A classic white shirt is the one thing in everyone’s closet that’s on heavy rotation. Over time and heavy use, you may notice a yellow stain around the collar. This common stain is caused by a build-up of natural oils and sweat (hey, it's hot in Southeast Asia, we understand). That's why we designed our newest innovative shirt, GQWhite™ with a specialized coating around the collar to prevent those stains for forming in the first place. But, don’t worry, removing those stains from your other shirts is easier than you think. Here are a few tips and tricks to prevent stains from forming, and how to remove them.
Make sure you’re scrubbing back there — your neck, that is. Because the stains are caused by sweat, natural oils, and even hair care products, it’s important to wash the back of your neck well, even after you’ve rinsed your shampoo and conditioner. This will remove any build-up before you put your shirt on and help prevent stains from forming. Cooling powder would be cool Using baby powder, antiperspirant or cooling powder to reduce sweat during the day can help combat that pesky collar stain. Save your old toothbrushes A toothbrush (that you don’t use for your teeth) is a good tool when working on removing the stain. Work the stain remover into the stain with a toothbrush in a circular motion. Here are a few ways to lift the stain:
- Because the stain is caused by a combo of essentially grease and sweat, you need to remove the grease first. Apply liquid dish detergent or even shampoo for greasy hair to the stain and soak for one hour.
-
Once you’ve removed the grease, now it’s time to fight the stain. This is also where your spare toothbrush comes in handy to lift the stain. To do this you can:
- Apply a stain remover, then soak and wash according to the instructions.
- Combine four parts baking soda to one part water and apply it to the collar. Scrub until the stain is gone, then wash.
- Dilute hydrogen peroxide with equal parts water and let soak for 30 minutes, then toss in the wash. Use this one just for whites, as hydrogen peroxide has some bleaching capabilities.
