https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/seeking-drastic-measures-to-whiten-cotton-shirts Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Thu, 23 Apr 2026 20:51:19 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/seeking-drastic-measures-to-whiten-cotton-shirts#post-1921606 Wed, 23 May 2018 08:13:19 +0000 Gigi 1921606@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I have had lemon juice save me when everything else has failed. I put some on the stain every 10-15 minutes or so. Usually by about the fourth application I start to see whether the stain is starting to fade (it's not immediate).</p> <p>I have also had enzyme stain removers work on ring around the collar.&nbsp;</p> <p>You could also try dipping the garment in bluing (Mrs. Stewart's bluing). &nbsp;Bluing is supposed to counteract the natural yellowing of whites as the garment ages.</p> <p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/seeking-drastic-measures-to-whiten-cotton-shirts#post-1921442 Tue, 22 May 2018 15:06:27 +0000 Anonymous 1921442@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Wow! I’m amazed by the variety of suggestions you have gotten, Chris! I hope one works! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/seeking-drastic-measures-to-whiten-cotton-shirts#post-1921333 Tue, 22 May 2018 06:02:03 +0000 karen13 1921333@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I got some orangey stains due to avobenzene based sunscreen reacting with iron rich water when traveling a few years ago. I applied lemon juice and salt per below and was surprised at how well it worked.<br /> <a href="http://www.youbeauty.com/beauty/how-to-clean-sunscreen-stains-off-your-clothes/" rel="nofollow">http://www.youbeauty.com/beaut.....r-clothes/</a> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/seeking-drastic-measures-to-whiten-cotton-shirts#post-1921295 Tue, 22 May 2018 00:54:31 +0000 Jjsloane 1921295@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>My favorite stain remover is Zout (hard to find now) and the sun. I wear a lot of white jeans (and other white items) and this saves 99% of them. I have a sunny deck and put anything with a stain out on a sunny day. If that doesn't do it, the stain is never coming out. It's hard to position the inner collar for full on sun, but if you can it should work.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/seeking-drastic-measures-to-whiten-cotton-shirts#post-1921256 Mon, 21 May 2018 22:40:59 +0000 Sal 1921256@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>It is frustrating - sone sunscreen stains are impossible to get rid of.</p> <p>I have dyed white items with good success too - sometimes the thread stays white. You could try that to get more use from the tops. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/seeking-drastic-measures-to-whiten-cotton-shirts#post-1921237 Mon, 21 May 2018 21:35:12 +0000 lisaflex 1921237@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>it is most likely sunscreen....which will most likely not come out. but i was going to&nbsp;sugges as texas did - borax.&nbsp;</p> <p>or - try BIZ.....</p> <p>when dd was in riding camp years ago - her bathing suits all had that yellowish stain - and, yep it was sunblock. which is crazy to get out...</p> <p>also try some plain old blue DAWN. mixed with a bit of cold water and rub it in and let sit for about an hour. then rinse. spray with stain remover and wash in cold water and hang dry.</p> <p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/seeking-drastic-measures-to-whiten-cotton-shirts#post-1921215 Mon, 21 May 2018 20:37:55 +0000 texstyle 1921215@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I almost forgot Borax is another potential - it might not be enough , but added to the laundry after pre-treating the items may do the trick. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/seeking-drastic-measures-to-whiten-cotton-shirts#post-1921206 Mon, 21 May 2018 20:19:35 +0000 Chris987 1921206@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thanks for all the suggestions! </p> <p>Jaileen yes I DO remember those ads! For those too young to remember or not in the US...they stated very blatantly that a housewife would have failed in a big way if her husband went off to work in a white shirt with "ring around the collar" ....oh the horror! And WISK was the cure. &nbsp;LOL.&nbsp;&nbsp;I'll look for Persil. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/seeking-drastic-measures-to-whiten-cotton-shirts#post-1921139 Mon, 21 May 2018 14:25:39 +0000 JAileen 1921139@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>My first thought was Wisk. Remember those ads years ago, “Ring around the collar”? Apparently Wisk has been discontinued, but is being replaced by Persil. I’ve never used it, but you can pretreat, just like with Wisk.</p> <p><a href="https://www.wisk.com/FAQs.aspx" rel="nofollow">https://www.wisk.com/FAQs.aspx</a> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/seeking-drastic-measures-to-whiten-cotton-shirts#post-1921132 Mon, 21 May 2018 13:29:18 +0000 texstyle 1921132@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Hydrogen peroxide. Soak them overnight in a solution of warm water and a good amount of 3% hydrogen peroxide (if you're doing it in the sink, maybe add 1/2 cup of the peroxide to a sinkful of warm water. I've gotten out wine stains this way from a white shirt. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/seeking-drastic-measures-to-whiten-cotton-shirts#post-1921128 Mon, 21 May 2018 13:20:53 +0000 3style 1921128@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I mean very diluted Simple Green. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/seeking-drastic-measures-to-whiten-cotton-shirts#post-1921126 Mon, 21 May 2018 13:19:28 +0000 3style 1921126@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Gonzo or Simple Green have saved some shirts. Also washing with Fashion Care laundry powder instead of regular detergent fixes nearly everything. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/seeking-drastic-measures-to-whiten-cotton-shirts#post-1921105 Mon, 21 May 2018 12:24:57 +0000 Chris987 1921105@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>No I haven't tried that Helen11, thanks for the suggestion! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/seeking-drastic-measures-to-whiten-cotton-shirts#post-1921103 Mon, 21 May 2018 12:17:38 +0000 Helen11 1921103@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Have you tried making a paste of the soaking powder, and leaving that on the stained area?&nbsp; I use Napisan/ Vanish brand, and am guessing that might be the same thing as oxyclean. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/seeking-drastic-measures-to-whiten-cotton-shirts#post-1920924 Sun, 20 May 2018 18:03:50 +0000 Chris987 1920924@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p><b>Cardiff Girl,</b> I've already tried the bleach method...looking for something stronger or different. </p> <p><b>Delurked</b> thanks that article looks great - I will definitely try sun and lemon, thanks! </p> <p><b>Joyce B</b>, I'll try your method too..seems sun and lemon are two I haven't tried.&nbsp;These tops have never been in the dryer. </p> <p><b>Ryce</b> thanks, and I'll try Zout on some newer items that don't have the problem yet, great idea! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/seeking-drastic-measures-to-whiten-cotton-shirts#post-1920915 Sun, 20 May 2018 16:41:20 +0000 Anonymous 1920915@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Doubtful they can be saved, especially if they have been put in the dryer or ironed. But, it’s worth trying lemon juice and sunshine - the best bleach there is.<br /> A good way to prevent this in the future is to use Zout around the neck preventatively, and supplement with an occasional lemon-and-sunshine treatment. My husband wears white shirts almost daily and this trick works great. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/seeking-drastic-measures-to-whiten-cotton-shirts#post-1920899 Sun, 20 May 2018 15:56:00 +0000 Joyce B 1920899@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Chris, before bleaching you can sun them in a bucket with soapy water and after that you can sun the affected spots. That may help. You can also sun them in a bucket with hot water and a little bleach but I would try soap first.<br /> I hope the tops did not go through the dryer because that would have set them in.<br /> Good luck and let us know how it goes. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/seeking-drastic-measures-to-whiten-cotton-shirts#post-1920898 Sun, 20 May 2018 15:48:31 +0000 delurked 1920898@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>My first thought was try leaving them outside. Use the sun to your benefit. </p> <p>Just googled and here’s the first article I came upon.<br /> <a href="https://keeperofthehome.org/forget-the-bleach-how-to-use-the-sun-to-whiten-your-whites/" rel="nofollow">https://keeperofthehome.org/fo.....ur-whites/</a> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/seeking-drastic-measures-to-whiten-cotton-shirts#post-1920895 Sun, 20 May 2018 15:37:06 +0000 Cardiff girl 1920895@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Yes I would try bleaching them,l ve had good results with white shirts from this. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/seeking-drastic-measures-to-whiten-cotton-shirts#post-1920886 Sun, 20 May 2018 15:00:40 +0000 Chris987 1920886@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I have two 100% cotton white shirts/tops that have yellow stains around the inner back/front&nbsp;neckline.&nbsp;I don't wear makeup on my neck so these are probably a combination of body lotion, sunblock, and perspiration. I've tried soaking in oxy-clean, and also&nbsp;tried soaking for 4 hours in hot water and strong bleach, but can't seem to get rid of the stains.&nbsp;I know white summer tops have a pretty short shelf life, so it won't&nbsp;be the end of the&nbsp;world if its time to let them go, but both have been workhorses and I'd love to get one more summer out of&nbsp;them. </p> <p>Anyone know any good last-ditch drastic methods to try?&nbsp; Maybe I should try the hot water/bleach method for 8 hours or overnight? </p> <p>Thanks for any suggestions!&nbsp; </p>