Homemade laundry prespot spray - LOVE this stuff - it gets the

[kestrel91316]

black dirt on cuffs and collars like nothing else!

1/2 c dish detergent (I use Planet - it's unscented and dye free)
1/2 c non-sudsy ammonia
1/2 c water (I use my Brita filtered water)

Mix and put in spray bottle. I spray trouble spots on my laundry about 10 minutes before it goes in the wash so it has a little time to soak in and work.

[Lars39]

1. l used equal parts ammonia, whisk and vinegar for years.

It got out *everything*.

[silverweb]

2. Thanks!

Sure could have used this yesterday, but now I'll be ready for anything. :D

[Curmudgeoness]

3. I need this. I have ground in dirt that is just not coming out.

Jammies have ring around the collar, towels have dirt that I can't get out, washcloths are dirty.

But I have a question---do you not rinse this before you put the clothes in the washer? You add the dish detergent and ammonia in the washer with the laundry detergent?

[kestrel91316]

4. You mix the 3 listed ingredients and put them in the spray bottle.

Before traipsing to the laundry room, go through your basket, spraying liberally any ring around the collar, dirty cuffs, spilled food, etc. Toss the clothes back into the basket. Then shlep with the basket AAAAAALLLLLLL the way (100 yards) to the newly refurbished apartment building laundry room with its spiffy new washers and dryers. Put your Seventh Generation or Planet liquid laundry detergent in the washer and toss the clothes in. Add money and turn 'er on.

Oh and don't forget to label that spray bottle "Laundry Pre-Spotter" before you put it away under the kitchen sink.

No rinsing. The washer will do that after the wash cycle, silly!

(basically the pre-spot needs a few minutes of contact to start working before you actually launder)

[Curmudgeoness]

5. Thanks for the detailed instructions.

I think your laundry is closer than mine. I know it feels like it to me---2 flights of stairs from upstairs to the basement. And back again up to put clothes away, and back again to add vinegar to the rinse and up again to put more clothes away and... you get the point. But I got it. Spray on, let it sit a little while, wash as usual. Laundry day is coming up and I will be trying this.

[Paper Roses]

6. Is the dish soap an important part of this this or can you use the

detergent that will be used for the load of clothes?
I really am interested in this. Hope it will cure the grubby cuff problem. O always wear white blouses and the cuffs never seem to come clean.
Thanks,
PR

[kestrel91316]

7. The dish detergent is a critical ingredient. Laundry detergent in the washer is inadequate,

as evidenced by the black collar and cuff buildup if I don't prespot. Chemically they are different, though I don't know the details. And the ammonia mixed with it really seems to penetrate where it's sprayed.

[Paper Roses]

8. I tried your magic potion and was very satisfied but I found a bonus.

I had picked up a great shirt at a yard sale. It is from South America and has all kinds of native embroidery on it. There was a spot on the shoulder that did not come out initially. Looked like some kind of a tomato based stain. First wash did a great job but left a shadow of the stain.
I sprayed the shirt again and put it directly in the sun for a few hours. Bingo, spot gone.
Washed it again and it looks like new.
No problem with the colorful embroidery. Looks like new.
Thanks.