Nothing says professional like a crisp, white lab coat. The white color is highly significant in the medical profession, as it has come to symbolize cleanliness and purity. Wearing an immaculate white lab coat sends a strong visual signal to your patient that you are diligent and thorough, and instills a greater subconscious sense of trust in your patient-physician relationship.

Here are some tips for keeping your white lab coat as bright and white as the day you got it.

1. Separate your colors – seriously. Even light colors can transfer onto whites.
2. Don’t use too much detergent, which can leave residue on clothes that acts like a magnet and sticks to dirt.
3. Use a bluing agent to remove a yellowish tinge, but make sure to read and follow the instructions.
4. Don’t use bleach. White clothing is actually dyed to be white, and bleach can strip the whiteness away leaving behind a dingy greyish color.
5. Use white vinegar or lemon to make your whites brighter, by adding 1/4 a cup of vinegar or lemon juice and warm water and letting your whites soak before washing. Do not mix with ammonia products!!