The brahmacari should not bleach and iron his clothes.

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SB 11.7.23

 

The brahmac€r… should regularly dress with a belt of straw and deerskin

garments. He should wear matted hair, carry a rod and waterpot and be

decorated with aka beads and a sacred thread. Carrying pure kua grass in

his hand, he should never accept a luxurious or sensuous sitting place. He

should not unnecessarily polish his teeth, nor should he bleach and iron his

clothes.

 

PURPORT

 

The word adhauta-dad-vasa indicates that a renounced brahmac€r… is not

concerned with a glistening smile to attract the opposite sex, nor does he

pay much attention to his outer garments. Brahmac€r… life is meant for

austerity and obedience to the spiritual master so that later in life, when

one becomes a businessman, politician or intellectual br€hmaŠa, one will be

able to call upon resources of character, discipline, self-control,

austerity and humility. Student life, as described here, is far different

from the mindless hedonism known as modern education. Of course, in the

modern age, KŠa conscious brahmac€r…s cannot artificially adopt the

ancient dress and ritualistic duties described here; but the essential

values of self-control, purity and obedience to a bona fide spiritual master

are just as necessary today as they were in Vedic times.