Hideously dirty school shirts

[georgiemum]

I have tried Vanish, Stain Devils and the industrial spray stuff. How can I get a (once uppn a time - about 3 weeks ago) white shirt (the aertex type) to come white. Caused by DS rolling in the dirt at school.

I have thought of boiling it but have no idea how to!

Any bright ideas?

[CountessDracula]

No sorry

Also does anyone know how to get the sticky residue off when you have washed a polo shirt with a sticker on grrrrr

Oh boiling, does your machine not have a 95 degree cycle? Or just put in big stockpot on stove

[avenanap]

If they are white you could try borax or milton (bleach)?

ds has white pe shorts I have this problem. He now has 3 pairs because I can't get them clean and have not been brave enough to try bleach.

[avenanap]

I think you can get something to get rid of sticky residue from wilkinsons. I'm not sure what it's called though.

[georgiemum]

Sticky stuff - try nail varnish remover. Dab until it comes off.

I'm worried if I put the shirt in at top temperature it may come out fitting Barbie!

Milton -ahhhh I have some of this somewhere.

[GooseyLoosey]

I used to try everything with ds's (5) white polo shirts until I compared the price of the stain remover etc with the price of the shirts. The shirt were £2.50 for a pack of 3. The stain remover was £7.00 a tub. Now, I treat the polo shirts as disposeable (I do however allow them to go grey before doing so).

[welshlinz]

Soak them in diluted bleach frst and then put them on a good hot wash. My DD is the messiest little thing and this is the only solution to bring her whites back lovely.

[georgiemum]

These cost £24.95. Needless to say I am keen not to replace them. And one didn't some home from school last week after games. I am sure there is a black market for them somewhere!

[oggsfrog]

At the next PTA I'm going to suggest a change from white tops to red ones. I can't keep white ones clean at all - our water comes from the river and when it is in spate it's a brownish colour from all the peat so I haven't a hope in hell.

[Buda]

I gave up. They may look grubby but I know they are clean so that will have to do! I also refuse point blank to buy the school polo shirts with the logo on. I buy M&S packs of 3.

[georgiemum]

I am going to ask for the uniform to be changed to a) farmyard bunny suits or b) army fatigues.

[MadreInglese]

white pe shorts avenanap?

they didn't think that one through did they

[GentleOtter]

Are they 100% cotton because they would be ok if you soaked them overnight in bleach.
I used to hate these shirts as part of the school uniform but they do come up well nuked with bleach then washed as normal.

[ImnotMamaGbutsheLovesMe]

If it is too dirty to wear you have nothing to lose by trying bleach/hot temps imo.

[magso]

We were recommended to soak muddy white tops in cold water before washing. Not much help now Georgiemum - but it does seem to work on mud - but not grass stains.
Has anyone found a way to get black board marker off? Or tomato based dinner stains?

[georgiemum]

Oh I tried that too. Soaked it overnight and still not luck.

I suspect the school is actually sending the kids up chimneys.

Tomato-based stains - meths. Dab the stain with meths on a white cloth to lift the stain out.

Market pen - meths again then use White Wizard - from Lakeland and yes, this really is it's name - (flush with cold water, work in WW, leave a couple of mins then blot with kitchen roll. Rinse in cold water again) or Stain Devil No 1

Guess who has the Good Housekeeping Institute 'Spills, Spots and Stains' book!!! My bible.

[singersgirl]

For washed on stickers I use the Dylon Stain Devil for sticky/greasy stains. It works pretty well. Works well on grass stains, ketchup and chocolate too. DS2's shirts seem to have virtually his whole school lunch on some days. How can he miss his mouth that often? DS1's shirts are covered in acrylic paint stains.

[ImnotMamaGbutsheLovesMe]

Once stained clothes have been washed in hot water, the chances of grtting them clean if not done so on the first wash, is quite small. ALways soak in cold water first.

[ShrinkingViolet]

sunlight works wonders on tomato-based stains.

[sameagain]

magso - tomato sauce stains - wash as usual and hang the still stained shirt in the sun. Disappears as if by magic - even works from behind a window on an only very slightly sunny day.

[georgiemum]

I have found that mango juice never ever comes out.

[magso]

Thanks for the sunlike trick- I can usually guess what ds had for lunch from his shirt!!

[GooseyLoosey]

OOh - excellent tips for tomato stains - the bain of my life. I shall have all ds's shirts hanging on the line at the weekend!

[magso]

(sunLIGHT oops!)
How about french chocolate icecream made with dark chocolate ds ruined a couple nice tops on holiday.