solowflyer... read your flight manual. Dont take anyones word.
As i recall i think some cessnas... 172,182 you can take the first 10 degrees above the white arc, but below the specified airspeed in the flight manual
Also regarding post #1. You refer to Vfe as flap extension speed, which is technically wrong. Vfe is flap EXTENDED speed.
Flap extension speed is refered to as Vfo or flap operating speed (as the flap comes down)