Stained hiking shirts

[Katy Belle]

My DH and 2 of my sons went on a 12 day Boy Scout hike. The troop had shirts made, they are white. Well, they used to be white. They are made of a stretchy material, like Under Armour. I have soaked them in hot water and Tide, but they remain stained...food, dirt, etc. No washing instructions on thses, but similar shirts say no bleach. Have any ideas for me? Thanks!

 

[4Pirates&APrincess]

When my son played competitive soccer and they had white uniforms and socks I use to soak them in the hottest water you can get with equal parts of tide and cascade powder dishwasher soap. Rinse out and wash like normal. It worked like a charm. I also did this with my other sons football pants. One of the moms asked my DH how I got the pants so white.
Good luck!

 

[englishteacha]

Oxyclean? That's my go-to for stains. I soaked one of DH's shirts in an Oxyclean solution the other day and it got out some really old stains.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

Oxyclean powder.

Put 3 scoops of it in the laundry and then use hot water and no bleach. The shirts will look brand new. I was a die hard clorox user and no matter how much I used the whites never came really clean. I switched to Oxyclean and my clothes look brand new.

 

[arminnie]

The Tightwad Gazette had a soaking formula with hot, hot water, liquid dishwasher detergent and non-chorine bleach. That could get out stains that had been there for years or even in used baby clothes.

I haven't used it in recent years as it is not convenient with my front loader

 

[MichelleinMaine]

I'd say oxyclean, too.

I'd also be asking whose brillant idea white troop shirts were? (Assuming this is Philmont?) Our troop shirts used to be a bright blue, I convinced them to change them to tan, aka dirt color!

 

[Deb & Bill]

My husband is a runner and has been buying CoolMax running clothes forever. He wears Wrights socks and they are as gray as anything (they used to be white). I talked to a person who sold them at a running expo once and he said don't use bleach, it ruins the "coolmax" features. And he said there is nothing that will get them white again.

You don't use fabric softener or bleach on this fabric. And resign yourself to the fact that that clothing will not be white ever again.

 

[disneymarie]

Oh how I hated the boys baseball pants...
But in those days Tide had Phosphates that boosted the cleaning powder. I add Dishwasher detergent to many things I clean to get a true power boost.
Especially, burnt pans, grease spilt clothing. etc.

 

[ceecee]

Oxyclean? That's my go-to for stains. I soaked one of DH's shirts in an Oxyclean solution the other day and it got out some really old stains.

I use it on Under Armour golf shirts and it really takes out the stains. I do soak it for hours before washing. I put a scoop in a mixing bowl w/hot water and soak it that way.

 

[Katy Belle]

OP here...Thanks! I will get oxyclean and try it tonight. DS16 has a clean one because one of the dad's didnt want his, so he gave it to DS. Id love to get DS14s clean enough to wear!

 

[3boymthr]

Spray & Wash also works really really well, just make sure to spray both the inside and outside of the shirt and rub it in. Also, for the food stains, try Dawn dish detergent. Remember the old ad about Dawn making grease go away, well, it works on clothes too. Just make sure to rub it in to the stain before washing.

 

[KristiKat]

Another vote for OxyClean. It gets out stains that are set in also. Wonderful stuff.

 

[BSil]

Lestoil gets T shirts pretty darn white again, but man does it stink.

 

[MinnieGirl33]

Another vote for Cascade

 

[jenlynn0808]

Another vote for Oxyclean. I put it on the hottest temp, put a scope in with some tide and toss in DD13's white fastpitch uni. She's a catcher so those never stay clean. If the dirt/clay/quick dri doesn't come out the first try I spray them with Oxyclean Max, let sit for 10 minutes and rewash them exactly like the first time.

This method will also take out blood, put the max on before the first wash though and the pants only need to go through the cycle once. Don't ask how I know this...let's just say it was a bonding moment for the team...

 

[Katy Belle]

I soaked them in hot water and Oxyclean for about 5 hours today. The shirts are white again! But they still have stains. I will try some more tricks tomorrow. Im hopeful!