Atlanta Cracker Posted August 12, 2008 Share Posted August 12, 2008 Seems that my white dress shirts acquire a yellowish brown tint around the collar that doesn't even come out when I take them to the cleaners. I plan to wash the whole lot of them tonight in hot water with bleach but was wondering if anyone had any suggestions on what to treat the stains with before doing so? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big John Posted August 12, 2008 Share Posted August 12, 2008 ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alexgaddis Posted August 12, 2008 Share Posted August 12, 2008 Time to buy new dress shirts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Atlanta Cracker Posted August 12, 2008 Author Share Posted August 12, 2008 Time to buy new dress shirts? Nope, these are only a couple months old. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Furd Posted August 12, 2008 Share Posted August 12, 2008 Are you taking the shirts to One Hour Martinizing or some other cheap ass place? A decent laundry shouldn't have any problem getting rid of those stains. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hugh 0ne Posted August 12, 2008 Share Posted August 12, 2008 Try cleaning the dirt off your neck before putting on dress shirts, you know, like by taking a shower and using soap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Atlanta Cracker Posted August 12, 2008 Author Share Posted August 12, 2008 Try cleaning the dirt off your neck before putting on dress shirts, you know, like by taking a shower and using soap. Can't believe I didn't think of that! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chester Posted August 12, 2008 Share Posted August 12, 2008 Ancient Chinese secret Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmarc117 Posted August 12, 2008 Share Posted August 12, 2008 vinegar Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rebellab Posted August 12, 2008 Share Posted August 12, 2008 Are you wearing your shirts more than once between washes. When I was just out of college and poor, I didn't have two dozen dress shirts like I do now, and I was wearing them two days in a row. This really took its toll on the collars. If you are taking them to the cleaners and they are not getting them clean, go to a different one. As far as now, no problems and the wife uses Tide Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dutch Oven Posted August 12, 2008 Share Posted August 12, 2008 I wash my dress shirts myself, then take them to the cleaners and tell them "press only." I throw a couple of Aspirins in with the wash, and that usually gets the collar clean. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteelBunz Posted August 12, 2008 Share Posted August 12, 2008 (edited) The other thing about taking them to the cleaners AC......don't ask for any starch. There is so much starch built up in those machines, that you get light starch anyway. And the starch builds up in the fabric, especially in the collars and cuffs. Ever have shirts where the bodies look fine for their age......but the collar and cuffs seem lumpy or the facing seems to be bunching up? Starch is settling in there. def. Facing: a lightweight fabric sewn or iron adhered between two pieces of fabric to make the whole piece stiffer. And starch absorbs stain more easily. Pretreat with something like wisk or era or spray and wash (a lot of people swear by OxyClean), but any 'degreaser'....you can use an old toothbrush to work it in a bit. Then throw them in the wash....cold water. Cold water dissolves the starch too, oddly enough. You can let them soak in the washer overnight, but I find that leaves them a bit dingy. Like sitting too long in dirty bathwater....lol. They should come clean with one time through this process. Better fabric technology these days. But you may have to do it twice. Are yours blends or 100% cotton? If 100% cotton, use a very small 1/4 cup of bleach for whites only. Don't dry them all the way....take them out and iron them when still a touch moist. (Not damp...just not bone dry) See? Working at Huntington Clothiers for 3 years made me a bit more useful. Edited August 12, 2008 by SteelBunz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimC Posted August 12, 2008 Share Posted August 12, 2008 Ancient Chinese secret [sEC] First the girl has to survive birth in order to wash your shirts. [/uGA] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rebellab Posted August 12, 2008 Share Posted August 12, 2008 The other thing about taking them to the cleaners AC......don't ask for any starch. There is so much starch built up in those machines, that you get light starch anyway. And the starch builds up in the fabric, especially in the collars and cuffs. Ever have shirts where the bodies look fine for their age......but the collar and cuffs seem lumpy or the facing seems to be bunching up? Starch is settling in there. def. Facing: a lightweight fabric sewn or iron adhered between two pieces of fabric to make the whole piece stiffer. And starch absorbs stain more easily. Pretreat with something like wisk or era or spray and wash (a lot of people swear by OxyClean), but any 'degreaser'....you can use an old toothbrush to work it in a bit. Then throw them in the wash....cold water. Cold water dissolves the starch too, oddly enough. You can let them soak in the washer overnight, but I find that leaves them a bit dingy. Like sitting too long in dirty bathwater....lol. They should come clean with one time through this process. Better fabric technology these days. But you may have to do it twice. Are yours blends or 100% cotton? If 100% cotton, use a very small 1/4 cup of bleach for whites only. Don't dry them all the way....take them out and iron them when still a touch moist. (Not damp...just not bone dry) See? Working at Huntington Clothiers for 3 years made me a bit more useful. And there you have it. This must have been why I had the problem Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Azazello1313 Posted August 12, 2008 Share Posted August 12, 2008 (edited) ...wondering if anyone had any suggestions on what to treat the stains with before doing so? ancient chinese secret edit: doh, chester Edited August 12, 2008 by Azazello1313 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimmy Neutron Posted August 12, 2008 Share Posted August 12, 2008 I just treat my shirts with Shout a few minutes before throwing them in the wash. Works great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
untateve Posted August 12, 2008 Share Posted August 12, 2008 It has long been known that the high acidic content in urine is wonderful for cleaning stains and discoloration in clothes. I suggest you urinate on your collars and then wash them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteelBunz Posted August 12, 2008 Share Posted August 12, 2008 I just treat my shirts with Shout a few minutes before throwing them in the wash. Works great. I remember Shout being very good too. I don't have too many collared dress shirts to do these days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westvirginia Posted August 12, 2008 Share Posted August 12, 2008 The other thing about taking them to the cleaners AC......don't ask for any starch. There is so much starch built up in those machines, that you get light starch anyway. And the starch builds up in the fabric, especially in the collars and cuffs. Ever have shirts where the bodies look fine for their age......but the collar and cuffs seem lumpy or the facing seems to be bunching up? Starch is settling in there. def. Facing: a lightweight fabric sewn or iron adhered between two pieces of fabric to make the whole piece stiffer. And starch absorbs stain more easily. Pretreat with something like wisk or era or spray and wash (a lot of people swear by OxyClean), but any 'degreaser'....you can use an old toothbrush to work it in a bit. Then throw them in the wash....cold water. Cold water dissolves the starch too, oddly enough. You can let them soak in the washer overnight, but I find that leaves them a bit dingy. Like sitting too long in dirty bathwater....lol. They should come clean with one time through this process. Better fabric technology these days. But you may have to do it twice. Are yours blends or 100% cotton? If 100% cotton, use a very small 1/4 cup of bleach for whites only. Don't dry them all the way....take them out and iron them when still a touch moist. (Not damp...just not bone dry) See? Working at Huntington Clothiers for 3 years made me a bit more useful. She's domestic, and knows football. I don't care what she looks like - :divingboard: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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