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Maintain Clean Shirt Collars All Summer Long With A Nifty Rubbing Alcohol Trick

Sweat, product buildup, and the yucky reality of dead skin cells join forces to create dreaded ring-around-the-collar on our shirts. Since these are some of the toughest laundry stains, it's smart to take steps to avoid them in the first place. There's a good reason why the refrain "prevention is key" is so popular. A quick swipe of a cotton ball or pad soaked in rubbing alcohol around your neck takes just seconds and can rid you of one of your laundry woes. Plus, rubbing alcohol's cooling effect is a stimulating sensation at the start of a hot summer day.

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Just make sure that you use a safe amount of rubbing alcohol to avoid mild dryness as well as the possibility of rashes and further irritation. Using a conservative concentration of this liquid is a must, no matter what type of skin you have. To keep collars clean, adding this trick into a rotation with other preventative measures can keep stains and skin irritation at bay. Yet, only try this if you don't have eczema or overly dry or sensitive skin.

How to use rubbing alcohol to cut stain-causing grime

There are many clever ways to use rubbing alcohol around the house, cleaning everything from electronics to wounds. However, make sure that you purchase rubbing alcohol that consists of 70% isopropyl alcohol for this tip. Rubbing alcohol is isopropyl alcohol that's usually diluted with 30% water, a proportion that maintains its benefits while diminishing some of its harshness on skin. 

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Inexpensive and simple, this two-ingredient stain preventer can be a handy part of your daily routine. With a rubbing alcohol-soaked cotton ball, wipe all areas of your neck that your collar touches. Enjoy the coolness as the rubbing alcohol dries, knowing that you've gotten rid of some of the unwanted substances that stick to collars. The alcohol cleans the area of dirt and excess oils, and the cotton ball may help whisk away dead skin. However, if you're concerned about drying out or irritating your skin, you may not want to use this method every day. Maybe you're interested in trying this easy tip, but you have concerns about the negative effects of rubbing alcohol on your skin. Try some ideas below using alternative oily-skin remedies. What if you're too late, and your collars are already sporting ugly marks? Try this secret ingredient that'll eliminate stains around your collars!

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Other methods for skin-safe collar stain prevention

Although refreshing, the rubbing alcohol collar stain treatment is not for everyone. If you have sensitive skin or are concerned about possible irritation from rubbing alcohol, professional cleaners have other suggestions for preventing collar stains. A facial wipe formulated for oily skin can reap some of the same benefits as rubbing alcohol. Try these from Yes to Cucumbers.

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You can control collar stains by wearing shirts only once before washing them and limiting products you put on your neck, like perfumes or lotions. Physical guards are also a top way to keep stains off of collars. Amazon sells adhesive collars and tapes that absorb dirt and sweat instead of your clothes. If you don't live in an area with extremely hot summers, or if you spend lots of time in air conditioning, wearing a scarf between your skin and collar could also be an option.

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