sweat stains...

[Pat.G.Boisvert]

Gents,

I have a few white shirts that have those nasty yellow buildups (sweat stains) on the under arm. I've tried an alcohol clean, a vinegar clean and meat tenderizer. Nothing worked to remove those unsightly stains. Does anyone have any suggestions?

Thanks. Pat.

 

[ImTheGluestick]

Other suggestions from the internet include a baking soda paste, hydrogen peroxide (only on white shirts, obviously), or ammonia.

The stains are caused by aluminum in antiperspirant, so switching to a deodorant would fix the problem in the future, if you're willing to ditch the antiperspirant.

 

[maxman]

If you have any Spray 9 cleaner at home give that a try.
I have used it on clothing before the wash (just before like you would with Shout) and it got grease stains out.
It may work with sweat stains.

It's a great cleaner to have around anyway.

I must add that you might want to try it on a shirt that you don't mind losing in case it makes things worse!

 

[strop]

Try a soak with washing soda before the regular wash.

 

[pdillon]

I have not tried the other suggestions, but oxiclean definitely works for me. I learned about it from the menswear blog putthison. It's in one of their videos. In fact, I think it's in the grooming video, where I first learned about wet shaving.

Anyway, just follow the instructions on the oxiclean container: soak for a few hours then throw it in the wash as normal. It has worked on numerous shirts.

 

[Pat.G.Boisvert]

Other suggestions from the internet include a baking soda paste, hydrogen peroxide (only on white shirts, obviously), or ammonia.

The stains are caused by aluminum in antiperspirant, so switching to a deodorant would fix the problem in the future, if you're willing to ditch the antiperspirant.

This brings me to a second question I had...if it is the aluminum that causes the issue, will using alum crystal deodorant do the same? Alum is hydrated potassium aluminum sulfate.

 

[Krona Kruiser]

During my "unhealthier" days my pit stains were notoriously yellow. My aunt did my laundry once and used lemons to rub on my stains and it worked really well. I also switched to spray deodorants like Arid and it's helped. It's not an issue anymore.

 

[rebos]

I also suggest Oxi-clean

 

[Hirsute]

This brings me to a second question I had...if it is the aluminum that causes the issue, will using alum crystal deodorant do the same? Alum is hydrated potassium aluminum sulfate.

Unfortunately, yes. I use the Crystal deodorant, and all of my undershirts are yellowed. I'm going to try the Oxyclean tip.

 

[Worralo]

I have had this problem for years and I didn't know there was something specifically for this it's call RAISE armpit stain remover. I have no idea how they did it but it really gets rid of pit stains!

 

[Gearoid]

I just buy new clothes.

 

[Jawaburger]

Do you wear a undershirt? I find that my undershirt gets my sweat rather than my dress shirt.

 

[Pat.G.Boisvert]

I just buy new clothes.

Sadly, thats what I have been doing too.

 

[rickboone1]

Bleach.

Borax.

 

[roklein]

I buy new clothes like others have said.

 

[Joey Anton]

I wear undershirts every day, and I have tried just about everything to get the stains out of the white ones. I typically buy new ones every three months and rotate out some of the nastier ones. I also bought a bunch of grey shirts, which surprisingly go well with many colors. Only problem with them is that they tend to get a "wet" dark grey look to the pits instead of the yellow/green you get with white..

 

[pdillon]

I wear undershirts every day, and I have tried just about everything to get the stains out of the white ones. I typically buy new ones every three months and rotate out some of the nastier ones. I also bought a bunch of grey shirts, which surprisingly go well with many colors. Only problem with them is that they tend to get a "wet" dark grey look to the pits instead of the yellow/green you get with white..

The oxyclean I mentioned earlier also works with colored shirts. That is, it removes sweat stains from colored shirts without damaging the color.

 

[Davee58]

Shave your arm-pits, and stop eating so many Indian curries...

 

[almueller]

Thanks for the tip with the Oxyclean, pdillon!

 

[bvance554]

Wear an undershirt or don't wear white. I don't have any white tshirts for this reason (except for undershirts). I'm sure these remedies work, but I know I can't remember to rub a lemon on the pits every time I wash.