caring for white shirts

[cheessus]

do certain deoderants contain some kind of chemical that leaves yellow stains on white shirts? sometimes its right away, sometimes it accumulates over time. what can i do to remove them? ive tried bleach but it doesnt always work. ive also tried oxyclean.

i know i could wear an undershirt, but it is just too hot during the summer to do so. also, ive had a hard time finding white shirts that arent broadcloths that arent see-through. plus, its hard finding undershirts that fit me properly and which arent too "bold;" ive heard wearing gray shirts help?

should i just stop wearing white shirts completely?

 

[arc]

Those stains are caused by (or amplified by) the aluminum compounds in antiperspirants. (Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aluminu...lothing_stains) Try switching to a plain deodorant. I've heard of people having some success with vinegar and warm washes to remove them. Lots of information available on the google, or in the Health&Body section here. ps: You can always try a nice red wine vinegar or balsamic if clear vinegars fail to remove the stain.

 

[usctrojan55]

Put a scoop of oxyclean in a large bowl, fill with warm water, and put just the armpits of the shirts in, and soak for a few hours. Spot, then wash the shirts as you would normally do (I wash them on cold and use an extra rinse). The stain should go awat completely or almost completely after just one soak and wash. I have never had one that survived two soaks. It hasnt affected the fit of the shirt in any way.

 

[HRoi]

also, don't dip your elbow in a puddle of coffee while wearing a white shirt like i just did

 

[vincerich]

Stains and marks are the reason for why I'm reluctant to wear white shirts. They look so crisp, but I hate doing the damage check on them when I get home at night. I generally cut my losses by buying a huge number of them.

 

[cheessus]

im also fairly dark-skinned, and darker in the summer, so when it is sunny out, i may as well be wearing clear plastic bags.

i wish i could afford to buy white shirts by the boatload, but theyre just as expensive as any other shirt.

 

[Professor Chaos]

Originally Posted by cheessus

do certain deoderants contain some kind of chemical that leaves yellow stains on white shirts? sometimes its right away, sometimes it accumulates over time. what can i do to remove them? ive tried bleach but it doesnt always work. ive also tried oxyclean.

i know i could wear an undershirt, but it is just too hot during the summer to do so. also, ive had a hard time finding white shirts that arent broadcloths that arent see-through. plus, its hard finding undershirts that fit me properly and which arent too "bold;" ive heard wearing gray shirts help?

should i just stop wearing white shirts completely?
Don't ever expose the shirt to heat. Use only cold water and don't put them in the dryer (heat sets the anti-perspirant stains). If you follow this, then oxyclean will be magic. If you've already exposed them to heat, then very concentrated oxyclean will lighten them a bit, often enough to be passable. Washing shirts immediately in cold water will help prevent the stains from forming. Btw, if you're using only cold water, you may have trouble getting oil stains around the collar out. You can remedy this by using baking soda (dissolved in a bit of hot water, then mixed with cold, before the clothes are added).

 

[viator]

Originally Posted by Professor Chaos

Don't ever expose the shirt to heat. Use only cold water and don't put them in the dryer (heat sets the anti-perspirant stains). If you follow this, then oxyclean will be magic. If you've already exposed them to heat, then very concentrated oxyclean will lighten them a bit, often enough to be passable.

Washing shirts immediately in cold water will help prevent the stains from forming.

Btw, if you're using only cold water, you may have trouble getting oil stains around the collar out. You can remedy this by using baking soda (dissolved in a bit of hot water, then mixed with cold, before the clothes are added).
Do you mean use cold water and not any kind of detergent other than baking soda?

 

[patrickBOOTH]

90% of my shirts are white and I have a routine.
Number one is always wear an undershirt. In the summer it is hot, suck it up and wear one. I'd rather be slightly uncomfortable than ruin thousands of dollars of shirts.

Number two is only wear them once before washing, like others have said only use cold water and never a dryer. Let them hang dry.

Number three is that whenever I take them off I immediately spray the collar, cuffs and underarms with shout, and I let it sit until the next time I throw them in the wash.

Also, which will be even more hot in the summer is that I find that pinpoint shirts wash better and don't stain nearly as easily as poplin, or broadcloth. All my white shirts are pinpoint. They don't wrinkle as easily either.

This all should do it.

 

[Professor Chaos]

Originally Posted by viator

Do you mean use cold water and not any kind of detergent other than baking soda?
use detergent, too.

 

[Ataturk]

A little talc powder on the neck should completely eliminate the "ring around the collar." It also helps with comfort.

 

[BoomDiggs]

Originally Posted by patrickBOOTH

Number three is that whenever I take them off I immediately spray the collar, cuffs and underarms with shout, and I let it sit until the next time I throw them in the wash.

How long do you leave Shout on the shirt before washing? I seem to remember staining a shirt with Shout because I put it on and didn't wash the shirt for a while afterwards. Admittedly, it was something like three weeks (I was still in college). Plus, according to the back of the bottle, this risk is higher with light shirts.

 

[patrickBOOTH]

I have left it on for up to a week. I have never had a problem, been doing it for years.

 

[exchange239]

I used to have some problems with the undershirts and the deodorants leaving stains. I used to use the standard roll-on types. Ever since I switched to the spray aerosol can types (few years ago) I've yet to have the same problem (knock on wood)

 

[KlezmerBlues]

Gall soap