How to remove deodorant stains from clothes

by Abbas Jahangir · July 10, 2024

With all the advantages of using antiperspirant, one significant drawback can be highlighted – these are the white marks that it leaves on clothes. Fresh stains are easier to remove, for example, by wiping with a damp cloth.

And you can wash out deodorant stains that have already become ingrained using both folk methods and household chemicals.

What you need to know before breeding

When removing white streaks from antiperspirant, you need to consider how much dirt has been absorbed into the fibers. There are also a number of other recommendations:

When treating a dirty area, apply the product and clean, moving towards the center from the edges. Do not pull or crush the material.
When processing delicate fabrics, use a brush with soft bristles, for denser fabrics – a medium-hard brush. Clean from the reverse side.
Wash items with deodorant stains in water no hotter than 30˚C. Otherwise, the stains will penetrate deep into the structure of the material.
First test the selected cleaners on the inside seam or inside pocket.
During the work, place a transparent plastic bag or non-fading fabric under the stain. Then the other part of the product will not get dirty.
After removing underarm stains, the garment should be washed twice and rinsed well.

The choice of stain remover for antiperspirant, as well as for removing sweat stains , depends on the type and color of the fabric.

Household chemicals

Methods with detergents help get rid of yellow and white deodorant stains if they are not too old.

Mix washing powder and water until it becomes a paste. Rub the resulting paste into the dirty area with a brush or sponge. After it dries, wash it.
Laundry soap is suitable for cleaning black clothes. Prepare a soap solution from soap shavings. Rub the dirty area with the remaining bar and soak in the soap solution. After 30-40 minutes, wash by hand or machine.
Soak the sponge in the soap solution. Prepare another one from a teaspoon of salt per 150-200 ml of water. Soak the soap sponge in the salt solution and rub the stain. Repeat the procedure 2-3 times. After 10-20 minutes, wash the product as usual.

Folk methods

In the fight against white spots

Moisten fresh marks with lemon juice. After 10-15 minutes, rinse the item in water no hotter than 40˚C.
White marks sometimes remain on clothes immediately after putting them on. Wipe them off with a nylon stocking or sock rolled into a ball.
On black clothes, any gentle liquid detergent, even baby shampoo, will cope with deodorant stains. Apply it to the stained area. After 5-7 minutes, soak the item for 1.5-2 hours. Then wash by hand or in the machine.
Apply vodka to the stained area. After 10-30 minutes, wash the item as usual. Denatured or medical alcohol can be used instead of vodka. Mix one of them with water (1:1).
Old deodorant stains on colored clothing can be removed with dishwashing liquid. Apply it to a foam sponge and rub from the edge to the middle. After an hour, a regular wash will be required.

What to do with yellow marks?

In the fight against them, various substances that any housewife has in her kitchen and medicine cabinet can be used.

9% vinegar

Apply it with a foam sponge. Waiting time for the vinegar to act varies from half an hour to 12 hours. It all depends on how old the stain is. Then wash the item by hand or in the machine. This method is only suitable for light and natural fabrics, dark ones may lose color.

Ammonia (25%) + soda

Mix a teaspoon of each product in a glass of water.
Apply the resulting mixture to the stained area using a foam sponge.
After 10-40 minutes, wash the item. The time it takes to soak the solution depends on the degree of contamination.

Hydrogen peroxide (3%)

Wet the ingrained stain with it. After 2-3 hours, wash the item twice. The method is only suitable for white clothes.

Hydrogen peroxide + water (for light colored clothes)

Add hydrogen peroxide (1 tablespoon) to a glass of water at room temperature. Soak the problem areas in it for 15-35 minutes. Then wash as usual and rinse thoroughly.

Hydrogen peroxide + dishwashing gel + soda

Prepare a solution of hydrogen peroxide (4 tablespoons), soda (2 tablespoons) and dishwashing gel (1 teaspoon).
Rub the resulting mixture into the stained area with a sponge.
After 1.5-2 hours, wash as usual.

After using peroxide, items must be rinsed very thoroughly. Since it is not rinsed completely, it will eventually give the fabric a yellow tint, especially after drying in the sun.

Salt

Removes white and yellow stains from light and dark items.

Wet the stain with clean water. Rub a pinch of salt into it. Wait 10-12 hours. Then wet again, brush and wash.

Salt + ammonia

Suitable for removing white and yellow stains from dark and light clothes. Prepare a solution of salt (teaspoon), ammonia (teaspoon) + water (tablespoon). Apply it to the stains. After 10-20 minutes, wash as usual.

Salt + lemon juice

Dampen the stain with lemon juice. Sprinkle it with salt and rub it in with a soft-bristled brush, such as a toothbrush. Once the stain has lightened, wash the item as usual.

Soda

The method is applicable only to light-colored items. Prepare a paste of soda and water. When applying it, rub the stain with a brush. After the mixture dries completely, shake it off and wash the item.

Toothpaste (single color)

Applicable only to light-colored items. Apply a drop of toothpaste to the stain. Rub it into the fabric for 20-40 seconds. Brush off after it dries completely. Wash the item as usual.

Aspirin

Dissolve 2 tablets in a glass of water. Apply the solution to the stained area with a brush or sponge. As soon as the item begins to dry, moisten it again with the aspirin solution. Repeat the procedure for 2-3 hours. Then simply wash.

To prevent white spots from appearing, you should put on clothes only after the applied deodorant has completely dried.