How to Remove Yellow Stains From Collars

How to Remove Yellow Stains From Collars
Published: Nov 20, 2010
Updated: Nov 20, 2021
2 minute read

Things You Will Need

  • Bleach-free liquid laundry detergent
  • Clean cloth
  • Baking soda
  • Dish soap
  • Hair shampoo
  • Lemon

Rather than relying on dry cleaners fix it for a fee or buying new clothing, there are several methods that can leave your collar clean and your pocketbook full.

  1. Pretreat the stain with a bleach-free liquid laundry detergent that boasts protein-based stain fighting ingredients. Work the detergent into the collar with a clean cloth or use your fingers and allow it to sit for at least 15 minutes before laundering.

  2. Mix equal parts baking soda and water to form a paste. Add more baking soda as needed, to ensure that the consistency is thick, yet workable. Dip a clean, damp cloth into the paste and scrub it gently into the stain, leaving it to rest for 20 minutes before laundering.

  3. Saturate the stained area with liquid dish soap or shampoo and allow it to soak for 30 minutes, up to an hour before rinsing it off with warm water and laundering it.

  4. Slice a lemon in half and squeeze the juice directly onto the stain, making sure to saturate it thoroughly. Place the garment out in direct sunshine for at least an hour. The combination of the acidity of the lemon and the sunlight will help to bleach the stain out.

Tips

Visually inspect the collar upon taking the shirt out of the washing machine, and attempt to remove the stain again, if it is still there.

Heat from the dryer may set the stain permanently, making it impossible to remove. Be sure to eliminate the stain before drying it.

Warnings

Chlorine bleach can make the stain worse and should be avoided.

Photo Credits

T-shirt image by Antonio Oquias from Fotolia.com

T-shirt image by Antonio Oquias from Fotolia.com

Melynda Sorrels

Melynda Sorrels spent 10 years in the military working in different capacities of the medical field, including dental assisting, health services administration, decontamination and urgent medical care. Awarded the National Guardsman’s…

Sponsored
HomeSteady Logo

HomeSteady is the ultimate guide for all your household needs, from cleaning and HVAC to electrical, DIY and maintenance.

Property of TechnologyAdvice. © 2026 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.