Rosie Scott Blog about Women

No wives tales, just the hard facts.

Now that summer is officially over you probably have a bunch of shirts, tops and dresses with marks from fake tan, sunscreen and the odd ice-cream spill that you think might have seen their last days. They can be saved. Here's how.

1. When possible, act quickly. Prevention is key

The best way to keep your whites white is to look after them as you go, don't let them get to that awful, grey and sad stage. If you have dropped your dinner on your shirt, if appropriate, take it straight off and spray it with Preen stain remover/degreaser or Sard Wonder. For red wine use soda water.

2. Soak it

Place anything with a mark or stain (or something that is just a bit dirty) in a bucket with warm water and Napisan or Sard Wonder and leave it to soak overnight. If the stain is still there the following day, repeat steps one and two. Some washing machines have a soak cycle. If yours does, use it every time you wash your whites.

3. Always wash your whites with hot water

Cold water just won't get the stains out. Obviously be careful with garments that shrink - in that case warm water (around 30 degrees) is okay. Always add some Napisan or similar to the machine with your regular detergent.

4. Get your hands on some rainwater

Visit a friend in the country, stay at a beach house with a rainwater tank, or better still buy one for your own home. Rainwater is considered the "softest" type of water because it contains lower levels of calcium and magnesium than "hard" water which comes out of the taps in some cities. Lower levels of these minerals allow the soaps to work more efficiently and get things cleaner. Plus, it's better for your machine and feels great on your skin and hair.

5. Embrace the sun

Yes there is another reason for not using the dryer other than saving on your energy bills and it being better for the environment. Hanging your white shirts and bed sheets outside allows the ultraviolet light from the sun to bleach out any stubborn stains. Leave them out there for as long as it is sunny for maximum effect.

6. If all else fails

When nothing else has worked, use chemical bleach as a last resort on a 100% white garment. Dropping the item in a bucket with warm water and bleach diluted as per the instructions for a few minutes before washing will get rid of any nasty stains. Just be careful because bleach is not only bad for the environment, it is corrosive. Be careful what you're wearing when you use bleach as if you splash any on your black pants that's the end of them.

short green bridesmaid dresses