General laundry pre-treaters
 

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.

Go to the dollar shop and get a bottle of Awesome (looks like apple juice). DH uses it for an RV cleaner, I use it for a laundry pre-treat (for years). Just used it as a toilet bowl cleaner, it's Awesome. LOL. This is the only cleaner my SIL uses as she's on septic.

Certainly willing to give it a whirl! Thank you.

If your husband would just use a couple of cotton balls and clean his neck after his shower, with alcohol on the cotton balls, it makes a difference. Tell him to rub his neck good with them. Not hard. but to get the oil off.

I'm hoping the Awesome works for you. I think I read somewhere about using a bit of shampoo on collars and cuffs.

I use 409 on oily spots. I've never tried it on the necklines of shirts. Maybe a new test for it? I have a sinus drip all the time and my lipstick gets on my hankerchiefs. I spray with 409 and they come clean every time. Years ago, a dry cleaner told me that was what they used for most spots on clothing.

Awesome really works. I also use it for spots on carpeting.

I use Shout and Resolve (the one for baked on grease).

I discovered Awesome this summer--great stuff and at $1 per unit at Dollar Tree you cannot go wrong ! Almost to the point of shock on how well it cleaned top of my electric range and drip pans--Really good product !

I often use - Shout- or Dawn dish soap rubbed onto oily stains