How to Get Out Dress Shirt Scorches & Stains

An iron stain on your dress shirt creates an eyesore.

Brown, iron-shaped stains on your dress shirt make it look less than professional. Scorch marks from a too-hot or dirty clothes iron on a dress shirt are probably the last thing you need when getting ready to leave the house. These marks are hard to hide and best treated while fresh. A fast response on your part, coupled with the right stain removal techniques and supplies, will help you tackle the scorch mark stains and remove them successfully.

Things You'll Need

• Cornstarch
• 2 bowls
• Eye dropper
• Hydrogen peroxide
• Ammonia
• Laundry detergent
• Oxygen bleach

Instructions

1. Dampen the scorched area of the dress shirt with water. Sprinkle cornstarch over the stain to cover it completely. Let the cornstarch dry on the surface of your dress shirt, and then brush it off into the trash.

2. 

   An eye dropper provides precision in treating the scorch mark.

   Treat any remaining scorch mark stains on the dress shirt by moistening them with a few drops of hydrogen peroxide, followed by a few drops of ammonia. Use an eye dropper to place the peroxide and ammonia directly on the scorch stains. Allow the combination to soak into the fabric for a few minutes for a light stain and up to one hour for a darker stain. Add a few more drops of peroxide, followed by ammonia, to keep the fabric moist the entire time.

3. Wash your dress shirt in the washing machine, using laundry detergent and oxygen bleach to remove the substances used to take out the scorch mark stain.

Tips & Warnings

• Treat a light scorch mark stain by brushing it with a cloth dampened with white vinegar. Swipe at the stain again and again until it's lifted.

• Clean your iron once every two weeks to prevent stains caused by the iron. Wipe off the iron plate with vinegar and a clean cloth.

• Keep the iron moving as you're ironing. Lingering a few seconds too long with a hot iron results in burn marks on clothing.

References

• Good Housekeeping: Stain Busters: Iron Scorch Marks
• Reader's Digest: Discover New Ways to Use Cornstarch