spot-treatment tools (or talented dry cleaner!) on hand can be important when you don't want a stain to permanently "set" into a garment.

Before you slip on the season's must-have white garments, be sure to bookmark these essential shopping and fabric care tips from textile and cleaning experts.

Select your fibres carefully

Look for white clothing that is washable and made with absorbent fibres like cotton and linen, advises Dr. Sandra Tullio-Pow, Associate Professor and Program Director at Ryerson University's School of Fashion. "When these clothing fibres are laundered, the laundry detergent and water can get in and effectively do their work. Polyester, on the other hand, is not absorbent, so in general stains are more difficult to remove." 

Shermin Zarif, Client Relations at Dove Cleaners, notes that silk fabrics are a challenge to spot clean at home, and stains are best dealt with via dry cleaning. "Silk is an extremely delicate material and must be dry cleaned at a very low temperature, and cannot be considered for wet cleaning as it cannot be submerged in solvent or water," says Zarif.

Reapply fabric protectors regularly

Fabric protector sprays such as Scotchguard can help prevent stains from absorbing, but must be reapplied every few wears. "Finishes typically only last a certain number of launderings; each subsequent wash removes a little bit," says Tullio-Pow. "So while a stain [protector] might help with white clothing, there is only a certain life to that finish and then it will be gone." 

Wear white when it makes sense

"Keeping whites clean has as much to do with lifestyle as it does material — think about your day, and routine... before choosing your fabrics or garments," says Jacqueline Sava, Founder and Director of Possibility of Soak Wash Inc. "I love and collect white shoes, but I don't wear them while driving (to protect the white heels), nor do I wear them outside, if there's a chance of rain."

Wash whites often, and separately

White garments should be laundered more frequently than darker or colourful items. "Be aware of what we call invisible dirt: sweat, oil from your skin, and ambient dirt from the atmosphere that accumulates on our favourite clothing, that we don't often see until it is too late," says Sava. "Washing whites often helps keep the invisible dirt from settling in the fibres."

Sava also recommends washing whites separately, using a PH-neutral product to extend the life and brightness of your favourite garments. "While this may seem like a chore, keeping them bright means keeping them away from dark colours that may bleed in the washing machine," says Sava.

Avoid antiperspirants with aluminum

Yellowing can be a concern for bright, white fabrics over time. Sava recommends avoiding antiperspirants with aluminum if possible, as they can exacerbate the issue. "Yellowing is caused by a combination of body soils (sweat, dirt, residue from skin care products) and the chemicals in some antiperspirants," says Sava, noting that an undershirt will also help protect your silk or cotton outer layer.

Address stains quickly

"The sooner a stain is worked on the better the chances of garment recovery, especially on light colours such as white," says Zarif.

To spot clean a stain at home, Sava recommends placing the garment on a clean, light-coloured towel, using room temperature water to wet the affected area, and then rubbing a small amount of cleanser over and around the spot, agitating it. "Fold over the fabric and use the fabric itself as a 'sponge' to gently agitate the spot. Your aim is to move the fibres around, opening them up, to release the dirt," says Sava. "If the spot spreads, [using] water, rinse and repeat to dilute out the stain." Soft bristle brushes can be used on sturdy fabrics while cleaning, and garments should be laid flat to dry.

"I find the yellow bars of soap in the laundry product aisle to be cost-effective stain removers. Just rub it on before laundering," says Tullio-Pow.

Repeat as necessary when cleaning

"The key with any stain removal is to repeat the process," says Tullio-Pow. "Sometimes people think the stain is permanent because it did not come out the first time." Additionally, she recommends checking on the blemish before you put the garment in the dryer, because sometimes it is heat that will set a stain.

Truc Nguyen is a Toronto-based writer, editor and stylist. Follow her at @trucnguyen.