I'm dreaming of truly white T-shirts
Just like the ones I used to know
Where no yellowing is present
No neckline stains to resent
To victoriously wash and feel like a pro...
Gap undershirts image found hereI know that I am not the only person who deals with this issue. While my white shirts don't suffer from crazy underarm stains - they have other issues: cooking oil stains, because I've failed to put on a protective apron, pasta sauce stains from when I'm just too tired to care if my shirt gets dirty and pull my daughter out of her high chair without wiping her hands and face first, and so on - my husband's white undershirts... Well, they - like the undershirts of most men, I'd wager - need some serious tender loving care. Especially if they've managed to last longer than a year.
I've tried various things.
I've soaked them for prolonged periods in Oxy Clean Versatile Stain Remover (the powdered and "free" version), which always does wonders for other staining issues, but does nothing for this underarm stain problem.
I've soaked them in hydrogen peroxide as recommended by Martha - pitiful results. It's a good thing that stuff isn't expensive!!!
I've scrubbed them by hand and attempted to use citrus and baking soda/borax combos... and so on.
One day, I don't remember when, an issue of Lucky magazine arrived in the mail. Little did I know that the answer to my troubles would be in this fashion/shopping magazine! While perusing through it, I happened upon a little mini article by Karen Reinitz and Abigale Levinson. They are the designers behind the line AKA New York, and according to the little snippet, they swore by a certain tip for freshening up yellowed T-shirts.
I ripped that page right out of the magazine... and then set it aside and completely forgot about it for a while. Anyway. I happened upon it again while trying to make sense of my bedroom, and wondered to myself how I could have possibly left this seemingly easy and cheap trick of the trade left untried. To make a long story short, I tried it and IT WORKED!!! I am not kidding around, my dears. (Important note: after some "study", I found that nifty trick also helps with any color shirt that has underarm issues like stiffness and so on)
My husband even recently put on one of his old shirts and said something like, "Hey. Didn't this used to have crazy stains???" And I was finally able to say, "Why, yes. Yes it did..." To which he replied, with a sly smile, something like, "Why? Did you try... aspirin???" He had clearly seen the article I left lying around. Rats! There goes my mysterious laundry wonder woman allure... Just kidding.
Back to the point of all of this... That's right, my friends. Aspirin! All the mysteries to my problem were answered with one tiny tablet of aspirin.
I've tried various things.
I've soaked them for prolonged periods in Oxy Clean Versatile Stain Remover (the powdered and "free" version), which always does wonders for other staining issues, but does nothing for this underarm stain problem.
I've soaked them in hydrogen peroxide as recommended by Martha - pitiful results. It's a good thing that stuff isn't expensive!!!
I've scrubbed them by hand and attempted to use citrus and baking soda/borax combos... and so on.
One day, I don't remember when, an issue of Lucky magazine arrived in the mail. Little did I know that the answer to my troubles would be in this fashion/shopping magazine! While perusing through it, I happened upon a little mini article by Karen Reinitz and Abigale Levinson. They are the designers behind the line AKA New York, and according to the little snippet, they swore by a certain tip for freshening up yellowed T-shirts.
I ripped that page right out of the magazine... and then set it aside and completely forgot about it for a while. Anyway. I happened upon it again while trying to make sense of my bedroom, and wondered to myself how I could have possibly left this seemingly easy and cheap trick of the trade left untried. To make a long story short, I tried it and IT WORKED!!! I am not kidding around, my dears. (Important note: after some "study", I found that nifty trick also helps with any color shirt that has underarm issues like stiffness and so on)
My husband even recently put on one of his old shirts and said something like, "Hey. Didn't this used to have crazy stains???" And I was finally able to say, "Why, yes. Yes it did..." To which he replied, with a sly smile, something like, "Why? Did you try... aspirin???" He had clearly seen the article I left lying around. Rats! There goes my mysterious laundry wonder woman allure... Just kidding.
Back to the point of all of this... That's right, my friends. Aspirin! All the mysteries to my problem were answered with one tiny tablet of aspirin.
I still find it unbelievable. I am still in shock, albeit thankful. Victory! Yes!
Here's what you'll need (this is about a $2.50 project if you don't already have aspirin somewhere in your house): One tablet of aspirin and a washing machine. Oh, and some nasty yellowed shirts, too. Don't forget about those.
Here's how the magic happens (and I am copying this directly from the magazine - thank you, Lucky, Karen, and Abigale!): "Put your discolored tees in the machine and let the water start streaming in (temperature doesn't matter*); add detergent as usual. Drop in one aspirin when the basin is filled with water, close the door, and let the cycle finish. 'White tees really do come out looking whiter than ever,' says Levinson."
Yes, indeed. They sure do! (Note: this is mainly for underarm yellowing issues but does help with other things. If yellowing is severe, wash a second time. Let me know if this works for you like it did for me!)
It's Monday again, and this is the way we wash our clothes :O)
Do you have any awesome laundry tips? Check out this Lucky link here, too. It has a super cheap and easy way to remove yellowing in the neckline of dress shirts and whatnot. I haven't tried it out, personally, but I'm really feeling... lucky right now...
Blessings,
Susan
*I used hot water.
