How To Remove Deodorant Stains

The key in learning how to remove deodorant stains is choosing the right products. Start with your laundry detergent and try switching to one that doesn’t contain chlorine bleaches. Also, as tempting as it may seem – especially with white clothing – avoid household or chlorine bleaches as they will only make things worse.

WHY DO WE GET SWEAT STAINS & DEODORANT STAINS?

Sweat stains are caused by sweat mixing with your skin's natural bacteria, your deodorant or even your clothing. If you were to look at the colour of sweat as a chemical component you would see that it is not yellow coloured, it's these reactions that cause it to turn yellow.

Deodorant stains are different from sweat stains - these are usually white marks made up of antiperspirant particles that contain salts and other ingredients designed to help prevent sweating. When you sweat through these ingredients, they can form solid stains that are often hard to remove in the wash.

5 TIPS ON REMOVING DEODORANT STAINS

When you need to get rid of armpit stains, the best way to do it is with an acid. Acids actively dissolve the bonds between the proteins, alkali, and aluminium which cause stains.

Finding an acid might sound difficult or expensive, but don’t worry. Many great acidic products can be found around the house, or very cheaply from your local supermarket.

Next time you’re stuck with an inconvenient stain, try one of these five simple acidic stain remedies and see which works best for you:

1. HYDROGEN PEROXIDE

Soak the stain in equal parts hydrogen peroxide and water. Remember that, hydrogen peroxide has bleaching qualities so this method is only suitable for white clothes.

2. BAKING SODA

Mix baking (or bi-carb) soda into a paste in a 3:1 ratio with water and scrub into the stain with an old toothbrush. You can also add a dash of hydrogen peroxide for an extra boost on white clothes. And, if you don’t have baking soda around, pure plain soda water will do the trick, too.

3. WHITE VINEGAR

Combine two tablespoons of vinegar with one cup of water and soak clothing.

4. LEMON JUICE

Simply combine lemon juice with an equal amount of water and scrub it into the stain.

STEPS TO REMOVE THE STAINS

After you’ve applied the liquid or paste to the stain, let the clothes sit for at least an hour before you wash them in hot water.

Washing clothes before you treat stains can set the proteins and make them much harder to get out.

WARNING: Always be careful when working with any acids, especially when treating delicate and colourful fabrics as acid solutions can damage them.

Citric acid is also slightly hazardous in case of skin contact, eye contact, ingestion or inhalation. For this reason, we highly recommend wearing protective gloves when handling citric acid and to not breathe in citric acid dust.

Salt works as an abrasive cleaning agent to scrub the stain out. You'll need to put some elbow grease into it because it doesn't have any natural bleaching effect, but this can be used on clothing of all different colours.