General laundry pre-treaters
#12
Super Member
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: California
Posts: 1,987
#13
Junior Member
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Pittsburgh
Posts: 138
My son used to have a problem with sweating and staining his shirts. I think it outgrew it but he thinks it is more that we switched from regular antiperspirant to a natural antiperspirant. Anyway, he always stained his shirts. This will get out anything. Almost anything at least. I had the carpet cleaners tell me I would never remove a carpet stain and I got it out with this. This works on collar stains too. You use regular Dawn - blue. Pout the Dawn on the stain. Sprinkle a little baking soda on it too. Pour a teaspoon or two of peroxide on the stain. I scrub lightly with an old toothbrush. Let sit at least an hour or two then wash as usual. It is a set in stain, you may have to do this twice but it will be gone. I have yet to find anything that peroxide ruined. It simply doesn't harm anything. Try it, you will be pleasantly amazed.
#14
Junior Member
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Kansas
Posts: 109
I just read in a hints column that you should spray pre-treaters on and wait at least 30 minutes before washing. I pre-treat all my stains when taking my clothes off and put them in the laundry basket. Then when I do laundry i just wash as normal. Since I have started doing this I haven't had a problem with stains not coming out.
#15
Super Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Central NJ
Posts: 5,572
I've done dawn; fells naptha; peroxide (which in straight straigtnght I have found to deteriorate fabric). I will mention the peroxide on the collar thing to him but I don't see thst lasting more than a day, if that, frankly. His cuffs and sleevesvare just general dirt. It really just annoys me that detergents that used to work no longer do. Used to be that i could rub wisk into a stain and it was gone. Unfortunately, no more. General laundry should not be this difficult! I will try everyone's suggestions.
#16
Super Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Twin Cities, MN
Posts: 2,525
I swear by Shout! I've used it for years, and rarely come across staining I can't get out. My son worked in a junk yard, and for the city maintenance truck repair during his college years, and got greasy, oily, stinky and sweaty!! Pre-treating and soaking does the job. I'm intrigued by the dollar store recommendations though!!
#18
Can anyone recommend a good laundry pre-treater/stain agent? DH manages to get the collars, cuffs and sleeves of his shirts disgusting. I have tried just about everything on the market (I think) to no avail. Seems to me that with the removal of all the phosphates in the laundry detergents now, that none of them seem to work overly well. It doesn't help that we have very 'hard' water. I've tried borax; washing soda with detergents; am spending a small fortune on Tide detergent based on consumer reports and nothing seems to get clothes clean any more. My old favorite, K2R Spot Lifter, apparently isn't made any longer.
I have a Maytag top load washer - about 10-15 years old - that was pretty much top of the line at the time. I don't think the issue is with the machine (as DH does). But I feel like all that washing machines do any longer is swish the clothes around with the detergent to make them smell better - not get them clean!
Any hints/suggestions gladly welcomed.
I have a Maytag top load washer - about 10-15 years old - that was pretty much top of the line at the time. I don't think the issue is with the machine (as DH does). But I feel like all that washing machines do any longer is swish the clothes around with the detergent to make them smell better - not get them clean!
Any hints/suggestions gladly welcomed.
#19
Super Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Melbourne, Florida
Posts: 1,133
You can also try Oxydol, it does a pretty good job removing stains. If DH thinks it is the washer go with his decision and get a new washer...LOL. I just purchased the Samsung top loader, with no spinner in the middle, and love it
#20
The best thing I ever did to get my laundry clean was to install a soft water conditioner. Hard water minerals bind with dirt. So many other benefits to soft water to mention here. I know, not an inexpensive solution to your problem.
I was going to recommend Amway Prewash Spray, but the formula has changed and don't think it's as good as it used to be.
Good luck and let us know if you find something that works.
I was going to recommend Amway Prewash Spray, but the formula has changed and don't think it's as good as it used to be.
Good luck and let us know if you find something that works.
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