Ah, yes, Spring is here again! Time for cute crisp white Poplin shirts (like the one from The Gap, seen to the left, and adorable white capris and tote bags! Go frolicking in the park! Go out for some ice cream! And then come home to grass stains on your butt, Choco-licious Delight on your shirt and sweat stains the size of Texas. Hey, you know it's true. : ) So, to help you out this Spring and Summer, copacetic is re-printing an article from a 1999 issue of Glamour Magazine with some great tips on white-washing! ; )

We feel it might be necessary to add that we will not accept any responsibility if your shirt gets messed up from trying these tips! : ) Sorry, but we're just passing on the advice from Glamour. Plus, while these tips will work just fine for contemporary clothing, I'll say use them at your own risk on vintage duds. Sometimes the stains on retro wear is 40-50 years old, and they're just set. : ( But, hey, I've had success in removing stains from vintage clothes myself, so I'll never say never! ; ) Okay, enjoy!!!

shirts with yellowed underarms
Before washing white shirts, soak them in a mixture of 1/4 cup Snowy bleach per two gallons water for two to three hours, suggests Joseph Hallak Jr., of Hallak Cleaners in New York City, a stain-solutions source. "Keep bleach away from colored trims and metal hooks, buttons or zippers. They could bleed or rust." [janice's note: yep, sadly that includes those retro-like ringer tees we all love so much!]

graying sheets and towels
Dull linens are caused by too much laundry soap (who knew?) says Barbara Barry, a top Hollywood interior designer renowned for advising clients on how to keep every element of their homes in sparkling shape. So, wash linens once with soap, once without.

dingy white pants or jeans
Add Mrs. Stewart's Bluing, a liquid whitener, to your wash cycle (follow the directions on the bottle).

rust-colored stains
Use a non-chlorine bleach, like Biz, in your wash (follow directions on box).

soiled white canvas hats, bags, sneakers or shoes
Gently rub out dirt with a soft toothbrush or laundry brush dipped in a mixture of 1/3 cup mild powder detergent and 2/3 cup water, says Hallak.

terrycloth footwear
Scrub gently with a towel soaked in 1/4 cup Woolite and 1/4 cup water. Wipe away any soap residue with a towel dipped in plain water. Blow-dry to fluff up.