Seeking drastic measures to whiten cotton shirt(s) - YouLookFab Forum

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Seeking drastic measures to whiten cotton shirt(s)

Chris987

Veteran

I have two 100% cotton white shirts/tops that have yellow stains around the inner back/front neckline. 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 tried soaking for 4 hours in hot water and strong bleach, but can't seem to get rid of the stains. I know white summer tops have a pretty short shelf life, so it won't be the end of the world if its time to let them go, but both have been workhorses and I'd love to get one more summer out of them.

Anyone know any good last-ditch drastic methods to try? Maybe I should try the hot water/bleach method for 8 hours or overnight?

Thanks for any suggestions!

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19 replies

Latest reply was from Gigi

Cardiff girl

Veteran

Yes I would try bleaching them,l ve had good results with white shirts from this.

delurked

Veteran

My first thought was try leaving them outside. Use the sun to your benefit.

Just googled and here’s the first article I came upon.
https://keeperofthehome.org/fo.....ur-whites/

Joyce B

Veteran

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.
I hope the tops did not go through the dryer because that would have set them in.
Good luck and let us know how it goes.

Anonymous

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.
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.

Chris987

Veteran

Cardiff Girl, I've already tried the bleach method...looking for something stronger or different.

Delurked thanks that article looks great - I will definitely try sun and lemon, thanks!

Joyce B, I'll try your method too..seems sun and lemon are two I haven't tried. These tops have never been in the dryer.

Ryce thanks, and I'll try Zout on some newer items that don't have the problem yet, great idea!

Helen11

Veteran

Have you tried making a paste of the soaking powder, and leaving that on the stained area? I use Napisan/ Vanish brand, and am guessing that might be the same thing as oxyclean.

Chris987

Veteran

No I haven't tried that Helen11, thanks for the suggestion!

3style

Veteran

Gonzo or Simple Green have saved some shirts. Also washing with Fashion Care laundry powder instead of regular detergent fixes nearly everything.

3style

Veteran

I mean very diluted Simple Green.

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

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.

JAileen

Veteran

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.

https://www.wisk.com/FAQs.aspx

Chris987

Veteran

Thanks for all the suggestions!

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. LOL. I'll look for Persil.

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

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.

lisaflex

Veteran

it is most likely sunscreen....which will most likely not come out. but i was going to sugges as texas did - borax.

or - try BIZ.....

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...

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.

Sal

Veteran

It is frustrating - sone sunscreen stains are impossible to get rid of.

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.

Jjsloane

Veteran

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.

karen13

Veteran

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.
http://www.youbeauty.com/beaut.....r-clothes/

Anonymous

Wow! I’m amazed by the variety of suggestions you have gotten, Chris! I hope one works!

Gigi

Veteran

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).

I have also had enzyme stain removers work on ring around the collar.

You could also try dipping the garment in bluing (Mrs. Stewart's bluing). Bluing is supposed to counteract the natural yellowing of whites as the garment ages.