How to remove sweat stains from armpits: 21 proven methods

If your dark clothing tends to show white spots, there could be several reasons for this. Unlike lighter colored clothing, which is more susceptible to stains from obvious dark culprits such as protein stains, dark clothing is much more likely to hide dark stains but make white stains very obvious.

How to remove sweat marks on white clothes

Vodka and vinegar. You will need either vodka or vinegar, whatever you have on hand. Take the liquid and mix with water in a 1:1 ratio. Apply the resulting composition to contaminated areas of clothing. After waiting a few minutes, wash as usual. Attention! Vinegar can only be used on thick cotton fabric.
Aspirin. Aspirin will not harm the skin and will help get rid of unpleasant odors on clothes made of any material. It effectively removes underarm stains on white and colored items. Take aspirin and grind 2-3 tablets. Then dilute it in 100 ml of warm water. Moisten the areas of clothing under the arms with a solution containing aspirin and leave for 3 hours. Next, you need to wash off the aspirin and wash your clothes as usual.

Aspirin will help get rid of old spots under the arms. Dilute several crushed tablets with water to obtain a paste. Apply it again to the dirty area and wait about an hour. Then wash your clothes.

Hydrogen peroxide. Peroxide can remove dirt under the arms on a white cloth. You need to take 2 teaspoons of hydrogen peroxide and dilute it in a liter of water. Soak the stained areas in the resulting liquid. The required time for exposure is half an hour. Next, simply wash your clothes. It is better to rinse the laundry several times so that no peroxide remains. The procedure will not harm your skin or tissue.
Baking soda. It is recommended to mix soda with water in a ratio of 4 tablespoons per quarter cup. The resulting paste can be applied to the stains using a soft brush. After an hour, the item needs to be washed.
Soda, salt and soap. Yellow sweat stains will disappear from white fabric if you rub them with colorless liquid soap, fine salt and soda. Mix all ingredients to obtain a thick mixture. Apply to areas under the arms using rubbing movements. After half an hour, rinse and wash the item. This option can be used even if you want to remove underarm stains on silk or woolen clothes.
Lemon acid. Ordinary citric acid will help get rid of sweat residue on clothes. Dissolve one teaspoon of lemon juice with a glass of water. Apply to stains and wait two hours. Next, wash your items as usual.
Salt and ammonia. A mixture of salt and ammonia will help get rid of stains under the arms. For one glass of water, take one spoon of ammonia and salt. Use a brush to work the product into the fibers of the fabric. Wash after half an hour.
Laundry soap. To remove old sweat marks from cotton fabric, boil the laundry with laundry soap. Finely grate the soap so that you get half a glass of soap crumbs. Pour it into a metal container, add water and boil things over low heat. Don't forget to stir constantly. The process will take about three hours.

Why do white spots appear on clothes?

White spots of a blurred shape appear on clothes during profuse sweating. The main function of sweating is thermoregulation. At low temperatures, when it is cold, the removal of fluid slows down significantly. Against the backdrop of hot weather conditions, on the contrary, it increases significantly. Sweat prevents the skin from overheating and burning. White deposits on clothes are salts that have settled in the tissues after the evaporation of liquids.

On average, an adult produces up to 500 ml of sweat every day. During hot times of the day, during illness, as well as in people with excessive sweating, the amount of sweat produced can be significantly higher.

Sweat has the following composition (main elements):

lactic/uric acid;
sulfuric acid;
phosphates;
calcium salts;
urea;
ammonia;
amino acids;
fatty acid.

Sweat glands are located throughout the body, but their main location is the groin area and armpits. Often white spots on clothes appear in the lower back, on the collar, and in the chest area.

It is worth noting that white stains from sweat can become so ingrained that they can only be removed with professional chemicals (for example, “Vanish”). In simple cases, improvised means, for example, laundry soap or baking soda, may be suitable.

Fresh stains are best washed. If the fabric is hypersensitive to certain types of mineral compounds, the salt can “eat away” the color and a stain will form on the clothing that cannot be removed.

How to remove traces of sweat on colored items

It is more difficult to remove stains from colored fabrics than from light-colored clothes. It is important not to spoil either the color or the material. That is why you cannot apply methods suitable for white things to it.

Before using any stain removal option, try applying the product to the most inconspicuous area of your clothing. If the material has not changed its color or structure within 15 minutes, you can safely use the following methods.

Vinegar. To remove sweat stains on colored items, mix 2 tablespoons of vinegar and 6 liters of water. Soak the clothes in the resulting liquid for half an hour. Then you need to remove the remaining stains with ammonia mixed with water in a 2:1 ratio.
White spirit and ammonia. A solution of white spirit and ammonia in a ratio of 4:2 can remove traces of sweat and grease on colored items made from natural fabric. Apply the liquid to the stain, but do not rub it in. Leave the item for an hour and a half, then rinse the laundry several times in warm water.
Egg yolk and denatured alcohol. You need to take denatured alcohol and egg yolk in equal proportions and mix them. Apply to stains, and after 30 minutes, rinse with cool water and wash.
Alcohol. To remove a sweat stain from a colored item, mix one part 96% alcohol with two parts water. Spread the solution evenly over the surface of the stain and leave for several hours. Then wash your clothes.

Antiperspirant

Antiperspirants contain aluminum salts, which protect you from excessive sweating, but unfortunately, this substance is also the cause of white spots on dark clothing. Salts such as aluminum chloride, aluminum chlorohydrate or aluminum zirconium combine with electrolytes to form a gel. This gel clogs the pores from which sweat is released and stops the process before it reaches the surface of the skin. Salt in sweat and antiperspirant can leave white marks on dark clothing. These stains are usually found under the arms of shirts or dresses. Underarm stains can usually be removed by soaking in cold water or by treating the stain with ammonia, aspirin, baking soda, lemons, or vinegar.

How to remove sweat marks from black clothes

Salt. This method is even suitable for silk. It is recommended to mix one teaspoon of salt with one glass of warm water. After pre-soaking laundry in a soapy solution (for 15 minutes), wring it out. Then you need to apply the saline solution to the stained areas of the fabric. After 15 minutes, rinse and wash things.
Ammonia. You can remove underarm stains by hand washing your underwear. To each liter of warm water you need to add 4 teaspoons of ammonia.
Laundry soap. This option is ideal for removing traces of sweat on woolen items. Fill a container with hot water and foam laundry soap in it. Rub the contaminated areas with a bar of soap and soak the laundry completely for an hour and a half. Then wash thoroughly so that no soapy streaks remain.

Cleaning dark colored clothing

The following types of cleaning products are suitable for dark clothes made of natural and synthetic materials:

Vodka will delicately remove fresh and old sweat stains. The method is suitable for dark, colored things. Moisten a cotton pad with alcohol and wipe the problem areas with it. The effect will appear in a couple of minutes.
A water-salt solution will help remove yellowness from natural fabric and remove white marks. It is enough to dilute 1 tablespoon of salt in a glass of warm water. The product should be rubbed well into clothes using a brush. Leave the item for 1 hour. After the time has passed, begin rinsing the material under running water.
You can remove stains with baking soda. Take 4 tbsp of kitchen ingredient, 200 ml of water. Apply the product to problem areas on clothing and wash thoroughly. Removes white marks from deodorant well.
You can get rid of the problem of traces of sweat using salt and laundry soap. First you need to dilute the soap with water and soak the item. Fill the material with a water-salt solution. After half an hour, start washing your clothes.

Lemon juice and acetic acid are also suitable for removing stains from black things.

Removing traces of sweat and odor from a jacket or coat

Why are these wardrobe items given a separate paragraph? Because it is not always possible to wash such large items completely. What should you do if something gets dirty and smells bad, but you need to put it on in the morning? The following product will help remove sweat marks on a jacket and coat without leaving streaks.

Take four parts water, one part ammonia and one part denatured alcohol. Mix the solution well and spread on the inside of each armpit (lining side). This composition will also remove unpleasant odors.

Professional products

The modern market offers a wide range of professional stain removers. When choosing a product, it is important to study its composition and purpose. Manufacturers produce products taking into account the structure and color of the material. Using the wrong stain remover can result in a damaged item.

For colored laundry, it is advisable to use gentle products. They contain active oxygen and do not spoil the color of the product. Chlorine-containing compounds and optical components will give the original appearance to white linen. Stain removers with enzymes are ideal for any fabric.

The shelves offer products from various manufacturers in a wide range and different price categories. The most popular are:

ACE OXI MAGIC powder - used for hand and machine washing, not aggressive to colored and white materials of various structures, soluble in water
Vanish OXI Action - available in powder and liquid form, not aggressive to fabrics of various structures, there are special formulations for white and colored linen

The use of professional stain removers is effective, but they do not always help, especially when things with sweat stains have been lying around for a long time.

Important Tips

Do not use chlorine; it will darken sweat-contaminated areas and make it impossible to remove them.
Do not wash soiled items in hot water. This procedure will only increase the durability of the stain.
Before applying any substance to the material, test its effect on a small area of the laundry.
All products should be applied from the inside of clothing. Why? To avoid streaks near the contaminated area.
Acetate silk does not tolerate acetic acid.
If you rub the stain too hard, you will damage the paint and ruin the color of the laundry.
Silk and wool do not like alkali.

A little effort, almost no expenses and your favorite things are saved!

And 5 more tips

To prevent sweat gland secretions or deodorant stains from ruining your clothes, you need to adhere to the following five recommendations.

Avoid chlorine. You should not use chlorine-containing bleaches - by reacting with the secretion of the sweat glands, they will turn yellow spots into dark gray.
Test the product. When choosing a stain removal method, you must first try the product on an inconspicuous area of the product. This will eliminate the possibility of damage and discoloration of clothing.
Be careful with the sun. Usually, after bleaching, it is even recommended to dry white clothes in the sun. But if you used peroxide, you should not do this, as yellowness may appear.
Work from the inside out. The stains will still come off, but there will definitely be no streaks on the front side.
Choose the “right” deodorant. Products containing aluminum chloride leave permanent marks on laundry.

If you didn’t succeed in removing stains from sweat and deodorant under the arms on outerwear or expensive items the first time, stop experimenting. In this case, it is better to contact a dry cleaner.

Fresh contaminants

Have you noticed deodorant stains on your clothes? Wash them as soon as possible! The longer you store it, the more deodorant residue will be absorbed.

The easiest way is to use liquid laundry soap specifically designed for removing stains. Before use, read the instructions on the product packaging.

Pay attention to the clothing label. Some materials require a different type of washing.

Remember: cotton, lycra and silk fabrics are more susceptible to alkali.

Apply clothing soap directly to the stain.
Leave the clothes to soak in the soap and water for 10-20 minutes.
Wash items in the washing machine as usual.

If the stain persists, you will need to dissolve the remaining deodorant using a stain remover or a more aggressive home remedy.

How to deal with collars and cuffs

Sometimes it happens that clothes as a whole remain clean, but the collars and cuffs become greasy and simply get dirty. To combat such problems, there are many stain removers available in aerosol form that are sprayed onto the stained areas before washing.

As for the means at hand, you can suggest wiping the collars and cuffs with a cotton swab dipped in vinegar. However, do not forget that such a substance can cause unpleasant consequences: as you know, fabric under the influence of vinegar in some cases can begin to shed, so you should be careful with it.

A more rational solution would be to use a solution prepared from alcohol, water and salt in a ratio of 4:4:1. Soak a cotton pad in this mixture and wipe the contaminated areas of clothing, then carefully rinse it all off with warm water.

Aspirin

Aspirin is an excellent remedy not only for headaches, but also for removing yellow marks under your hands. It works thanks to the acidic compounds it contains.

How to get rid of stains using aspirin:

Grind 2-3 aspirin tablets in a mortar until you get a powder.
Place aspirin in a bowl and add ¼ cup hot water.
Apply the solution with an old toothbrush and let it sit for an hour.
Rinse with cold water and machine wash.

Baking soda

Baking soda has countless uses when it comes to cleaning your home and revitalizing your clothes. It should always be on hand, as it is ideal for cleaning the washing machine, doing laundry, or simply removing stains.

It also neutralizes the unpleasant odors that accompany stains.

Using baking soda to remove deodorant stains is also easy:

Mix ¼ cup baking soda with water to make a paste.
Apply the paste and leave for an hour.
Rub the mixture in with an old toothbrush and rinse.

Causes of spots under the arms

The human body has three million glands that can produce about one liter of sweat in one day. Settled on the surface of clothing, sweat becomes the main cause of yellow spots in the armpits.

Sometimes heavy sweating, which has an unpleasant and very pungent odor, can indicate disturbances in the functioning body . In this case, the patient needs help from the treating specialist.

Methods for removing deodorant stains from clothes

Pollution can be eliminated in several ways using folk or chemical means.

Everyone chooses the removal method depending on the availability of cleaning components. Therefore, it is worth considering the effectiveness of each option in order to understand the principle and rules of its implementation.

After each cleaning, the treated item should be washed and rinsed so that no streaks remain.

Advice! During the procedure, you should not rub the material too hard, as this will negatively affect its shade.

Folk remedies

If white spots appear, you can use available components. This method is effective in removing fresh, non-grown marks and does not require much effort.

Main types of folk remedies:

Vinegar . The component is used on non-ferrous and ferrous materials. To clean, thoroughly moisten the stain with acetic acid. Leave in this form for 10 hours or more.
Salt . You should first wet the product, then sprinkle plenty of salt. Wait 3-4 hours. Rub the substance again in problem areas. Leave it like this for 6 hours.
Lemon . Moisten the problem area generously with juice. Leave for 15 minutes.
Hydrogen peroxide . A 3% solution will be required. Apply it to the stain and wait 3 hours.
Industrial alcohol . Dissolve in water in a 1:1 ratio. Soak the stain with the resulting solution and leave for 40 minutes. The duration of the procedure cannot be exceeded, as this will cause tissue deformation.

Be sure to read:

How to remove yellow stains from white things and get rid of old stains and sweat marks under the arms

Household chemicals

This method is effective for old stains.

Effective recipes:

Dishwashing liquid . You need to distribute the liquid on the surface and wait 30 minutes.
Fairy stain remover . You need to choose a product designed for colored items. Distribute it in an even layer. Leave for 30 minutes.
Hyposulfite . Pour 15 g of the component into 250 ml of water, stir until smooth. Moisten the problem area generously and wait 10 minutes.
Washing powder for colored items . Add a little water to it, knead the pulp. Distribute it on the problem area, lightly rubbing into the fabric. Leave for 20 minutes.

How to avoid new ones

To prevent antiperspirant stains from forming under the arms, simply do not wear anything until the product has dried. It is worth waiting a few minutes after application.
Use industrial stain removers with a preventive function.
Regularly observe personal hygiene rules.

When your armpits are wet throughout the year, you need to see a doctor. Factors influencing high sweating: excessive coffee consumption, smoking, passion for fatty and salty foods, regular stress.

Marks under the arms look unattractive and bring a significant amount of discomfort into our lives. But you shouldn’t throw away a thing as soon as a trace appears on it that is difficult to remove in the usual way. Try the methods we have suggested to combat this problem and happily wear your favorite clothes.

Why is discharge difficult to wash off?

Sweat has one unpleasant feature - it eats deeply into the fabric, which makes it difficult to remove stains from clothes and remove unpleasant odors. You can protect dresses, shirts and sweaters from stains using special replaceable liners. But they limit freedom of movement, forcing a person to refuse, for example, the use of upper handrails in transport.

Sweat not only eats into clothes, but also mixes with fat and bacteria that are constantly present on the surface of the skin. Stains that form under the arms are the most difficult to remove due to the greatest causticity and intensity of the discharge. Such characteristics are a consequence of the influence of the composition:

15% proteins, fats,
85% water.

It is this cocktail that makes removing stains that form on the lower back, stomach, and under the arms extremely difficult.

What will help if the stains are ingrained?

Removing stubborn sweat stains begins with soaking in a soapy solution. Only after this they begin to remove stains with other proven components. Several components can be combined to increase the effectiveness of the composition.

Aspirin with peroxide

A remedy made from Aspirin and hydrogen peroxide is considered effective:

Two tablets are crushed to a powder and a little water is added.
The prepared solution is rubbed into the problem area and left for two hours.
Then the clothes are rinsed with cool water.
Apply a solution of hydrogen peroxide.
After 12 minutes, wash the clothes with powder.

The method allows you to remove unpleasant odors and untidy marks of any complexity.

Removal with vinegar

Clothes with bright yellow traces of sweat are immersed in a vinegar solution for 35 minutes. Then the place is treated with a soda composition. Then wash the product with soap or washing powder.

Lemon

An effective way to make clothes look fresh is to use lemon. Squeeze the juice out of the lemon and dilute it with water. A cotton swab is soaked in the resulting solution and applied to the armpit area of clothing. The procedure is repeated several times.

Remove with ammonia

Ammonia can be used for clothing made from any type of fabric. The main thing is to use the appropriate dosage:

6 ml of ammonia and 5 g of salt are dissolved in warm water.
Treat the stain with the composition.
After half an hour, the product should be washed using washing powder.

Ammonia quickly returns a fresh look to clothes and does not spoil its structure.

Prevention of chromohidrosis

To prevent chromohidrosis, it is recommended:

bring the drinking regime back to normal;
Follow the rules of personal hygiene, using soap or other non-aggressive shower products. It is important not to forget to change your underwear and bed linen in a timely manner;
avoid the influence of stressful situations and cultivate stress resistance;
use clothes according to the season and weather, suitable size, comfortable cut, made from natural, hygroscopic fabrics;
balance your diet so that natural fruits and vegetables, as well as dairy products, predominate;
when working in hazardous industries, use special clothing, shoes and personal protective equipment;
spend more time in the fresh air;
take care of strengthening the immune system;
promptly and completely eliminate health problems.

Thus, excessive body hydration, and therefore the risk of colored sweat, can be prevented and eliminated. To do this, it is important to lead a healthy lifestyle, monitor your condition and not be afraid to visit a doctor.