The limits of dry cleaning (or how a cat might have ruined a favourite shirt).

[Edward]

One of my cats is a bit of a rip, and when she decides her human servants have failed to refresh the litter tray in time, will demonstrate her displeasure through the medium of urinating on the laundry pile. Unfortunately, the most recent episode has resulted in rather an unpleasant stain on the cuff of one of my nicer workshirts - to add insult to injury, I'd only worn it a couple of times too. It's not obviously a pee stain, but a large portion of the cuff now looks permanently grubby. I had it dry cleaned in the hotel here in Beijing, and it's not shifted.... Should I try a specialist cleaner when I'm back in London, does anyone have any tips, or is it time to accept defeat and crack out the black Dylon?

 

[Patrick Hall]

oxygen bleach works wonders, and is color safe. Give it a six hour soak, and I expect the stain will come right out!

 

[robrinay]

Colourless - (White) vinegar removes the smell of cat pee if that's a problem - just soak the cuff and then wash it as normal.

 

[Dreamofgilgamesh]

I'm confused, not hard for me. Do you mean you've taken your cat on holiday with you to Peking?

 

[Edward]

oxygen bleach works wonders, and is color safe. Give it a six hour soak, and I expect the stain will come right out!

Thanks, I'll look into that.

Colourless - (White) vinegar removes the smell of cat pee if that's a problem - just soak the cuff and then wash it as normal.

Fortunately no problem with smell, just a stain.

I'm confused, not hard for me. Do you mean you've taken your cat on holiday with you to Peking?

Ha, no... I laundered a previously peed-upon shirt to wear out here, and only discovered the grubby mark on the cuff when I put it on on Monday. Had it dry-cleaned in the hotel, but that's not lifted the mark on the cuff.

 

[Eddie Derbyshire]

Try Tea-Tree wipes. I've had success with them, and not just on greasy stains. Worth a shot, and they are low risk!

 

[Edward]

Thanks, Eddie - I'll give those a go too.

 

[Rabbit]

Urine stain on a shirt? Ideally machine washing, else washing by hand. Wet the whole cuff and rub some detergent into it before washing with either method. Add any of the special stuff mentioned by the others if it doesn't work the first time.
I assume you went to the cleaners because living in a hotel that's the more convenient method? Anyway, urine is water-soluble and ideally suited for washing with water. Dry cleaners do add a tiny amount of detergent to their solutions in order to account for water-soluble stains (which generally works fine) but with a washable garment washing will still yield much better results. In fact, any of the three things that might come out of a cat would be a case for water washing aided by some added detergent rubbed into the stain.

 

[WideBrimm]

If all else fails you can always wear the shirt for very "casual" wear, perhaps with a favorite beater hat , or just donate it to a thrift shop.

 

[Edward]

The fall back plan is to have the sleeves hemmed and wear it casually...

Rabbit, it was laundered at home in the machine before I left, then I found the stain when I got over there, so sent it to the in-house dry cleaner. Could have had it machine laundered, but dry-cleaning is usually my first resort forf awkward stains, usually works. At the weekend we bought some 'Stain Devils', a brand I recognised, and they have one for "Urine", so hopefully that will shift it, or I'll start trying the other recommendations.

 

[Rodney]

Cats are fun that way. Hopefully the stain hasn't been set by heating it up. I generally have good luck with stains by rubbing in a good strong detergent before washing. Tide is the brand I prefer here. I don't know what the equivalent would be in the U.K.
I know there are enzyme based cleaners for things like urine too but I haven't tried any. They may be more for removing odor though.
Good luck with it and let us know what works or doesn't.
Rodney