A shirt is an integral part of our wardrobe. Whether for work, a party or any other formal occasion, a dress shirt is a must. But even the most beautiful, expensive and high-quality shirt looks dingy if it has a dirty collar - a sure sign that it hasn't been properly cared for. The collar is much more difficult to hide than a stain on the sleeve or under the arms. Even a great blazer isn't enough to hide a yellow or brown stain on the collar. To avoid looking unclean and unkempt, you should put your best foot forward and keep your collar free of stains or at least take steps to remove collar dirt. Discover how to clean your shirt collar here!
Turn yellowed shirt collars white again with hydrogen peroxide
Nothing makes a shirt collar look unsightly faster than a sweat stain. Use a mixture of one part dish soap and two parts hydrogen peroxide to remove the stain. Apply the dish soap/hydrogen peroxide mixture to the stain. For particularly stubborn yellow stainssprinkle some baking sodaon the soaked area. Use an old toothbrush to rub the mixture into the stain. Allow the detergent to work for an hour and wash your shirt as usual.
Clean colored shirt collars with baking soda
Rinse the stain under warm water for a few minutes to moisten the area. After that, mix 4 tablespoons of baking soda with 60 ml of warm water and make a paste. Apply the paste generously to the stained area and gently rub your shirt together to work the paste into the fabric. Leave the paste on for 30 minutes and then rinse the area. Wash your shirt as usual.
Clean greasy collars with detergent
Instead of treating the stain with a regular wash cycle, consider using a stain treatment treatment. To do this, lay the shirt flat and apply the detergent directly to the collar where the discoloration is located. Allow the undiluted detergent to soak into the greasy collar for at least 30 minutes, then wash your shirt as usual.
Clean dirty shirt collars with shampoo or dishwashing liquid
If you still have trouble removing the stains with regular laundry detergent, you can also use shampoo or dish soap to wash your collar. Hair shampoo is ideal for removing stains caused by hair care products, and dish soap is better at dissolving greasy stains caused by oils, for example.
Make sure that you use products that will remove the stains rather than make them worse, and that you do not put these products in the washing machine as you would with detergent. Instead, you should use it as a stain treatment or prewash to loosen the stain before washing. You should then always carry out a normal wash cycle to remove any product residue.
Soak the “collar bacon” in vinegar
For older stains, you can soak the greasy collar with white vinegar before washing. Depending on how old the stain is, you will need to soak it for 15 minutes to an hour. Then rinse and wash the shirt as usual. Make sure you justuse white vinegar, otherwise you may cause further stains.
Remove collar dirt with aspirin
Another way to remove older or more severe stains is to use aspirin. Fill a bowl with lukewarm water and dissolve some aspirin in it before submerging the shirt in it. Allow the shirt to soak for about an hour to allow the aspirin to work its way into the stain. Then rinse it and throw the shirt in the wash.
Clean white shirt collars with dishwasher powder
Mix dishwasher powder and water in a bowl to form a paste. Dishwasher powder works well for removing grease. Just the thing to remove one of the possible causes of yellow collar stains. Take an old but clean toothbrush and rub a little of the paste onto the yellowed collar to remove the stain. Leave the product on for about 20 minutes and then rinse thoroughly. When there are no more detergent residues to be seen, you can use the white shirtwash in the washing machine.
A bar of laundry soap as a grease remover
A good old bar of laundry soap is an excellent grease remover. You can rub the soap onto the stain and use an old but clean toothbrush to thoroughly remove the stain. Allow the soap to work for about 20 minutes before washing the item in the washing machine.
Preventing yellowed shirt collars – tips
Remove dead skin cells in the shower
Since dead skin and your natural skin oil are the culprits, it's important that you don't forget your neck during your daily cleansing. A washcloth or shower sponge are great ways to give your neck a little love in the shower.
Dust your neck with some powder
For extra protection from sweat, you can dab some baby powder on your neck. Spread the powder well to absorb any excess sweat or oil before putting on your shirt. A light coat of baby powder on the sides of the neck and nape can prevent stains caused by oil and sweat.
