How to wash deodorant stains

The appearance of stains on clothes is related to the composition of deodorants and antiperspirants that you use. Practically all means that promise the consumer protection against sweat contain aluminum salts. These salts come into contact with the liquid secreted by the sweat glands, and ultimately appear as ugly spots on the fabric.

Deodorant stains are more visible on white and black clothes. It is often impossible to remove white stains from a black dress or yellow stains from a white T-shirt without using special tools.

White spots

White spots that appear on clothes directly from deodorant are easy to remove from fabric. Sometimes it is enough to soak the item in cool water using powder for colored items, fabric softener, shampoo or household soap. If after such washing it was not possible to eliminate white spots, use one of the following ways to wash off traces of deodorant:

• Dip a cotton pad in vodka or alcohol and carefully walk over the white joints.
• Pour vodka or alcohol on the problem areas and leave the clothes until they completely disappear. At the same time, exposure time should not exceed 30 minutes.
• If a thing made of natural wool or knitwear is soiled, pour vinegar on the clothes and leave to soak. After that, wash the thing in the usual way. This method will help to remove white stains from deodorant only from things made of natural materials that are not afraid of the influence of organic acids.

Yellow spots

Yellow spots appear on clothes after sweat reacts with the substances contained in the deodorant. It is quite difficult to remove such pollution. If you have unsightly yellow streaks on your clothes, follow these tips to remove underarm deodorant:

• Do not try to remove yellow stains with products containing chlorine, even if you are dealing with white clothes. Exposure to chlorine will not remove stains, but will make them more visible.
• Mix 2 tsp. soda with ¼ bottle of hydrogen peroxide and 1 tsp. dishwashing detergent. Apply the resulting mixture to the stains, rub it into the surface of the fabric and leave it for 60 minutes.
• Grind a few aspirin tablets, add water to the resulting powder to form a slurry. Apply the mixture to the spots.
• Mix table salt, liquid soap and baking soda to form a thick substance. Rub this mixture into problem areas, leave for exposure. The same effect will be achieved if you mix ammonia with salt or prepare a strong salt solution.

Preventive measures

It is much easier to prevent the appearance of stains on clothes than to spend efforts to remove them. In order to permanently save your favorite things from the harmful effects of deodorant, listen to the tips listed below:

• Wash clothes as often as possible. The body of a healthy person can secrete up to 300 ml of sweat per day. Sweat reacts with deodorant and causes marks to appear on clothes. The more liquid is absorbed into the fabric, the more difficult it will be to wash the clothes.

• Apply deodorant at night. Some products really need to be applied to the skin before going to bed, but manufacturers forget to write about it in the instructions for use.
• Apply an even thin layer of deodorant on clean, and most importantly, dry skin.
• Take care of personal hygiene. Wash your armpits with soap several times a day or take a shower regularly.
• Remove excess vegetation in a timely manner. The presence of hair in the armpits can cause excessive sweating. Use any means of depilation and epilation. Smooth skin will reduce the amount of sweat, rid clothes of unpleasant odors and the appearance of stains.

Remember that it is easier to remove fresh stains than old stains from any fabric. Conduct a closet audit at least once a month and pay due attention to clothing that has been affected by the use of antiperspirant. Timely removal of stains from fabric and proper care of clothes will allow you to enjoy the beauty of your favorite things for a long time.