How to Wash Stains from Your Work Clothes
Wearing the right custom business workwear is important because it looks professional and advertises your company. Regardless of the type of business you have, wearing branded work attire can help make a good impression. Keep your work clothes clean and stain-free with a few simple strategies:
Know Your Fabrics
The right way to clean your work clothes depends on the fabric. Most uniforms and business casual apparel are easy-care, meaning they can be laundered in your washing machine. However, some fabrics may need to be dry cleaned. Here’s a look at some of the most common materials for work apparel:
Polyester: One of the most versatile types of tops are embroidered work polo shirts, which you’ll often find made from polyester. This material is light, durable, and machine washable, making it a popular material for casual and business casual apparel. There are polyester work shirts treated with an antimicrobial finish to keep you feeling fresh, and some even have UPF 50 for added sun protection. Polyester is wrinkle-resistant, so you usually won’t have to break out the iron.
Cotton: Another common material for work apparel is cotton. One reason it’s so popular is that it’s light and breathable, so it’s great for wearing to high-activity jobs. Cotton is easy to care for—it can be washed in your machine and tumble-dried. When shopping for a work shirt, look for Supima cotton. It’s a long-staple-fiber variety that’s incredibly colorfast, so your workwear stays vibrant even after repeated washings.
Wool: Custom business casual work pants are sometimes made from wool, which is an elegant and sturdy natural material. Traditionally, wool is a dry-clean-only fabric. However, these days you’ll find washable wool apparel, which as its name suggests can be washed in your machine on the gentle cycle. It has the same upscale appearance as regular wool with the convenient care of the synthetic fabric.
Blended Fabrics: Choosing a blended fabric for your work pants and shirts is always a good option. One of the best fabric blends is cotton/polyester with a hint of spandex. It’s light, breathable, and has a hint of stretch for comfort. This material is also stain-resistant and machine washable, so it’s easy to maintain. Cotton/Polyester shirts come in an array of hues and shades to coordinate with your business colors.
How to Clean Spills
The easiest way to prevent stains on your custom company uniform is to clean spills as soon as they happen. Use a dry white cotton cloth and blot—don’t rub. The cloth will soak up the liquid material and make it easier to clean the spot. There are a few tricks that can help depending on the type of spill. Thick materials—like guacamole or sour cream, for example—can be scraped off the fabric with a knife or the edge of a plastic card. For oily liquids like salad dressing, sprinkle salt or baby powder on the spot before treating to remove as much of it as possible. Let the salt or powder sit for a minute and absorb the liquid, then brush it away.
Keep a travel pack of stain removal wipes in your pocket or handbag for emergencies. Multiple brands make these wipes; you should be able to find them wherever you shop for laundry detergent. Use them the same way you would a dry cloth—dab and blot the spill until it lifts away. You can use them on shirts, pants, and even custom uniform work jackets.
Pretreating Stains
When you get home, it’s time to pretreat the soiled area to help prevent staining. There are specific products designed for this purpose, so shop around for various options. Read product labels to make sure the product can be used on the type of fabric you have. You can also use your regular laundry detergent or even a mild dish detergent as a pretreatment. Saturate the area with the detergent and simply let it sit on there for an hour or two. Although pretreating isn’t always necessary to prevent stains, it’s a good way to make extra-certain that spills won’t set into the fabric.
Should You Use Laundry Additives?
Another product that can help keep your work apparel in top condition is the laundry additive, or booster. As with other laundry products, there are multiple brands and varieties from which to choose. Some boosters help make whites whiter, while others work to kill bacteria and odors in fabrics. Whether or not to use one of these products depends on the type of fabric. For cotton, polyester, and blended fabric apparel—such as custom uniform work shorts, pants, or shirts—a laundry booster is fine to use. Avoid using a product with bleach on colored fabrics unless the bleach is made specifically for use with colors.
Your washing machine is your greatest ally when it comes to removing stains from your work clothes. Cotton, polyester, and blended fabrics are machine washable; you can use the gentle, regular, or permanent-press cycles. Hang your clothes up to dry or dry them in the dryer on a low- or medium heat setting. If you hang or fold the items right out of the dryer, they’ll be wrinkle-free when you’re ready to wear them.