How do I keep white shirts looking white?

[gramirez2012]

Wash the shirts separate from other colored clothes, on hot. Also wear an undershirt to prevent sweat/deodorant from coming in contact with the shirt, creating stains.

 

[mgguy]

Soak in water mixed with OxyClean for a few hours before washing in hot water. Avoid drying in direct sunlight, which can yellow the fabric and cause it to deteriorate.

 

[SDColorado]

There's got to be a secret. I can't keep my white shirts looking white.

The "secret" is that the most intense whites, actually have a very slight blue hue to them. The "secret" to keeping whites white and reviving whites which have faded or yellowed, is to restore that slight blue hue. It is an old fashioned method, but it has survived the years because it works.
http://www.mrsstewart.com/pages/purpose.htm

 

[Scepticalscribe]

We use this stuff. Works well if it's available where you are 🙂

I use "this stuff" too, and it works quite well for stains. I always carry one in my suitcase when travelling abroad for any period of time.

I use that all the time on my white work shirts and of course a really hot wash. Sadly for white shirts you have to say "sod the environment" and wash as hot as you can.

Agreed. As other posters have already said, whites need very, very, hot water, and whites need to be washed separately (no other colours at all should be in with them), and, sometimes, a rather strong (bleach based) detergent is also needed.

 

[acidfast7]

I was at 60C and buy all of my shirts here:

http://www.shirtfactory.se/

Extra slim fit ftw.

 

[Doityourself!]

Whiter "white" shirts

Don't do the dry cleaner thing! That is definitely one thing that makes white shirts that "grayish" color. They use a chemical on your white shirts that changes the new white color to a dingier color forever! And...while the ease of not having to launder (or iron) them yourself is nice, they won't look the same once they go through your local dry cleaners process!
The majority rules below too! "If you want something done right, do it yourself"!

 

[eViL-PORCUPINE]

My t-shirts are mostly 95% cotton / 5% polyester. If you bleach them would they turn yellow since they are not pure white?

 

[OnceYouGoMac]

Use Daz. Guaranteed to make your whites look whiter than white 😀 Well, according to the residents of Cleaner Close anyway...

 

[andalusia]

Use Daz. Guaranteed to make your whites look whiter than white 😀 Well, according to the residents of Cleaner Close anyway...

DAZ! It's a proper soap.

 

[JBazz]

Bluing.