Pollen?!

FTD. One of the best delivery systems around provided a gorgeous arrangement of exotic flowers to SWMBO. The bouquet consisted of Stargazer lillies, baby's breath, and another very fragrant flower.

The timing was spectacular; all the flowers were tightly wrapped buds when they arrived but opened simultaneously three days later to provide a stunning riot of color and scent. Unfortunately, by the fifth day, their beauty started to wax so I was asked to remove the display. Upon picking up said flowers, those lillies puffed-a-huff of pollen. My shirt looked like someone had flipped a tray of yellow and brick red dust across my shoulders and chest.

I wasn't worried; I'd simply remove wash the pollen off in the current load of laundry I was planning to run. Up to the laundry room I trucked with shirt. I set it down and saw the amount of pollen and shook it like a dog does a tugrope. The pollen, instead of flipping across the room adhered like duct tape. I puffed the shirt and flicked the fabric from inside and behind the stain. This removed the top layer but the colors or yellow and brick red were still there. I decided to treat the stain with Shout with Resolve, my newest tough-stain remover. I scrubbed the treatment in and let it set, rinsed the area in cold running water over the laundry sink, and checked it again.

Neon yellow and brick red glared back defiantly.

I grabbed the bottle of Clorox 2 and poured a cap-full directly onto the area and roughly scrubbed the fabric back and forth.

The washing machine's basin was filled with water so I loaded the bin up and looked at the stain on the shirt again. Pale yellow and rose pink were still visible.

I set the shirt into the machine and hoped the agitation cycle would pound the stain out.

When the load had cycled through, I pulled out the shirt. The stains are still there. They're "lighter" but still visible.

Is there another treatment I should be using on pollen? Truly, this is becoming a lesson in frustration.

The Ranger

Reply to
The Ranger
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Extremely frustrating - you fail to mention what material the shirt is made from.

Reply to
Mrs Bonk

Before anything else, put the shirt in the freezer. The color is in fat-soluble carotenoids. If the particles are cold enough, you might be able to knock them off without having them adhere.

Oxygen bleach will remove the color. Oxygen bleach works best during a long soak in hot water.

Reply to
E Z Peaces

Good to know for future problems. Thanks.

The Ranger

Reply to
The Ranger

75% cotton, 25% polyester; knit blend shirt.
Reply to
The Ranger

Did Santa bring you a new shirt? Have you managed to get rid of the stain? If not, how about this?

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Reply to
Mrs Bonk

No; this was a reasonably new shirt that was to last me a while. I wasn't expecting it to be painted with pollen, ruining the shirt.

Alas, no, it's still fighting my every-effort to remove it. I've taken to soaking the shirt in an Oxy-solution, pasted the stains with Oxy-paste, and used this bar-soap that looks like straight lye on it. The stains are both significantly lighter but still stand out in sunlight.

I haven't worn my Deadhead t-shirts in over two decades. I think there's a law, or local ordinance preventing someone approaching 50 from wearing such, even within their own homes.

The Ranger

Reply to
The Ranger

Maybe next time you will be prepared. Some people remove the stamens on the opening of the flower and swear the flower lasts longer. I am surprised that by day five the flowers were past their best. I hope to get a couple of weeks at least from an expensive bunch. Did you change the water?

Oh dear! If I remember rightly you have young children? Or maybe they have grown up, the years fly so fast. Anyway, if you chop off the sleeves and collar the remains will make a nice "artists apron" and the stain won't look out of place.

If you'd deadheaded the flowers before moving them this wouldn't have happened!

Reply to
Mrs Bonk

Usin' plays on words durin' a crisis, is simply a-pollen.

Reply to
kara849

leaf it out!

Reply to
Mrs Bonk

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