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White shirt cleaning-help

VWpete

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Well after a night of dancing on New Year's in the NYC, I seemed to have some ladies drink on my favorite white Dior Homme shirt. I just got it back from the cleaners with marginal success. What can I do now to save it that is guaranteed to not ruin it. It's not horrible, but I notice it and the shirt was nearly new... Oxy Clean>?
Thanks for the tips.
Pete
 

AskAndyAboutClothes

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VWpete:

It may be too late, but:

ALCOHOL

(wine, liquor, beer) Sponge the stain with cold water. Then rub with detergent and rinse thoroughly. The old home remedy of rubbing salt on a wine stain can often set the stain.

Launder with detergent in hottest water safe for the fabric. Do not use soap (bar, flake, or detergents containing natural soap), since soap could make stain permanent or at least more difficult to remove.

Soak tough stains for 30 minutes in 1 quart of warm water and 1 teaspoon of enzyme presoak product.

To remove old or set stains may require washing with bleach that is safe for the fabric. Always check for colorfastness first.

If all the sugars are not removed a brown stain will appear when the fabric is heated in the dryer or is ironed, as the sugar is caramelized.

SUGAR

Any substance containing sugar can stain fabric. (That's mostly everything) like juice, beer, ketchup, soft drinks, wine, coffee, fruit, etc. Sponge immediately with cold water, and wash as quickly as possible.

Make sure the stain is gone before drying.

It's worse when you don't see the stain (such as clear liquids like ginger ale, etc.) When the professional laundry pressing pad touches the substance imbedded in the fibers (it's concentrated enough not be washed out) the sugar heats, and turns brown (usually forever.).

Andy

"Now they show you how detergents take out bloodstains,
a pretty violent image there.
I think if you've got a T-shirt with a bloodstain all over it,
maybe laundry isn't your biggest problem."

--Jerry Seinfeld






BLOOD


"Now they show you how detergents take out bloodstains,
a pretty violent image there.
I think if you've got a T-shirt with a bloodstain all over it,
maybe laundry isn't your biggest problem."


--Jerry Seinfeld
 

Carlo

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Quick suggestion... use distilled water when trying to dissolve a stain instead of tap unless you live in an area with very soft water. Pure distilled water will dissolve glass if you leave it in a jar for a while... If a white shirt, warm distilled water and a little Oxyclean followed by rubbing will do it. Isn't it funny how a drunken '10' who ruins your favorite shirt becomes a '3' in about two seconds?
confused.gif
A cigarette ash on your super 150's Brioni suit makes her about a -3. (Definition of -3: If stuck with her for life on a desrted island you would cut her up and use her as fishing bait rather than sleep with her)
 

VWpete

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Hehe,
Thanks for the tips... I'll get back at it carefully.
Carlo--too funny.
Pete
 

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