How to Get Stains Out of a White Shirt

By Matt Oden | Comments | Fabric Stains → Clothing

It seems almost inevitable that when wearing a white shirt you spill something and think how to get stains out of a white shirt? There are many solutions to this problem and many do not require the fail safe bottle of bleach. So before you reach for the bleach read on to see what other types of solutions will remove the stain from your white shirt.

Remove Stains from a White Shirt

How to Get Dairy Stains Out of a White Shirt

What you will need:

  • Cold water
  • Dull knife
  • Liquid laundry detergent
  • Enzyme presoak
  • Chlorine bleach

Ice cream and dairy products contain proteins, which can make it very difficult to remove these types of stains from white clothing. A lot of ice cream also contains dyes and other color additives that will leave those unsightly stains on your favorite white shirt. With summer fast approaching it is a good idea to keep an arsenal of ice cream stain removal steps when wearing that white shirt to the ice cream parlor.

  1. Like most stains it is easier to remove a ice cream stains the quicker you can begin to treat the stain.
  2. If the ice cream was just spilled on the white shirt immediately soak and agitate in cold water. Hot water will only make the stain worse sense there are a lot of proteins in dairy products.
  3. If the stain has dried you will need to use a dull knife to scrape off any of the crust left over from the ice cream. You will need to be gentle to not rub or scrape the knife too hard, as this action could cause a hole to form in your white shirt.
  4. Next, soak the white shirt in a solution of cold water and liquid laundry detergent. If the stain is particularly stubborn you can soak the fabric in a solution of cold water and a enzyme presoak. This product can be found in most grocery stores. Enzyme presoaks are great for removing any stain that may contain protein, like ice cream and other milk products.
  5. Allow the white shirt to sit and soak for several hours. If you have a more stubborn stain you can leave it to soak for longer. Do not let the enzyme presoak dry out. This will cause an entirely different stain.
  6. Launder the white shirt in normal laundry detergent and warm water.
  7. Inspect the stained area. If the stain remains soak the white shirt for another 30 minutes in the solution of cold water and enzyme presoak.
  8. Re-wash the white shirt as you did in step 6.
  9. Inspect the area. If a colored stain remains you can finally reach for that bottle of bleach. Simply add a small amount of bleach to the washing machine and launder as you did in step 6. If your washing machine does not have a bleach dispenser make sure you fill up the washing machine with cold water and then add the bleach to just the water. Finally, you can place the white shirt in the bleach water.
  10. Inspect the stain. If the stain remains repeat the steps above. If the stain has been removed you can place the white shirt in the dryer if it safe for that fabric.

How to Get Grass Stains Out of White Shirts

What you will need:

  • Cold water
  • Liquid laundry detergent containing enzymes or enzyme presoak
  • Bucket

Grass stains are one of the most stubborn stains to remove from your white shirts. Grass is another natural substance that contains a lot of protein. If you try and remove the stain without prior knowledge you can cause the stain to further penetrate the fabrics. For this reason it is very important to follow the instructions.

  1. Fill a bucket with cold water and a small amount of liquid laundry soap that contains enzymes. If you cannot find a detergent with enzymes you can simply use an enzyme presoak. The enzymes in the soap or presoak will help break down the proteins in the grass. Tip: Do not use hot water on grass stains. This will cause the proteins to form together making the stain even harder to remove.
  2. Stir the mixture well to evenly distribute the soap in the water.
  3. Soak the white shirt in the solution for at least 30 minutes. If you have a particularly nasty grass stain you can soak the shirt for several hours. ensuring the enzyme product does not dry out.
  4. Ring out the white shirt and inspect the stained area. If the stain remains you will need to soak the shirt again for about 30 minutes.
  5. Wash the garment in cool water and the enzyme based liquid laundry detergent.
  6. Inspect the area. If the stain remains you will need to again soak the white shirt for another 30 minutes and then re-wash. If the stain has been removed you can wash the garment as you normally would in warm water.

How to Get Mud Stains Out of  a White Shirt

What you will need:

  • Dull knife
  • Warm water
  • Liquid dishwashing detergent
  • White vinegar
  • Rubbing alcohol
  • Enzyme presoak
  • Chlorine bleach
  • Sponge or clean white cloth

There are a lot of solutions to removing mud stains from a white shirt. If you have the misfortune of getting mud on your favorite white shirt never fear there are some really great tips and solutions to the problem.

  1. The first step to removing a mud stain is allow it to sit and dry before you even begin to remove the stain. Mud is easier to remove once it has dried.
  2. Next, take a dull knife and gently scrape the dried mud off of the white shirt. Once you feel you have removed the bigger chunks of dried mud you can shake the shirt out to ensure all of the mud, that can be removed with this step, is removed.
  3. Mix a solution of 1 quart of warm water, 1 teaspoon liquid dish detergent, and 1 tablespoon of white vinegar.
  4. Allow the white shirt to soak for about 15 minutes.
  5. Remove the white shirt from the solution and rinse the fabric with warm water.
  6. Allow the shirt to sit for a few minutes before you inspect the stained area. If the stain remains you will need to move on to step 7.
  7. Using a sponge or clean white cloth, blot the stain with rubbing alcohol.
  8. Again rinse the white shirt with warm water to flush out the cleaning products.
  9. Wash the white shirt as you normally would.
  10. Inspect the area. If the stain remains move on to step 11.
  11. If the mud stain is still on your white shirt you can soak the shirt in a solution of clean water and enzyme presoak. Allow the shirt to sit for about 30 minutes.
  12. Again wash the garment as you normally would. If the stain is still on the clothing you can add a small amount of bleach to the washers bleach dispenser.

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