Bacon neck. It’s the dreaded ring of grime that builds up on shirt collars over time. That greasy, discolored ring is caused by a combination of sweat, body oils grooming products and environmental dirt. It’s annoying, unattractive, and can ruin the look of an otherwise nice shirt.
While bacon neck is common on men’s dress shirt collars, it can occur on women’s blouses too The struggle is real Luckily, there are ways to remove bacon neck stains and restore your collars to their original glory.
Causes of Bacon Neck
Before we get into solutions, let’s look at what causes bacon neck in the first place:
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Sweat – The neck area sweats a lot, leading to salt, grime, and oil buildup on collars.
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Grooming products – Hair gels, pomades, and skin lotions get transferred to collars via contact with your neck and shoulders.
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Environmental dirt – General air pollution and dust clings to oily surfaces like shirt collars.
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Body oils – The oils naturally present in skin inevitably get deposited on collars.
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Friction – Constant rubbing of the collar against the neck worsens staining over time.
Understanding the causes can help you prevent and treat bacon neck. Now let’s get into some solutions!
Removing Bacon Neck Stains
Here are the most effective ways to tackle bacon neck and revive your collars:
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Ironing – An iron on a medium-high setting can help lift oil stains from cotton or poly-cotton blend shirts. Place a cloth over the stain and iron until it transfers to the cloth.
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Dry cleaning – Take severely stained shirts to a dry cleaner. They use petroleum-based solvents to break down oils and grease.
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Baking soda – Make a paste of baking soda and water and gently rub it into the stained collar using a toothbrush. Rinse and launder as usual.
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Dish soap – Apply dish soap to the stain and scrub with a soft brush before washing. The surfactants in dish soap cut through grease.
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Oxygen bleaches – Soak collars in an oxygen bleach solution before laundering to lift discoloration and brighten.
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Vinegar – The acidic vinegar helps dissolve oil and grease stains. Soak collars in a vinegar solution prior to washing.
With some elbow grease and these stain-fighting methods, you can successfully remove bacon neck and restore your collars.
Preventing Bacon Neck Buildup
Prevention is equally important in the battle against bacon neck. Here are some tips to keep new stains at bay:
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Allow shirt collars to fully air dry after each wear. Damp collars lead to faster staining.
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Apply grooming products carefully to avoid transfer to collars. Wear an undershirt as a barrier.
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Rinse away sweat after workouts before it dries on collars.
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Wash shirts after every 1 to 2 wears to prevent oil and dirt from setting in.
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Use a collar liner or sweatband under collars. These small cloth inserts act as a sacrificial barrier.
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When possible, pop your collar up to prevent contact with your neck.
With more frequent cleaning and some preventative steps, you can keep new bacon neck stains from taking hold.
When to Toss Out a Collar
If a collar is badly discolored with a thick grease stain or frayed fabric, it may be time to retire it. Bacon neck damage is often permanent on collars made of absorbent fabrics like cotton. If repeated attempts to remove the stains are unsuccessful, it’s best to replace the shirt.
For expensive dress shirts, you can try replacing just the collar. Sew-on collar stays and collar replacement services like Collar Lab are available.
Knowing when to toss a stained collar can save you time and money in the long run.
While annoying, bacon neck doesn’t have to be an inevitable shirt collar affliction. With the right stain removal techniques and preventative steps, you can successfully tackle those pesky grease stains. Keep your dress shirts looking crisp by incorporating these collar cleaning and protection tips into your laundry routine.
