Husband's Stained Shirts

[mar4JC]

OK Gang,
I put this in the diaper forum because I think my CD's are causing the problem. My husband's polo shirts are getting faded around the collar and I can't figure out what the problem is. (Other than him not washing his neck.... LOL)

Anywho, I suspect that my vineagar rinse for my cloth diapers may be leaving a residue that is causing the fading on my hubby's shirts. I don't have a problem with any of the other clothing, just the neck on my hubby's shirts. Has anyone else experienced this problem? And, if so, do you have any suggestions?

Thanks in advance.

[thekimballs]

From SharpMan.com (wow, who knew such a thing existed?):

The Other Ring-Around-the-Collar

My colored dress shirts (particularly blues and grays) keep coming back from the cleaner's with fading around the collar. Looks like bleaching. They say they are laundering and not dry cleaning. Why is this happening and how can I prevent it?

F.M.
No Address Given

SharpThreads Guy: The staining you describe is one of the most common complaints that dry cleaners and laundries receive. It’s a reverse "ring-around-the-collar" in fading and bleaching.

Whose "fault" is it? According to the International Fabric Care Institute, an organization that conducts "consumer reports-style" fabric testing on clothing-care issues, because all parts of a shirt are washed at once, localized staining is usually evidence of a problem in the shirt’s "everyday" life. Such staining could result from use of colognes, aftershaves, acne creams, hair treatments, some shaving creams and other medications containing alcohol, or mild bleaches. All of these can slowly stain and fade the inside and outside collars of your shirts and are more visible on dark-colored shirts, like your blues and grays.

To avoid this kind of bleaching in the future, the IFCI suggests applying creams, sprays and lotions with clothing off, then waiting approximately ten minutes for them to dry before getting dressed. And of course, never spray cologne or other products with your shirt on.

[mar4JC]

Thanks for the response. Now, I can get my hubby off my back because he keeps blaming me!!!!!

[Sherra]

Interesting...I find this with my hubby's shirts too and it was years before we introduced vinegar so I know it has nothing to do with the vinegar. I copy pasted why to an email to him so he can read this.

So glad this was brought up. Thank you.

[stafl]

I'd suspect after-shave is doing it.