How to Clean a Chef Coat

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My husband is an amazing chef.  I love to learn from him and enjoy all the food he makes, but I really dislike washing chef coats.   And when I say dislike, I really mean hate.  

I really have nothing nice to say about chef coats.  They are big and bulky and stains stick to them like super glue.

With each restaurant change (and there have been quite a few as my husband has moved up in his career), come new chef coats and the task of finding what cleaning treatment will work the best for that specific coat.

If you are like me, you have googled, “How to clean a chef coat” on numerous occasions as you struggle to get out those stains that somehow made it past the apron.

You might have also wondered why in the world chef coats are white. (You can read more about that here.)

Below are some suggestions on how to clean a chef coat, compiled by myself and other chefs and their wives/significant others.  (Thanks for the help guys!)

(Also, make sure not to miss my post on how to get the smell out of chef clothes.)

First things first. . . water temperature.  Heat sets stains, so many people recommend not washing chef coats in hot water.  However, I have found that many stains come out easier with warm or hot water, depending on which of the below treatment methods you are using.  So the answer as to what water temperature to use?  Try it with both cold and hot water and see what works best for your water, detergent and chef coats.  Aren’t I helpful?  You’re welcome.  

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Netepur Bar by H2O at Home

This is by far the best product I have found over the years.  It’s a natural bar that you scrub on the stain before washing.  I wet the stain, rub the soap on it and scrub.  I then throw it in the wash with detergent and a little bleach and it works great.  Over the past 8 months is has removed almost every stain on my husband’s chef coats.  (Many of the stains disappear before I even throw it in the wash.)  My husband has 5 white chef coats and this is the longest he has ever kept a set.  He usually has to replace them every 5-6 months because of stains I just can not get out.  This product actually does a decent job at getting black carbon out as well (at least on my chef/husband’s current coats.)

My only reservation with recommending this product is the shipping cost.  The bar itself (which you can purchase from an H2O at Home consultant is only $13 and will last a while, but the shipping is just under $8.  That’s not a bad deal for shipping if you purchase other products as well (you can see my review of them here), but if you just want to try out this one thing, it’s a bit much for shipping. The bar is really great and you might  be able to get a local consultant to give you a small sample bar to try first to see if you like it.  It’s worth a try if can’t find anything else that works for you.  (It’s also great for other clothes and carpet.)

Felths Naptha and Oxiclean Paste

Mix together some Oxiclean with a little water to make a paste.  Spread the paste on the stain and scrub the stain with a bar of Fels-Naptha and Oxiclean paste.  Wash as usual.

Bleach

I usually take a chef coat that is toward the end of it’s life and try it with bleach first to make sure the embroidery will not fade.  So far, none of them have, but it’s always best to try on one you don’t care about losing just in case.    I have had good success with using laundry detergent and about 1/2 to 1 cup of bleach per load, starting the cycle on the washer and letting it run for about 10 minutes and then stopping it and letting the coats soak for 2-3 hours.  Then I start up the washer again and let it finish.  I always use a second rinse.

Bleach Pen

After I’ve tried everything else, a bleach pen is my last option.  I spread the gel on the stain, let it set for about 10 minutes and wash it.

There have been a few times I have had a lot of stains so I tried making my own bleach gel pen.  It works the first time you use it just as well as the store bought stuff, but I have not been successful in storing it without it losing it’s potency.  Making it each time you need it is a pain, but will save you a lot of money.  (There have been many times I’ve had more time than money, so things like this were a great option and helped our budget a lot.)

Dry Cleaning

Nice option if you can afford it.  

White Brite

Add to regular wash cycle to help keep coats white and to prevent them from turning yellow.

Soaking in a Bucket of Water and Oxiclean

Fill a large bucket with water and Oxiclean and soak the coats in the solution until you are ready to wash them.  (Not the easiest option if you have small kids or pets . . . just stating the obvious, right?)

Dishwasher Detergent

I’ve had success in the past putting some liquid dishwasher detergent on stains before washing the coats.  Just make sure to read the label to see if it contains bleach.  If is does, make sure not to leave it on the stain for long or it will yellow the coat in that one spot.  (I’m speaking from experience here.)  It’s worth a try if you already have some in the cupboard, right?

Bicarb Paste and White Vinegar

Make a paste out of bicarb (baking soda for those of us in the U.S. – yes I had to google it) and water and scrub it into the stain.  Rinse off with white vinegar and wash.

Hand Sanitizer

To remove ink stains from chef coats, squirt hand sanitizer on the ink and scrub it.  Let it sit for about 10 minutes and wash it in hot water.  More details here.

RIT Whitening & Brightening Treatment

Once a week use this treatment on your coats to keep them bright white.

Dawn Platinum

Squirt directly on the stain and scrub with a toothbrush.  Wash as usual.

Other not so helpful but hysterical tips from a few of my readers:

If all else fails, use a garbage can and lighter fluid or possibly use them for an end of the summer bonfire!

Pray that his next job will have laundry service!  (Man, I miss those days . . .)

Have I left out any other amazing ways to clean a chef coat?  If you have found something that works for you, please leave a note in the comments so we can try it!

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Happy Cleaning!

From one chef’s wife to another,

PS:  While you’re here, you might want to check out a few of my most popular posts about combining restaurant and family life!

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