Husbands shirts.

[crabwoman]

DH was sorting his clothes out for next term (he's a teacher) and noticed his shirts were a bit well... Grubby looking! We usually wash everything at a low temp, but it doesn't seem to be cutting it.
There's the usual deodorant discolouration, but they also of feel like they could do with a deep clean. Has anyone got any suggestions to get the grime/ discolouration out. He always buys good quality stuff, so I don't want to be buying new ones. They have just lost their crisp cotton feel! Thanks in advance.

What colour are they?

If they are white, soak them over night in some Napisan, then wash on a 60 degree wash and dry in the sun.

Buy a stain remover like Vanish spray, or some green household soap, apply that to the deodrant stains before washing. Or use a programme on your washer with a pre-wash setting and use something like Bio-tex.

I usually add soda crystals to my light and white washes as it seems to get the stains out better.

What are they made of?

I wash 100% cotton shirts at 50 or 60% with bio powder. Use shout or vanish stain removing spray on the collar, or wet with cold water and rub in washing up liquid if really bad.

Line dry inside out in bright sunlight.

Thank you for your replies. They are 100% cotton. They are mostly light coloured striped/ or small checked. I've tried vanish, and it worked on some, not on others! I also use in-wash stain removing crystals, again same problem. I was looking for something I could pre-soak them in like Napisan, but could be used on colours.
I will try soda crystals as a few people have recommended them!

Washing at a higher temperature will have more effect than any chemicals you add to the wash. 100% cotton is designed to be washed at 60 degrees, that is the beauty of it.

if they look yellowish round the collar and cuffs, that will be oil from the skin which is not removed by a delicate wash and yellows over time as it oxidises. It is harder to wash out when it has oxidised. Hot wash with powder (not liquid) is best for white cotton shirts. If they have already gone yellow you will need a more ferocious wash and pre-treat with a spray that is good for grease stains.

Sadly, ferocious hot washes tend to lose the shape of the collars, especially if the interlining or thread is synthetic.