How to Clean Shirt Cuffs

Take care of stubborn cuff stains.

Shirt collars and cuffs are subject to staining from sweat and other substances like dirt. Unfortunately, the location and structure of shirt cuffs can make it difficult to get a stain out. When you combine the difficulty of the stain's position with the substances in sweat, like urea, keeping cuffs clean can be a difficult job. However, there are ways that you can restore the cuffs back to their original shape.

Things You'll Need

• Spray-on stain remover
• Soft-bristle brush
• 4 tbsp. baking soda
• 1/4 cup warm water
• 1 tsp. white vinegar

Instructions

1. Straighten out the fabric of the cuff so that no wrinkles block portions of the fabric from the cleaning solutions.

2. Apply a spray-on stain-removing solution directly to the cuffs.

3. Scrub the stain remover into the fabric of the cuff with a soft-bristle brush, such as an old toothbrush. The bristles help loosen unwanted substances from the fabric so they are more easily rinsed away.

4. Place the shirt in the washer and run a cold wash with your regular detergent. Do not dry the shirt, as heat can set the stain if the stain remover was not enough to fully clean the cuff.

5. Remove the shirt from the washer. If the cuffs are not clean, move on to baking soda. Mix 4 tbsp. of baking soda with 1/4 cup of warm water to create a paste. Apply the paste liberally to the stained areas of the shirt cuff.

6. Apply 1 tsp. of white vinegar to the baking-soda-treated areas. Scrub the area with your brush to release any remaining stains.

7. Put the shirt through a second normal wash cycle. If the stain disappears, place the shirt in the dryer at the appropriate dryer setting for the fabric type, or hang it up to air or sun dry. If the stain remains, try again before drying.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not treat the cuffs of a shirt made from silk or rayon. These fabrics should be dry cleaned to avoid ruining them.

• Always test cleaning agents on an inconspicuous area first to ensure the agent does not ruin or alter the fabric.

References

• Champion Cleaners: Cleaning Cuffs and Collars -- Care of Blouses, Shirts & Sweaters
• Planet Laundry: Wash With Wally -- Cleaning Cuffs and Collars
• House Cleaning Central: Tips on Removing Sweat, Perspiration and Deodorant Stains