Have you ever slipped on your favorite black blouse and accidentally got white marks on the fabric? Those stains are likely from deodorant as you put your arms through the shirt and transferred antiperspirant from your armpits to the material. Find out how to keep deodorant from staining clothes and remove a stubborn deodorant stain from fabric.
Underarm stains are annoying, whether from deodorant residue or a sweat stain. Pit stains make a stylish garment look trashy. You either have to change your clothes or try and awkwardly hide the white or yellow stain as you go throughout the day. Wiping at an antiperspirant stain has little to no effect, and regular washing isn’t enough to clean sweat stains.
The deodorant leaves a chalky, white mark on the fabric, and sweat causes yellow blotches. Luckily, there are ways to prevent deodorant stains from ruining your clothes. Protect your shirt from staining by preparing beforehand, and treat an existing stain with detergent and other home remedies.
Cleaning and Preventing Deodorant Stains on Clothes
A pit stain is unsightly, whether a white stain on black clothing or a yellow mark on a white shirt. Learn what causes armpit and deodorant stains, ways to remove them, and how to stop them from staining your clothes.
Does Spray Deodorant Stain Clothes?
Many types of deodorant are on the market, from natural and gel to solid and spray. Does spray deodorant stain clothes more than stick deodorant? While most deodorants cause staining, some create milder stains than others. Learn why sweat and deodorant stain clothing and which antiperspirants are the best choice.
Armpit Stains
Spray, roll-on, gel, solid, invisible solid, and antiperspirant deodorant are six typical types of deodorants. Some contain chemicals, and others are natural, and most cause staining to some degree.
Solid, white deodorant leaves white marks on clothes due to the aluminum salts. Gel, roll-on, spray, and invisible solid deodorants don’t stain as quickly as long as you let them dry first. Additionally, some natural deodorants contain beeswax, which leaves residue on clothes.
Body sweat contains salt, proteins, and oils, which cause a yellow armpit stain on the clothing. In addition, when the perspiration mixes with deodorant and transfers to fabric, it creates a stubborn stain.
Pretreating Natural Deodorant Staining on Clothes
Does spray deodorant stain clothes? It does if you don’t pretreat it before cleaning it in the washing machine. The good news is that you do not need an expensive stain remover to remove a deodorant stain.
Prepare a stain pretreatment by mixing equal amounts of cold water and ammonia. Don’t use hot water, which might set the stain. Apply the cleaner to the spot in a well-ventilated room, and let it sit for half an hour. Place the garment into the washing machine, and add your favorite laundry detergent.
Use the cold water setting and normal cycle to launder the item and check to ensure the stain is gone. If the stain persists, try using vinegar and baking soda. Otherwise, dry it as usual.
Home Remedies to Remove Existing Deodorant Stains
A couple of different methods work for removing natural deodorant staining on clothes. For example, lemon juice and white vinegar are acidic liquids that break up oily stains from deodorant. In addition, baking soda and salt are mild scouring agents that lift deodorant from the fabric.
Lemon juice and salt are ideal for cleaning natural deodorant staining on clothes. Squeeze fresh lemon juice onto the stained spot, sprinkle salt over the top, and brush the fabric with an old toothbrush or your fingers. Launder the item as usual with detergent, and check for remaining stains.
To remove antiperspirant deodorant from clothes with white vinegar, mix four cups of warm water with a cup of vinegar and several drops of dish soap. Dip a sponge into the liquid, rub it over the mark until it’s gone, and add it to your next load of laundry.
If you prefer to use baking soda for stain removal, mix enough water with the powder to form a paste. Spread the paste over the natural deodorant stain and scrub it gently with a soft toothbrush. Rinse the item with cool water and toss it into the washing machine with detergent.
How to Keep Deodorant From Staining Clothes
While removing deodorant and armpit stains from clothing is possible, it’s better to avoid them in the first place. Learn how to stop deodorant and sweat from staining your clothes and keep them looking new.
Deodorant Stain Prevention
One of the biggest mistakes when putting on deodorant is applying too much. Generally, you only need two to three swipes of solid or gel deodorant under each arm for optimal protection.
If you use a spray deodorant, hold it a few inches from your pit and spray for two seconds. Applying more than that causes excess deodorant to transfer from your armpits to your clothes, leading to stubborn stains.
It’s always best to apply deodorant before putting on your shirt. Rub or spray the deodorant on, let it dry for a minute or two, and then get dressed.
Roll the hem of the garment outward, slip it carefully over your head and arms, and unroll it. Wear an inexpensive undershirt beneath a favorite blouse or top to keep deodorant and sweat stains from transferring to the fabric.
Check the ingredients of your deodorant brand. Those that contain high amounts of alcohol and ammonia cause more staining. Switch from an acidic deodorant to a neutral pH type, which causes less fabric staining.
Deodorant and armpit stains are a nuisance, whether on black or white clothing. They stick out like a sore thumb and are more challenging to clean than other everyday stains. Fortunately, white vinegar, baking soda, salt, and lemons remove these tough stains, and changing your deodorant stops them from returning.
We hope you enjoyed reading how to keep deodorant from staining clothes, and we’d love it if you’d share our tips for eliminating deodorant stains from clothes with your family and friends on Pinterest and Facebook.