Do you think the dry cleaner may have "absent mindedly" boxed them up untouched. I'd pay them a visit.

I would take them back to the cleaners and either get a refund or insist that they clean them properly "on the house". If you try to rewash them, it gives them an out, saying it was something you did.

They should do do-overs w/o question until u r satisfied. Unfold shirts in front of them and examine. If they give u grief change cleaners. Don't waste money on .99 cleaners either. They use & reuse chemicals way longer that should and that may b stale petroleum related smell u detect.

Sin..u around? What's your take on this?

They offered to rewash and press but I think I'm better off rewashing myself. Just not sure how grease stains will go after being dried then pressed. 10 shirts at around $50 each... They're 100% cotton and heavy weight. OK to boil wash? Would Mama's beloved phosphate help w grease and yellowing?

Husband was working on a cruise ship laundry program. His answer was commercial solvent and hope it doesn't eat holes. Really wanted sane people advice.

Mama has her methods and no doubt they will work. i use an oxiclean. Cold water soak with ample water overnight. then a hot water wash with an enzyme setergent, like Persil 2 in 1 or other. That method whitened pillow covers which are notorious. simple, but effective.

The shirts are all white. I pretreated the stains with Persil 2 in 1 and have them soaking in stock pots, warm water, some borax and oxygen bleach. I will wash them in the morning. How much STPP is added to a full load? I'm not very optomistic as the persil and a scrub brush has done little to shift them. I think being pressed was the end but might as well try.

Sandy nothing short of hot water and lots of it is going to shift that grease/oil..stpp..top loader I'd go for maybe 1/4 cup...but even more important is hot water..cold, cool or warm will not remove cooked on grease...I know you can do this..its just a matter of making sure the water is hot and you keep changing and repeating the process...this will take time, I'm concentrating on getting the grease out first ..the whitening will come after that.

My patience expired. Boil wash it is :)

Okie-dokie...but remember modern day textiles were not crafted to withstand those kinds of temps...I wish you good luck..I'd probably do it myself lol.

No comment on washing methods, just a warning about proceeding on your own: I highly recommend you let the cleaners have a 2nd chance at cleaning them before you have a go. If you proceed to wash them and they are still ruined, you will have a hard time getting the dry cleaner to compensate you. You need to leave them in the condition in which the cleaner delivered them if you want to seek any sort of compensation from the cleaner. Just something to consider.

The shirts have been saved :).

So what did you do?

Sandy, inquiring minds want to know, lol...What did you do?

When I mentioned above about being careful with boil washes, it was simply because todays fabrics are not like yesteryears, most of them can't handle temps that high. I do some boil washes occasionally on vintage linen or pillowcases from the 70's that have a tremendous amount of waxy build up..or something that all else has failed so its a last resort.. I knew you could do this, personally I would have returned them to the cleaners and told them this is unacceptable, and you want them cleaned properly and you want a store credit for the next load you bring in to compensate you for your time and fuel costs. But since you saved them, in the end it all came out in the wash lol..and you probable have great satisfaction that you saved them..good job Sandy.

Sandy...glad you got the spots out! WTG!

My take on it is return them to the dry cleaner. They are ultimately responsible. Accept their rewash and press, and if they are not returned to acceptable results they will need to replace.

Can,t imagine what could of happened. Generally cotton dress is wet washed in a fairly aggressive manor, bleached, soured, and starched, dryer and finished. Most always a one shot detergent is used!

You can rewash at home, HOT WATER 120-140F, skip the enzyme detergent and use Tide with Bleach, or the Sears Ultra plus, STPP, Borax, and Oxi Clean. You want as much alkalinity as store bought can give you. Double rinse and an ounce or two of liquid starch as sizing in the final rinse. Dry slightly damp and press.

All I can say is what a lousy professional cleaner!

The soaking did nothing. Washed them at 205 with dishwasher detergent and a little dish soap on the spots. Suds were scary but Voila! As for returning to the cleaners, they offered to send to main cleaners but husband leaves again for 2 weeks tomorrow. So, we would've ended up buying new shirts anyway.

He hates to shop and always buys very good quality. Shirts came out just fine.

Did you take pictures of their poor job? I would have really wanted them to see there offense.

The counter lady was aware of how bad they were. The weird part was they still smelled like a 3rd world country.

Yep dishwasher detergent as strong as it gets!