How to Remove Sweaty Armpit Stains and Odor from Clothes (original) (raw)

The best armpit stain removers for tackling tough sweat stains on clothing are household cleaners you likely already have at home, like baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, oxygen bleach, and vinegar. These stains are caused by a reaction between antiperspirant ingredients and the oils, protein, and dirt left behind by sweat. These unsightly sweat stains can eventually ruin your favorite shirts.

Here's how to remove armpit stains and odors from shirts.

The Spruce

Remove Armpit Stains Using Baking Soda and Hydrogen Peroxide

The Spruce / Ana-Maria Stanciu

The best way to remove armpit stains on white clothing is with baking soda. Success will depend upon the age of the stains and the fabric content of your shirt; cotton clothes whiten best.

• Make the mixture: Mix one part baking soda, one part hydrogen peroxide, and one part water—or 1/4 cup each for cleaning one shirt.
• Rub the stain: Rub the mixture thoroughly into the stained area with a sponge or an old toothbrush and let it sit for 30 minutes.
• Wash the shirt: Wash the shirt as usual with heavy-duty laundry detergent in the warmest water setting that is safe for the fabric.

Tip

If you notice the beginnings of armpit yellowing but don't have time to tackle the stains immediately, don't put the garment into the dryer after washing. Intense heat sets in stains, making them almost impossible to remove. Instead, line-dry the shirt until you have time to treat the stains.

Want more cleaning and organizing tips? Sign up for our free daily newsletter for the latest hacks, expert advice, and more!

Remove Armpit Stains Using Oxygen Bleach

The Spruce / Nelly Cuanalo

Another great method for removing yellow armpit stains is a combination of oxygen bleach—not chlorine bleach—and ammonia. This should only be used on white fabrics.

1. Use a ventilated room and put on gloves: Mix ingredients in a well-ventilated room and wear rubber gloves. The fumes and ingredients are strong and can irritate nasal passages and skin.
2. Mix ingredients: In a non-metal bowl, mix one part oxygen-based bleach powder (2 tablespoons) and one part household ammonia—or 2 tablespoons each per shirt.
3. Rub into fabric: Use a soft-bristled brush to thoroughly rub the solution into the underarm stainsfor at least one minute. Allow it to sit for 10 minutes before washing.
4. Wash the shirt: Wash as usual with heavy-duty laundry detergent in warm or cold water, depending on the washing guidelines for the shirt.

Warning

Never use chlorine bleach with ammonia, as deadly fumes can occur. This method calls for oxygen bleach.

Remove Armpit Stains Using White Vinegar

The Spruce / Nelly Cuanalo

The best way to remove armpit stains on colored clothing is by scrubbing and pre-soaking them in vinegar before washing them in cool water. Armpit stains on colored shirts create odor, stiffen the fabric, and eventually cause discoloration. This method works on many common clothing stains.

1. Make a vinegar solution: Mix white distilled vinegar and water in a one-to-one solution—(2 tablespoons each for one shirt).
2. Pretreat the Stains: Dip a soft-bristled or old toothbrush and thoroughly scrub the armpits.
3. Soak the shirts: Fill a basin with vinegar and water solution and soak the shirts for at least 30 minutes.
4. Wash the shirt: Wash the shirt as usual in cool water with a heavy-duty detergent.

How to Remove Sweat Odor

Your clothes' armpits may still smell after washing because sweat and deodorant buildup can trap bacteria that cause odors. Pre-treating with baking soda or white vinegar can break down these components that cause odors.

• Using baking soda: Baking soda can boost the cleaning power of your laundry detergent by regulating the pH level in the washer's water. Adding 1/2 cup to each load helps the detergent work more effectively and reduces bacteria. For heavy odors, use baking soda as a presoak. Dissolve one cup of baking soda in warm water. Fill the ​washer tub or sink with cool water and add the dissolved baking soda. Submerge stinky clothes and allow them to soak overnight. Then wash as usual.
• Soaking in vinegar solution: Vinegar's acetic acid helps neutralize the bacteria that cause sweat odors, leaving your clothes smelling fresh and clean. Mix one part white vinegar with four parts water in a basin or sink. Soak your garments in the solution for at least 30 minutes before washing them as usual.

Make It Last

Keep sweat stains from coming back by wearing deodorant and not leaving sweaty clothes in the hamper for long. The sooner you can get the sweat out, the less time it has to stain.

Tips to Prevent Armpit Stains on Clothes

• Switch to an aluminum-free deodorant.
• After applying any type of deodorant or antiperspirant, allow it to dry before dressing to prevent rub-off on fabrics. If pressed for time, use a hairdryer for a couple of seconds (this will also eliminate deodorant marks on the clothes).
• Wear a protective undershirt to prevent staining on the outer garment.
• Always pretreat before washing to prevent yellow stains on white shirts.

FAQ

• To remove deodorant buildup from shirts, make a paste with baking soda and water, apply it to the stained areas, and let it sit for 15-30 minutes before washing. Alternatively, soak the affected areas in white vinegar for an hour before washing.
• The best sweat stain remover is a mixture of hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, and water. Apply this paste to the stain, let it sit for about an hour, and then wash the garment as usual.
• Use warm or hot water on protein-based stains like sweat. However, hold off drying the item on high heat until the stain or odor is gone.
• Prevent underarm stains from occurring by applying less deodorant at a time, and using one that is aluminum-free or made with less aluminum than your current one.

The Spruce uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

1. Facts about Chlorine. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.