The perfect whites stain removal hack does exist, and it's simpler than you think

The anticipation of a new school year can quickly turn sour when parents face the seemingly endless battle against stains, particularly the dreaded white-collar grime on school uniforms. This frustration was all too real for one parent, whose son's brand-new high school shirts were already marred by unsightly stains.

"We have bought 5 new tops and 3 of them already have a disgusting collar," she vented in a Facebook group dedicated to cleaning and organisation tips. "Any hacks or best products to use to remove them and prevent them?"

The floodgates opened with fellow parents coming to the rescue, with stain removal suggestions pouring in. From dishwashing liquid to scrubbing with a nail brush and spraying with stain remover, the list seemed endless.

Sard Wonder Stick, Aldi DiSan prewash stain spray, and Vanish Oxy Action powder all came through as popular contenders.

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"Using a sard stick and a nail brush is the way to go," one responder advised, while others recommended soaking in sard spray for a few hours and then scrubbing.

"Just soaking won't lift the stains," one person wrote, while another added, "I use sard spray, leave it to sit a couple of hours, wet the area and scrub. I'll repeat if needed. Teens sweat a lot, and this is how this discolouration happens."

Some even suggested more heavy-duty solutions, like mechanic's degreaser and kitchen soap, a combo they claimed could break down skin and fat oils.

In addition to spot treatments, preventative measures were suggested with several people emphasising the importance of good hygiene, advising the parent to ensure her son was washing his neck thoroughly in the shower to avoid the stains in the first place.

And once you get it clean, you want it to stay that way! "Use sneaker protector and scotch guard spray on the neck, armpits and down the front where you would drop food. Reapply once a month," someone suggested to ensure ongoing stain prevention.

Does the ultimate stain removal hack exist?

According to Mise en Place's Queen of the Declutter, Anita Birges it does! We caught up with Anita to discover the ultimate solution for getting rid of stubborn white collar grime stains for good...and her solution is simpler than you think!

"My kids started in white polos in primary school," Anita told Yahoo Lifestyle, "so I had a head start in learning how to get rid of stains from white shirts.

Here's the deal: there's a slight technique variation for tackling white collar stains, depending on your child's gender. For boys, it's usually sweat. But for girls, particularly teen girls, it's often a mix of makeup, skincare, and sweat that requires a slightly different approach.

Here's a step-by-step guide to Anita's method:

1. Dishwashing Liquid: First, grab your trusty dishwashing liquid. Anita swears by Dawn, available on Amazon, or Fairy, which is a decent equivalent.

2. Mixing Solution: Create a mixture with a ratio of 2:1 (2 parts hydrogen peroxide, 1 part dishwashing liquid) in a small container. Use a toothbrush or small scrubbing brush specifically from the laundry section of your local supermarket to mix the solution. Avoid abrasive brushes from hardware stores, as they can damage your clothes. Hydrogen Peroxide can be purchased for less than $5 from the laundry aisle of most big supermarkets.

3. Application: Using the toothbrush, spread a tablespoon's worth of the paste along the stain evenly.

4. Waiting Period: Allow the paste to sit for a good 45 minutes.

5. Washing: Finally, put the item through a regular wash cycle with other whites like sheets or towels, but do not tumble dry.

Pro Tip: Do not use a clothes dryer after washing, as the heat can set and embed the stain. Instead, lay it flat or hang it in the sun, which naturally bleaches and freshens.

For girls: Before proceeding with the above steps, dab the stain with micellar water on a makeup remover pad, ensuring you dab rather than rub. Then, follow the same process.

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