How to Remove Deodorant Stains from Clothes

Nothing can be worse than putting on your favorite white shirt in the morning only to find it unwearable, thanks to ugly deodorant stains!

You know this happens with everyone – you are in a hurry for work, you skip the shower and switch to layers of deodorant instead! Amidst the hurry, the deodorant gets all over the inside and even the outside of your clothes. Mind you, removing deodorant stains is quite a pain!

Sometimes the chemicals in deodorants or antiperspirants can cause a reaction with fabric softener used in either washing or drying, creating more discoloration on your clothes. Regardless of how the stain got there, it becomes difficult to wear such stained clothes.

While antiperspirants are for preventing sweat, deodorants are designed for preventing odor from the sweat. Over time, deodorants and antiperspirants build up a crusty, thick, yellowish or whitish residue on your garment that becomes hard to remove. And if the residue is on your favorite white shirt, it’s a big mess!

But, do not be left wondering whether you should throw the shirt away! Just follow any of these techniques to remove deodorant stains from your favorite clothes.

For yellowish, oil-based stains from antiperspirants:

The yellowish stains that occur primarily as a result of using roll-on antiperspirants can be hard to remove.The aluminum content in roll-on combines with your underarm sweat to result in a yellowish or brownish stain on the armpit area of your garment.

These stains get harder over time and get difficult to remove even with regular bleaching and laundering.

Here are two simple ways to get rid oily deodorant stains at home.

Method 1: Use Lemon Juice

The natural bleaching properties of lemon and the sun work to fade away antiperspirant stains on light-colored clothing. Moreover, lemon alone is an amazing cleaner owing to high levels of citric acid and low pH levels.

However, for dark-colored garments, it is best to dilute lemon juice with an equal amount of water.

Things you’ll need:

• Lemon juice (natural bleaching agent)
• Table salt
• Cleaning brush
• Water

Step 1. Coat the stained area with lemon juice

• Soak the stained area of your garment in lemon juice, so it is completely saturated.

Leave it in the sun for 15 minutes.

Step 2. Sprinkle salt and gently scrub the stain

• Sprinkle some table salt over the stain.
• Use a cleaning brush to rub the salt gently but firmly into the stain.

Rubbing salt over the stain helps work the lemon juice deeper into the stain.

Step 3. Rinse in normal water and dry out in the sun

• Rinse the garment in cold water and dry it out in the sun.

Drying the garment out in the sun will enhance the stain removing (bleaching) effect of the lemon juice.

However, if it is cold outside, you can toss the garment in the laundry for one final wash.

Method 2: Use Baking Soda

Baking soda effervesces in water to cut and lift any deposits from the garment. Moreover, as an absorbent, it soaks up most of the residue from the fabric.

This method is ideal for dried, yellowish antiperspirant stains.

Things you’ll need:

• Baking soda (absorbent and mild abrasive)   – 3 tablespoons
• Water
• Cleaning brush

Step 1. Form a paste with baking soda and water

• Mix 3 parts baking soda with 1 part water to form a thick paste.

Step 2. Smear the paste liberally over the stain and scrub

• Spread the paste over the stain.
• Allow it to set for 30 minutes.
• Rub gently with a cleaning brush to agitate the cleaning process.

Step 3. Rinse with water

• Finish with a final rinse in normal water to remove any residue from the garment.

Method 3: Use Laundry Detergent

The carbonation of laundry detergent with water breaks down deposits that created the stain in the first place, thus clearing off the stain.

Step 1. Combine laundry detergent with water

• Pour one cup of water in a bowl.
• Add 1 tablespoon of laundry detergent to it.
• Mix well to form a solution.

Step 2: Soak and wash the garment in detergent solution for 30 minutes

• Soak the garment in detergent solution for 30 minutes.
• Gently rub with your hands. The stain shall come off easily.
• Finish with a final rinse in normal water and then dry out in the sun.

For white, powdered stains from deodorants:

The thick layer of whitish,caked-on residue builds up as a result of using excessive amounts of deodorant.

These stains appear to be wax-like in substance and slowly transfer to your clothing, just to rest permanently and not get fully washed out while laundering.

Here are seven easy and quick techniques to whisk away this cakey and waxy buildup on your clothes.

Method 1: Use Baby Wipes

Single-Step Treatment: Rub and whisk away the residue

• Just grab a baby wipe and gently rub it over the stain.

Baby wipes contain moisture that helps lift out the white powdery stain without leaving your garment wet or dirty.

Method 2: Use Nylon

Single-Step Treatment: Rub the nylon clothing over the stain

• Grab a piece of clean nylon clothing (stockings, socks, towel or handkerchief) and rub it over the stain until there is no more residue.

This method is best for removing stains from colored garments.

Method 3: Use Vinegar

The acidic properties in vinegar will break down the mineral and oil deposits in the stain, thus cleaning the stain off your garment.

Step 1. Dilute vinegar with water

• Dilute 2 tablespoons of white vinegar with water.

Step 2. Immerse the stained area in diluted vinegar

• Grab the stained end of your garment and immerse it in the diluted vinegar solution.
• Let it soak for 30 minutes.

Step 3. Gently rub and rinse out the residue

• Gently rub the vinegar over the stain to remove any remaining stain.
• Rinse the vinegar solution out of the fabric with normal water.

Alternatively, for stubborn stains, you can turn the garment inside out and saturate the stain with full-strength white vinegar.

Albeit a stinky procedure, this works incredibly well to break down and remove stains from the fabric. Eventually, the smell will also subside as the fabric dries.

Method 4: Use Laundry Detergent

Things you’ll need:

• Laundry detergent (breaks deposits) – 1 tablespoon
• Water – 1 cup
• Soft towel

Step 1. Make a solution using laundry detergent and water

• Pour 1cup of water in a bowl.
• Add 1 tablespoon of laundry detergent and mix well to form a solution.

Step 2: Soak the stained garment in detergent solution for 30 minutes

• Immerse and saturate the stained area on your fabric in the detergent solution.
• Let it soak for 30 minutes.

The carbonation of laundry detergent with water breaks down deposits that created the stain in the first place, thus cleaning off the stain.

Step 3. Rinse with normal water and pat dry

• Finish with a final rinse with normal water, then wipe off any traces of residue from the stained area.

Method 5: Use Rubbing Alcohol

Rubbing alcohol is a solvent and works incredibly well to dissolve oil and mineral deposits from your garment.

Single-Step Treatment: Soak a cotton ball in rubbing alcohol and work out the stain

• Saturate a cotton ball with rubbing alcohol.
• Gently rub the soaked cotton ball on the stained area and whisk away the sticky deodorant residue.

Method 6: Use Hydrogen Peroxide

A natural bleach and a good absorbent, hydrogen peroxide works wonders in lightening and cleaning out stains.

Things you’ll need:

• Hydrogen peroxide (natural bleach and absorbent) – 2 teaspoons
• Dish soap (breaks down deposits) – 1 teaspoon
• Water (for rinsing)

Step 1. Mix one part dish soap with two parts hydrogen peroxide

• Put 1 teaspoon of dish soap in a bowl.
• Add 2 teaspoons of hydrogen peroxide and mix to form a solution.

Step 2. Soak the stained area in the solution for 30 minutes

• Immerse the stained area in the hydrogen peroxide-dish soap solution.
• Let it soak for 30 minutes.

Step 3. Gently rub and rinse

• Gently work the solution into the fabric with your hands.
• Rinse thoroughly using normal water. (Make sure you rinse it out completely, as peroxide will turn yellow when exposed to the sun.)
• Dry the garment in the sun to help draw out stains.

Method 7: Use Aspirin

Aspirin contains salicylic acid that forms an anti-yellow mixture to eliminate sweat and deodorant stains from your fabric.

Step 1. Dissolve aspirin in water

• Place 3 or4 tablets of aspirin in a bowl.
• Add ½ cup of water to dissolve the tablets.

Step 2. Soak the stained garment in the solution

• Saturate the stained area with the aspirin solution.
• Let it soak for about 15 minutes.

Step 3. Rinse off with normal water

• Rinse your garment with normal water to wipe away any traces of residue from the stain.

Tips

• If you get a deodorant stain on your shirt while getting dressed, rubbing it with pantyhose will help remove it instantly.
• Makeup remover wipes or baby wipes also work great to scrub off stains from your garment.
• Use a good quality laundry detergent (like Breeze) to pre-treat and loosen deodorant stains, while restoring the garment’s original color.
• Before saturating your garment with any of the remedies, always do a patch test (preferably on the inside where discoloration will not be noticeable) to ensure the colorfastness of the fabric.
• If you don’t have much time, you can soak your garment in OxiClean(commercial cleaner) that is specifically designed for removing many types of stains.
• You can also use Gal Pal Original Deodorant Remover that is formulated to remove all types of deodorant stains.