How to remove collar stains

Blame friction, sweat, dust, make up or anything under the sun for the stained the collar of your business attire, but never yourself for being too hard working. Collar stains are a common problem, especially for working men and women. Collar stains are not acceptable in business meetings or social gatherings. Luckily there are a few different methods to help you get rid of them.

After a long day, you might see a ring of dirt on the collar of your clothing. This is mainly due to sweat or body oils. While these are natural causes, collar stains can also come from synthetic products like haircare, makeup or perfume. All these and more can be the reason for the stain of the ring around the collar.

Fortunately, it’s possible to remove collar stains with regular laundry detergent if you act quickly and don’t let the stain sit too long. Other more natural methods for removing collar stains include using white vinegar, lemon juice, salt or even shampoo.

Wash clothes normally to remove collar stains

Collar stains can become hard to remove when not properly dealt with the first time. While doing laundry, collared garments must be routinely checked for stains to prevent the piling of stains in layers. You can manage this stain by simply following the classic detergent method below.

1. Position the stained garment flat on a clean surface. Make sure that it faces up exposing the collar.
2. Get your liquid laundry detergent and pour it onto the stained collar. It is advised not to dilute the liquid laundry detergent and use the original concentrated formulation.
3. Let it be for at least 30 minutes. This will allow the penetration of the liquid detergent’s chemical components into the fabrics of your stained collar.
4. After 30 minutes, if the fabrics are not sensitive to brushing, use a non-abrasive brush to agitate the stain. This is optional but works best in stubborn stains.
5. Wash your garment as usual.

Removing collar stains using natural methods

Whether light or stubborn collar stains, we have a bunch of methods for you. The stain removers here are everyday household items available in your kitchen, fridge, or medicine cabinet. Don’t combine methods. Only pick the stain remover that you think is most convenient for you.

As with all stain removal techniques, make sure the stain is completely gone before you put any garment in the dryer, as the dryer will set the stain.

Salt method

You can use whatever type of salt you have at home, whether it’s table salt, coarse salt, kosher salt, or sea salt. Follow the procedure below to remove stains using this natural remedy.

1. Place a cup of water in a container, then add a tablespoon of salt. Mix well until no salt granules are sitting at the bottom of the container.
2. Soak a clean sponge in the container with the salt solution.
3. Scrub the stained collar using the sponge. Keep the sponge wet with the salt solution.
4. Continue scrubbing until the stain is completely removed.
5. Wash clothes as usual.

Lemon juice method

When life gives you lemons, make lemonade. But when stains make your life a bit hard, give them lemon juice instead. Follow these steps to remove those stubborn collar stains with fresh lemon juice: 

1. Roll your lemon along the counter to release the juices.
2. Cut it and squeeze the juice out.
3. Mix the lemon juice with water to make a 1:1 solution.
4. Pour the solution on the collar stain and scrub.
5. Wash garments as usual.

Vinegar method

One important thing to not forget is that not all vinegar can be used as a stain remover. For this method, use only white vinegar. The following are the steps to removing collar stains with vinegar:

1. Mix two tablespoons of distilled white vinegar with a cup of lukewarm water to form a solution.
2. Apply the solution to the collar stains.
3. Let it sit for 30 minutes.
4. Wash clothes as usual.

Common questions about collar stains

Can jewelry cause collar stains?

Yes, necklaces can stain your collar when they are exposed to your sweat or touch the makeup you’re wearing. In addition, contamination with some chemicals can cause the jewelry to form black discolorations due to oxidation. Jewelry also corrodes, which can also lead to a necklace staining your shirt. 

How can I remove collar stains using shampoo?

Shampoo is mainly used for hair care. However, due to some of its ingredients, shampoo can also serve as a collar stain remover. Most sulfate-based shampoos contain sodium lauryl sulfate. This specific shampoo component acts as a cleansing agent that removes grease.

Since collar stains usually come from body oils, shampoo can be used in removing such stains, working the same way it does when eliminating grease from the hair and scalp. Shampoo also often contains citric acid. Mild acidity can help loosen particles that stick to the collar.

This is how to do it.

1. Get a small amount of shampoo. Use only enough shampoo to cover the stained area.
2. Rub the shampoo on the collar stain and allow it to infiltrate the fabric.
3. Allow it to rest for 5 minutes.
4. Wash your garment.

Does chlorine work with collar stains?

It’s not advisable to use chlorine to remove collar stains. Even though chlorine (sodium hypochlorite) is a common household bleach and is the usual go-to product when dealing with stains on fabric, it won’t necessarily work on collars. Instead of removing the stains, the chlorine will only initiate discoloration.

Sweat proteins from excessive sweating are the usual reason for the formation of collar stains. Chlorine is not designed to battle stains caused by proteins. If you use it on collar stains, the reaction will result in yellowish stains around the collar. An enzyme cleaner is a better choice.

Wrapping Up

Collar stains can be tame but are the kind of stains that add up when ignored for too long. The good news is they are easy to remove with regular concentrated laundry detergent, or with natural remedies like vinegar, lemon juice or salt.