I repaired the shirt

Thanks!

Washing in several gallons with just 1/2 cup of chlorine bleach is not quite the same as splashing full-strength bleach on the front of a favorite shirt. But I'd also be interested in what new dye technology allows a "guarantee not to fade".

Beverly

Wow, I missed all the fun! ;-) Great job you did with the shirt. And I, too, like the idea of the footprint story, shovel, pail, crab and all.

Why the backs of shirts aren't decorated very often? Well, depending on the form of decoration it can become quite uncomfortable if you sit in a chair with a back for a little longer (driving miles in your car with elaborate beading in your back might be a slight pain, I imagine), but otherwise - yes, we are three-dimensional creatures! ;-)

I really wonder why folks still use bleach with their washing. AFAIK, modern detergents have a good measure of brightners already, at least those for normal washing and here in Germany. I don't use any desinfectant on my cutting boards, either, because they are all made from wood. Handled properly (clean with normal dishwater right after use, let dry properly) the wood is said to take care of the microorganisms on its own. We never had any problems at all in all those years. Of course, plastic boards are a different matter, or so I've heard. And isn't it very bad for the environment? Well, just my 2 cents... ;-)

U.

That's probably more than I'll tackle for this particular shirt, but it's an idea I'll keep in mind for another project.

The *wearer* never sees the back of his/her garment while wearing it? ;-}

Sometimes a good wash with strong bleach is the only way to make dingy white sheets/towels/socks really sparkle again.

Beverly

Have you tried Rit Color Remover? I used to use that to restore whiteness to things. It worked much better than bleach.

I never thought of using Rit Color Remover as a whitening agent. I have used it to prepare fabric for dying. Also to fade denim on occasion, back when that was "in". ;-)

Beverly

What???? It's not "in" anymore????

Nah, now the "in" look is all "acid-washed" or "stone-washed", never just plain old "faded". ;-}

Beverly, almost finished with my tax return, YIPEEE!!!!

Just went in yesterday to do the amended return for 2007, which I can't send in until the end of April. But it's well worth it.

I bleach my dish towels, tablecloths, and cleaning rags because my "safe" water heater doesn't get the water much above incubation temperature.

Joy Beeson