Laundry: 'That' baked in yellow sweat. How?

[JR8]

After I moved from SG to Berlin and we unpacked our stuff. I found about 5 short sleeve white casual shirts that have that awful baked in yellowness, that comes from not laundering your whites quickly enough in SG.

Now a couple of months later they are still in the laundry basked and I am wondering if there is anything I can do. It is a shame as they are great shirts and by no means 'throwaway' (for example, 3 of them are Banana Republic)

I can't take them to a laundry here as I doubt they will have any idea what has caused the problem.

Any tips? We're at something of an all-or-nothing stage, so even risky/but worth a go ideas are welcome.

Thx

[QRM]

I saw some of this back to white washing powder at the shops,

Why not unleash the inner hippy, and get a load of bright dyes, salt, pebbles, elastic bands, buckets and create your own tie dye specials?

[nakatago]

I hear oxalic acid (available in powder form) works wonders. I never bothered to do the research to check its complete properties though but my mom used to use it on laundry.

It has to be pretty dilute, though.

[Strong Eagle]

I hear oxalic acid (available in powder form) works wonders. I never bothered to do the research to check its complete properties though but my mom used to use it on laundry.

It has to be pretty dilute, though.

Where to buy? Same problem here.

[nakatago]

Somebody will have to ask these guys. I don't know if they sell retail:

Tradeasia International Pte Limited
63 Robinson Road No. #04-18 Afro Asia Building, Singapore 068894, Republic Of Singapore
Tel : +65 6227 6365
Fax : +65 6225 6286
[email protected]

Behn Meyer & Co (Pte) Ltd Add: 2 Boon Leat Ter #06-01 Harbourside Ind Bldg II
Tel: (65) 65116633
Fax: (65) 64700532

Mercury Chemicals Pte Ltd Add: 14 Fourth Lok Yang Rd
Tel: (65) 62683855
Fax: (65) 62659930

[sundaymorningstaple]

Probably won't do JR8 much good in Germany though it'll help SE.

On second though, Behn Meyer & Co is a German company isn't it!

[nakatago]

I was responding to SE and I also wanted to satisfy my own curiosity in case I'd need some myself. JR8 can do a search himself!

[ttujess]

Try soaking in white vinegar then rinsing. Next, use a prewash stain remover directly on the stain then launder in the hottest temp your shirts can take using an oxygen bleach in the wash. I don't know if this will help on super old stains, but you never know.

[Addadude]

1. Put at least 10 scoops of washing powder into a large basin or bucket. (More if you want.)

2. Fill said bucket or sink with boiling hot water.

3. Drop your shirts in, making sure they are fully submerged.

4. Allow them to steep for at least 8 hours.

5. Remove and wash as normal.

If this doesn't get the stains out probably nothing will.

This method has worked for me on numerous occasions.

[durain]

yep, "cooking" it is one way of removing stains.

went to a friends place for dinner. had to use the toilet which is pass the kitchen. had a shock of my life when i saw what was dinner!!! it was soapy soup with shirts in it!!!

luckily the maid was quick to explain she is "cooking" the shirts to remove stains.

btw, can you not get stuff like vanish or arial new stain remover? if all fails, try baking soda.

[Splatted]

or just buy new shirts.

You can buy name brand business shirts from $30 at mustafa's.

Many of these cleaning products add up in price. Most are a rip off.

Add the cost of gas if you need to start cooking clothes and it's all an expensive experiment.

[JR8]

Thanks peeps!

I have decided on a course through this. And if all that fails, then I will dye them (good out of the box thinking there QRM!)