Life in the Pits: Whites and Wrongs
Dear Fashion Police: I read the letter from “No Sweat” who had written a few weeks ago about the underarms in her jacket linings, and I have a dilemma I hope you can solve. I love white shirts and wear cotton or cotton/lycra T-shirts in the summer, crisp white cotton shirts in spring and snug white mock turtlenecks in winter. My problem is that after one season, the armholes become yellow and the shirt is unwearable.
Like “No Sweat,” I also do not have a perspiration problem. Could these stains be caused by my deodorant? I have tried washing, bleaching and soaking my shirts in vinegar, but still they look terrible. Short of buying new shirts all the time, what can I do?
--NOT SO MELLOW YELLOW
Dear Mellow: We took your question to Andrea Ross, head of wardrobe for CBS-TV in New York. We found Ross on an episode of “Martha Stewart Living” demonstrating nifty stain-removal tips. She even astounded Martha, which is no easy feat. For that reason, we consider her the Goddess of Stain Removal.
Ross suggested first dabbing the stained area with ice. This, she said, opens up the fibers of the fabric, making it easier for cleaning solutions to go in. Hot water actually seals the stain, so avoid it.
Next, mix a solution of 8 ounces of cold water and 1 teaspoon of vinegar. Dab--never rub--this mixture on the stain with an absorbent white cotton cloth. Let it sit for a minute, and then repeat the process.
If that doesn’t take the yellow out, Ross said to try a solid stain remover such as Spray ‘N Wash or Magic Wand (the latter can be found at fabric stores; we found it at International Silks and Woolens in Los Angeles). She also recommended one liquid--Wisk Away, which comes in spray or pourable forms.
“The solids are a little more concentrated than sprays,” Ross explained, “and because you rub them in, [the solids] work inside the fabric.” (She added that Magic Wand also works well on shirt collar stains.) Start treating your shirts as soon as you notice the yellowing--don’t wait.
We’ve found that bleach, while it may whiten a garment, doesn’t always remove stains, especially from perspiration.
Other tips she passed along include dabbing some talcum powder with a powder puff right on the underarm area before you put the shirt on. This might protect the fabric from perspiration or harsh deodorant chemicals.
Between wearings, wash your shirts with Ivory Snow or Woolite. And remember: no hot water on those stains--ever!
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Dear Fashion Police: It really irks me to waste lipstick, cover-up and other cosmetics in swivel containers. There’s at least a half-inch of product left in the bottom of the tube--I suspect for the purpose of preventing breakage.
Why can’t someone invent a little wheel in the base of the tube that will swivel up the remaining amount? They do this in some deodorants. Surely some bright design or engineering student can figure out a way to accomplish this with cosmetics.
I really resent paying nearly $20 for a tube of lipstick only to have to throw some of it out. Got any ideas that would help?
--STUCK WITH THE STICK
Dear Stuck: We sure do. It’s a trick we learned from countless makeup artists who all seem to use this technique.
You can use a small brush (some stores sell lipstick brushes for this purpose) to get out the bottom-of-the-tube lipstick, using the brush as an applicator.
Some makeup artists also take a little knife and dig out the remainder, then place it in a palette box found at art stores (Make sure the box has a lid, so the lipsticks don’t dry out.) Again, apply the lipstick with a brush. Both techniques will also work for stick concealers.
From the Fashion Police Blotter: Don’t forget, we still want your ideas on how celebs should dress for those televised award shows that seem to be popping up every week. Give us your ideas on what the stars do right and wrong, and how you’d dress them if you could. The address and fax are below. We’re waiting.
When reporting or preventing a fashion crime, write to Fashion Police, Los Angeles Times, Times Mirror Square, Los Angeles, CA 90053, or fax to (213) 237-0732.
