stubloom
Senior Member
- Joined
- Jun 18, 2010
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Bleachboy asks for the "one true way" to get rid of stains from collars. Unfortunately, I can't point to any one "miracle product". The best I can do is to provide you with some information about the different "stains" you'll find in your collars. This way you can tailor your treatments to each different type of "stain". So here goes..... The problem generally boils down to this: collars and cuffs typically exhibit 3 types of stains -- water-based stains (such as perspiration, coffee, juice, beer, wine, etc.), oil-based stains (such as body oil, lotion, creams, salad dressing, etc.) and dirt/soil. And you have to individually treat each category of stain. Water/detergent/safe bleaches alone will often remove the water-based stains and the dirt/soil, but not the oil-based stains. Only dry cleaning solvents or fluids will emulsify and dissolve the oil-based stains. Here's the problem: if those oil-based stains are not removed, those oil-based stains can oxidize and turn yellow/brown when heat is applied (for example, when the shirt is ironed). At RAVE FabriCARE, we follow a multi-step process. First, the shirts are soaked in siloxane (an extremely gentle, dermatologically friendly, non-dye bleeding dry cleaning fluid....so gentle, in fact, that I can wash my face in it). That emulsifies the oil-based stains. Second, all shirts are soaked in special water-based solutions for at least 10 hours. That lifts the water-based stains, any salts/acids from perspiration and aluminum chlorides from antiperspirants/deodorants. Third, all shirts are gently laundered for a relatively short period of time in cool water with an enzyme detergent. Fourth, all shirts are hand ironed. So the answer to your question is that there is no magic bullet. Rather, it's a multistep process that addresses EACH COMPONENT of the problem. Your assignment now is to find your own solution by applying the "theory" identified above, but using "stuff" that you might find in your laundry room, bathroom or kitchen. For example, a gentle dish washing detergent to emulsify the oil-based stains, a gentle soaking agent that does not include sodium hyperchlorite (the primary ingredient in Clorox bleach) to lift the water-based stains, and a gentle detergent for the wash (machine or hand). As the saying goes, if you don't know where your'e going any road will take you there. Hopefully I've provided the roadmap. Good luck. Website: www.ravefabricare.com Daily blog: www.truequalitycleaning.com