WARM WEATHER STAINS

Antiperspirant and Perspiration - Sometimes yellow or tan stains, streaks, or rings appear after dry cleaning, laundering, or just after a period of time in use or storage. There may also be sudden local color loss areas on or near the neck edge, wrists, and underarm areas of silk blouses or golf shirts.

What Causes Them?
These stains progressively develop on fabric from contact with solutions containing alcohol and/or mild oxidizing agents that are found in perspiration, antiperspirant and deodorant, lotion, perfume, and after shave.

All of these substances have the tendency to "oxidize" over time and turn fabric yellow or brown, or cause colors to fade. The heat used in cleaning, drying and pressing or steaming can accelerate this oxidation; thus these stains may become much more noticeable after cleaning.

Prolonged exposure to antiperspirants, lotions and perfumes may also result in chemical damage to fibers that weakens them and appears as holes or tears around necklines and underarms. Usually the fabric remains intact until the agitation of washing or dry cleaning.

Can They be Prevented?
If these types of stains are removed right away, permanent staining can be prevented. Polo shirts should be washed at home or professionally dry cleaned as soon as possible after a hot day on the golf course.

You can prevent some stains from occurring
" Avoid overuse of deodorants, lotions and perfumes.
" Use a deodorant with a neutral pH instead of an acidic antiperspirant.
" On a hot day of perspiring, remove garments as soon as possible after wear and clean within 24 hours.
" Avoid color reactions by using underarm guards when wearing silk.
If you note any color changes, it may be too late. Bring the garment to your neighborhood Lapels Dry Cleaner right away and he or she will tell you if it is irreversible color loss.