Keeping Chef Whites Clean

Traditional chef jackets will normally be white to signify cleanliness, however keeping chef whites looking white and stain free can be a challenge; whether the jacket is 100% cotton or polycotton. The best way to maintain the vibrancy of the jackets is by protecting it with aprons and washing them when needed.

Protecting Chef Whites from Stains

When you work in a kitchen there are many types of stains you can encounter from tomato sauce, wine, coffee, chocolate and oil splatters etc... It is difficult to keep on top of stains especially when you are working in a demanding environment. At the end of a shift you can expect the jacket to have a number of stains.

One measure you can take to protect your chef whites is to wear protective aprons. Aprons come in a variety of styles depending on your preference and can help to protect a chef jacket from stains.

How to Clean Chef Whites

When it comes to removing stains from chef whites, do not use hot water as it will bake the stain into the fibres. Always use warm or cold water. When you have soaked the stain and are ready to remove the mark; scrubbing too hard may result in the stain sinking further into the fabric of the jacket.

When it comes to what product to use to clean the stain ensure you only consider bleach as your last resort. Bleach will weaken fibres, and it will eventually turn fabric yellow or gray. It will also fade any embroidery that is on a jacket.

Avoid dryers if the jacket is stained. By placing a stained jacket in the dryer this will only set the stain further into the jacket fibres. If after the stain is still present after washing the jacket, hang it out to dry.

Tips for Removing Stains from Chef Whites

There are some other measures that you can take to help protect your chef whites when you are hard at work. One tip would be to carry a detergent pent or stain remover wipes with you. This will allow you to get to tackle the stain on the spot.

If you find that you've splattered or stained your chefs jacket, taking fast action can minimise the damage. Water-based marks such as sauces and liquids can be cleaned with a damp cloth and some salt, which will help keep the pigment from setting on the fabric. Oil splashes need a small amount of soapy water to break down the molecules followed by a wash.

Other tips include using vinegar or club soda as these are also great stain removers. White vinegar is good for tomato, coffee and grease stains, while club soda is good for wine stains. The best method is to saturate the stain as much as possible and dab the stain with a clean cloth without scrubbing.

Washing Stains at Home

When you get the jacket home, soak it in warm water for an hour or so with an oxygen-based detergent. Once you've soaked your chef coat, take a look and see what stains remain.

If there are grease stains, try using a dishwashing detergent. If you have coffee, red wine, or tomato stains, try soaking them in white vinegar. Even if you already tried dabbing them with vinegar, soaking them could make a difference. Saturate the stain completely and leave it for ten minutes.

Once you've done what you can to deal with the stains by hand, wash the chef coat in warm or cold water using a bleach-free detergent. You can also add oxygen-based detergent to the wash, following the instructions on the label. You could add a cup of white vinegar to the final rinse to get the chef jacket sparkling white.

Pre-Treating a Chef Jacket

As well as wearing an apron to protect a jacket, you can also spray each new jacket with a fabric protector to help prevent stains from setting.