Cleaning Stained White Shirts

Reseller Reselling Ebay Poshmark Cleaning Stained White Shirts and Other Clothes

White t-shirts are a classic wardrobe staple, but they are also prone to stubborn set-in stains. Whether it's blood, wine, or grease, dealing with stains on white clothing can be a challenge. But fear not, there are effective ways to remove set-in stains and restore your white t-shirts to their former glory.

White clothes don't necessarily have to be white in color. Heather gray t-shirts are always safe to bleach. Clothing with all man-made materials are usually safe to bleach (it will take some time off their lifespan but it's better than sending them to the landfill due to a stain) and even light pastel colored t-shirts are often safe to bleach. Do not put ringer and raglan t-shirts in with the whites. The colored collars and sleeves often bleed into the white and need to be cleaned on their own.

Step One - Pre-Treating the Stain

Before attempting to remove a set-in stain, it's important to pre-treat the affected area. Start by covering any stains with Dawn Platinum Liquid Dish Soap (paid Amazon Affiliate link) and lightly scrubbing the stains with the small Horsehair Laundry Brush (paid Amazon Affiliate link). Let sit for 30 minutes or more. I usually let it sit for at least a day or two and then, when I am ready to wash them, I spray the stains again but this time with Dawn Platinum Powerwash Spray (paid Amazon Affiliate link) and lightly scrub with the brush again.

Step Two - OxiClean Bath

Now it's time to soak them in OxiClean (paid Amazon Affiliate link) in your washing machine.

  • Don't add detergent. Instead dump in two full scoops of  OxiClean (paid Amazon Affiliate link) and fill with water before adding the clothes.
  • Use the hottest water setting you are comfortable using.
  • Add the clothes, run the washing machine for five minutes, and then stop the machine.
  • Let sit for six hours. I sometimes turn it back on for 30 second or so every so often during the six hours to mix it up again.
  • Drain the water. For my machine, I turn the knob to "spin".
  • Once you can hear no more water being drained, start the wash over again but add detergent this time, one more full scoop of  OxiClean (paid Amazon Affiliate link).
  • Toss into the dryer when done. But if you see shirts that still have stains that you want to try the process on again, don't put them in the dryer as that might set in the stain. Go to step three.

Step Three - Bleach Bath

For the clothes that are still stained, it's time to try a bleach bath.

  • Add detergent, fill with water before adding the clothes, and add two cups of bleach.
  • Use the hottest water setting you are comfortable using.
  • Add the clothes, run the washing machine for five minutes, and then stop the machine.
  • Let sit for 15 minutes.
  • Start the machine back up again. I always turn the knob back to the start.
  • Toss into the dryer when done. But if you see shirts that still have stains that you want to try the process on again, don't put them in the dryer as that might set in the stain.
  • Removing set-in stains from white shirts requires patience and persistence. It may take several attempts to completely eliminate the stain, so don't get discouraged if it doesn't come out right away.

Other Tips

If the stain is paint, you can try hairspray and Latex Paint Remover (paid Amazon Affiliate link).

For stains like caulking, you can try Goo Gone (paid Amazon Affiliate link) and Goof Off (paid Amazon Affiliate link).

I never have to iron because as soon as they are out of the drier I lay them one on top of the other on my Amazon Basics Rolling Cart (paid Amazon Affiliate link) and let gravity do the pressing.

One last secret trick that I figured out myself - if you have what looks like might be a rust stain spray the stain with Iron-Out (paid Amazon Affiliate link). No amount of bleach or Oxiclean can get rust stains out but this works. Sometimes it magically disappears right before your eyes. Sometimes it takes multiple tries. Works sometimes on pit stains too. Be sure to wash it out thoroughly. Sometimes discolors colored clothing so only use with white or fully man-made material shirts.

By following these tips and techniques, you can effectively remove set-in stains from white shirts and extend the life of your favorite garments. Remember, prevention is key, so treat stains promptly and avoid letting them set in. With the right approach, your white shirts can look as good as new! Saving a shirt is one less in the landfill. Buying from my links above gets me a commission from Amazon which helps pay for this website so I can continue to provide helpful content. Thank you.

Check out my other blogs Cleaning Stained Colored Shirts and Cleaning Baseball Caps

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