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Do you bleach your expensive white dress shirts?

Upward

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Will bleach damage fine dress shirts? How much should be added to a wash? half a cup? a full cup?

What is the best way to remove stains around the collar? I've tried resolve and sprays and they do not work.
 

Zachgranstrom

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My shirts are probably not the most expensive, but every so often when I have a full-load of whites I'll put one cup of bleach just to get that white color again. Which, as far as I can tell, hasn't done any damage to my shirts yet.

Also, I suggest buying a bristle brush and a naptha soap bar to remove the stains.
 

Upward

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My shirts are probably not the most expensive, but every so often when I have a full-load of whites I'll put one cup of bleach just to get that white color again. Which, as far as I can tell, hasn't done any damage to my shirts yet.

Also, I suggest buying a bristle brush and a naptha soap bar to remove the stains.
I will give the soap and brush a try. Is a toothbrush soft enough?
 

anginaprinzmetal

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Bleach will eventually eat through your shirts.

now if you don't mind why would you want to bleach a good shirt ??
 

Zachgranstrom

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I will give the soap and brush a try. Is a toothbrush soft enough?
I personally use a harder bristle brush, but a toothbrush should probably do the job.
 
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Notreknip

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Search for the concentrated OxiClean method posted by some of the OG members many years ago. It really is the most important thing I've ever learned on this site. It has never failed me.
 

GBR

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I don't want my shirts to fall apart.


Then don't wash them with acid! Bleach is an acid and will do your shirts long term harm.

How have they become so stained in the first place - think about curing that and buying new ones when you have cured that.
 
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Notreknip

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Indeed, thanks Calder. That's the one. Almost 10 years old now - wow.
 

mans72

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Then don't wash them with acid! Bleach is an acid and will do your shirts long term harm.

How have they become so stained in the first place - think about curing that and buying new ones when you have cured that.
most bleaches are basic not acidic. But the result ends up being the same.
 

WorldWideWafflz

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most bleaches are basic not acidic. But the result ends up being the same.
I found GBR's comment pretty funny as well. But the upshot is the same, bleach definitely degrades cotton. I'd say the trick would be use minimal bleach and only bleach once every handful of washes to minimize or eliminate the buildup of caustic residue in the fibers of your clothes. I saw a thing on wikipedia about using vinegar to neutralize the bleach but I wouldn't recommend it. Sodium hypochlorite (the primary active ingredient in household bleach) breaks down into toxic chlorine gas when mixed with acids; sure it'll volatilize off your clothes, but then it's in the air you breathe.
 

deveandepot1

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Will bleach damage fine dress shirts? How much should be added to a wash? half a cup? a full cup?

What is the best way to remove stains around the collar? I've tried resolve and sprays and they do not work.


If resolve and the sprays don't work, bleach likely wont do much better.
 

Calder

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It'll more than likely damage the colours. Test it on part of the tail hem to see if you really want, but I'd bet it'll bleach (duh) the colour out.
 
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