How do we get DS's school shirt cuffs properly clean?

[YvesJutteau]

Not an exciting thread, I'm afraid.

I don't know what DS does with his shirts at school; I presume from the state of them that he takes the shirt off and uses the sleeve ends to clean out the most disgusting corners of the classrooms.

I have tried soaking them in stain-removing powder (supermarket own brand rather than Oxyclean, but is there really much difference?) and scrubbing with Vanish soap and washing with pre-wash with bio powder and more stain-removing powder and they come out marginally less repellant but still pretty grim.

Is there some magic solution that we are missing? I have done all of this at 40 as it is allegedly the top temperature for them, but if someone will promise me that washing at 60 will sort it then I'll give it a whirl. ..

Bleach, Napisan, Soda crystals are all things you could try. Rubbing the material together after soaking helps too.

Yes, he has to wear long sleeves until the end of this term. Sigh.

Have done rubbing together (should have included in OP).

Shirts are pale blue -- is bleach still OK? I even bought some in a fit of desparation but I'm nervous of trying it. Just washing soda crystals? They sound less scary...

no I wouldn't use bleach on blue shirts unless it is that Ace laundry bleach stuff which is suitable for colours

Napisan is excellent - soak overnight initially, then just add to every wash.
Ds has pale blue school shirts and is similarly grubby, and it gets the dirt out

Agh, I was presuming the shirts were white, yep defo don't bleach blue shirts. Try Napisan, if it can get rid of poo stains from babies vests surely it can handle a bit of sweaty cuffs.

Have you tried rubbing some fairy washing up liquid on before you put the shirts in the wash?

Right, will try Napisan. And I thought after potty training #3 I was past that stage...

Thank you all! I'm sure I'll find something white to bleach eventually...

(Haven't tried Fairy, just Vanish. If the Napisan doesn't work then I'll give it a whirl...)

on collar and cuffs, it is skin oil plus shed skin cells, as well as the general dust and dirt. If he has adolescent oily skin, it will be worse. A laundry pre-wash spray does a fair job. If you can be bothered, brush a paste of Persil (or whatever) into the cuffs and collar where the black line is. Probably he will be growing faster than the brushing wears them out.

I don't see that bleach will help an oily stain. Washing soda crystals will help, and quite a hot wash.

I came on to say Napisan too.

The thing that surprises me is that his collar is fine - normal very light soiling. Hence my speculation over what he does with the cuffs when I'm not looking.

Bwahahahahahah! The Napisan has shifted everything apart from the worse of the two cuffs on the worst of the shirts (and even that one is a lot better). Thank you all; I can let him out in public again now.

Napisan is fabulous stuff. Just add it to every white/pale wash now and it will keep the shirts lovely and stop crunchy armpit issues as well - dhs work shirts used to go really horrid

I'm not sure it's marvellous for colours as I suspect you get more fade. Totally shifts stuff though

I tried nappies an and bleach on white shirts and they still aren't white. :(

Will try fairy liquid...what is the paste made out of?

Did you soak in a strong Napisan solution overnight or just add to the wash?

I soaked them for days!

I soaked in Napisan solution for two hours then did a prewash + wash programme with more Napisan added to both prewash and main wash.

How much Napisan why. I put in masses. Should look nerve janglingly blue tinged before you wash.

Ah ok maybe it wasn't enough then. Will go shopping tomorrow and try again!

I reckon at least four big tablespoons (you know, serving spoon size, not cooking measuring size) to a washing up bowl.

Soda crystals

Fairy liquid scrubbed into cuffs and collars with a nail brush, works like a dream.

Ariel, Vanish and Dr Beckmann all do a much bettter job than supermarket own brands.

Dr Beckmann does a great pre-wash stain remover spray.