Linen Clerical Collars - care and keeping

This video shows the care and keeping of linen clerical collars. Linen collars are substantially more comfortable than plastic collars - especially in a hot and humid climate like southeast Texas. At first, the prospect of cleaning, starching, and ironing the collars seemed daunting to me. However, it turns out it really is not that bad. It takes about an hour of my time over a couple of days (you have to let the collars air dry overnight), and I only have to do that every two or three months. The comfort way outweighs the extra work. Plastic collars are easy to clean, and they always look sharp (unless you leave them in the car in the middle of summer), but they are hot to wear. I can wear a linen collar all day in the middle of summer and never be uncomfortable.
I get my collars from Trevor Floyd. I have found these to be the most comfortable.

[@mdschurchsupplies6133]

Wonderful father. Great work. We at mds have been making Fabric collars out of both Linen and 100% Fine cotton for about 20+ years. I am glad to report that over the years mds has added a mixture of fusing s from different countries to make these collars machine washable. mds collars can simply be thrown in a washing machine and washed. Iron straight out of the washing machine, no need for a dryer. They are so comfortable they will be a treat. modern materials to make perfect clergy collars. Thank you.

[@FrGeorge]

mds churchsupplies , that’s great. I don’t know how anyone wears an acetyl collar. They are so uncomfortable compared to cotton material. Even in the midst of summer I’m comfortable all day in these. Definitely worth the effort for me.

[@chiron14pl]

I completely agree that plastic collars are awful. I use linen collars now and will never use a plastic one. I might use a tab collar, but that's different, for any neck band collar linen is the most comfortable. I normally just wash, dry, and spray starch with a regular iron, but I may try soaking first next time. Thanks for your suggestions, blessings

[@kerrimeyer7629]

Thanks so much for this video, Fr. George. I'll be ordained in a few weeks and just got my linen collars in the mail with no instructions, and they sure didn't cover this in seminary. :) Grateful that you took the time to make this helpful guide.

[@FrGeorge]

Glad you found it helpful! You'll enjoy the comfort of the linen collars for sure. Blessings to you on your ordination!

[@vatsalsaxena8813]

For some unknown reason, I found this entire video strangely satisfying and peaceful on the whole :D

[@BeeBlessedRev]

Amen!!! Appreciate this upkeep video. Blessings,

[@ricardofernandezp.]

Usted tiene una Biblia en español en su librero ;)

[@FrGeorge]

¡Es cierto! Un imprescindible en sureste de Texas

[@ricardofernandezp.]

@@FrGeorge Saludos desde Chile 🇨🇱 Aquí es muy difícil conseguir el collar clerical

[@keylawk]

Thank you!

[@chellychevres2969]

God bless ,thank you

[@rafaelriverosines4289]

Thank you so much Fr!!! your video its so helpful to me!! Really appreciate your work and your time dedicated to make this content!! i'm now subscribed to your channel. Blessings to you and your family.

[@reverendlynda8787]

I found your information fascinating. I currently wear plastic inserts which work for me in the climate I live in. Thank you, Fr George.

[@christophermartin6158]

How do you actually put a linen collar on.

[@FrGeorge]

Well, mine are like any other collar I’ve had. Button hole in the front, two button holes in the back. The starch closes up the holes so I use a collar button to open them up before I put them on for the first time after washing.

[@josephreed2793]

This is so helpful! Thanks for posting. Where do you buy your collars?

[@FrGeorge]

Thank you! I am glad you found it helpful. I get my collars from Trevor Floyd & Co. You can reach them at www.trevorfloyd.com.

[@Herr_Flick_of_ze_Gestapo]

I think you could get a better result. I dont think soaking collars for half an hour will thouroughly clean them. I suggest to boil the collars with detergent and vanish oxy. Let it boil for an hour or so and turn the gass off and let the whole thing cool down over night. Next day you take them out of the pot and you rinse the collars, then dry them completely before dunking them into the starch (the drier they are the more starch will be able to soak in). When they have been soaking in the starch for a while you take them out and wring them out and let them dry for a bit till they are still damp. Then it is time for ironing. Use a normal iron (dont use steam function) and a hard surface. you really got to rub the iron hard and often applying a lot of peasure. This is done to polish the linnen and give it a nice luster. This polished surface will also prevent dirt from staining your collars. In other words you are ironing/polishing the collars untill dry. This is how collars, lace caps, ruffs, cravats etc have been starched for centuries.

[@FrGeorge]

Thank you for your input! The TrevorFloyd collars in the video I've had for about six years. Soaking with OxyClean seems to do a pretty good job. I may try boiling them to see how it looks. I've tried starching dry collars and have not had a good result. They come out flimsy and don't hold up. I have found rinsed well, wrung-out well, but still damp gives a better result. One person suggested I restartch after letting them air dry overnight. I tried that and got a really stiff collar, but it didn't seem to be significant enough improvement over a single starch. I will try what you suggest with the ironing and see how it works.

[@michaelbell3952]

Was able to use this for the cleaning of my detachable collars from England

[@richardobrien2400]

why not just buy a clerical collar and use a tab?

[@dandymillennial7657]

Hi George, the tecnic with cornstarch is the same?

[@FrGeorge]

Yes, it is. Same proportions and technique: 1/2 cup of cornstarch and 1 quart of water. Just be careful when you iron it, the cornstarch will discolor a little easier than the laundry starch.

[@Rich72James]

Do you wipe them after each use, given you wear them several days?

[@revGeoMac]

Nope. I just stick them on my dresser at night, or back in the collar box.

[@Rich72James]

Thanks. Is there any way to get a professional polish/shine on the outside?

[@FrGeorge]

Well, they’re cloth so no real way to shine them. The Argo starch adds a bit of gloss, though.

[@timothyfreeman97]

"To be deep in history is to cease to be protestant". - St. Cardinal John Henry Newman, former Anglican Cleric now convert to the Church of Christ 🇻🇦

[@f.d.english5080]

To much work. Gunna be something else

[@FrGeorge]

F.D. English It’s not so bad once you get in the groove. Aside from waiting for the colors to dry, or to soak in the sink, it takes me about an hour of my time. With seven collars I’m doing that once every three months. I find the comfort worth it.

[@fionafoster9225]

Hahaha

[@fionafoster9225]

Too much work hahaha

[@Herr_Flick_of_ze_Gestapo]

@@fionafoster9225 Laziness is the mother of all evil.