Dark shirt, white deodorant stains, any miracle cures?
Discussion
I have a black and a dark blue shirt, just noticed both now have the white stains in the pits from my deodorant which does not come out in the wash, any house wife tips like lemon juice etc to get the original colour back.
Not a particularly sweaty person but do like to stay fresh, and this is a pita of a side effect of using aerosols.
Not a particularly sweaty person but do like to stay fresh, and this is a pita of a side effect of using aerosols.
Sweat stains don't come out easily because they are biological and the minerals from your sweat combined with the chemicals from the deodorant become embedded in the fabric.
Chlorine bleach does not remove these stains, as I'm sure you are well aware. You could bleach your shirt until "kingdom come"- the chlorine bleach would disintegrate your shirt into nothing but tatters, but the sweat stain would still remain!
Baking soda is a great way to remove stains and odours.
Make a paste of 4 Tbs. baking soda and 1/4 cup of warm water.
Rub the baking soda solution into the stain with your fingers.
Allow the baking soda solution to work on the stain for 2 hours or so.
Apply a few drops of full strength laundry detergent on the stain right before washing.
Massage in gently.
Launder as usual.
This is also a good cleaning solution for removing “ring around the collar”.
Chlorine bleach does not remove these stains, as I'm sure you are well aware. You could bleach your shirt until "kingdom come"- the chlorine bleach would disintegrate your shirt into nothing but tatters, but the sweat stain would still remain!
Baking soda is a great way to remove stains and odours.
Make a paste of 4 Tbs. baking soda and 1/4 cup of warm water.
Rub the baking soda solution into the stain with your fingers.
Allow the baking soda solution to work on the stain for 2 hours or so.
Apply a few drops of full strength laundry detergent on the stain right before washing.
Massage in gently.
Launder as usual.
This is also a good cleaning solution for removing “ring around the collar”.
Use black/white deodirant to stop it happening. Get some vanish oxy action spray, apply to stains. Wait 5 minutes then wash the shirt with aerial bio at 30 degrees. You must use s biological gel not non bio and aerial is the best for removing stains.
Edited by Dodsy on Sunday 13th September 00:29
justanother5tar said:
Better deodorant.
Women stuff is much better than mens at not leaving marks. Plus it seems to work better for me too.
I've noticed this. The other halfs Sure women's deodorant leaves far less marks than any of the men's ones ive tried (right guard, nivea, sure, lynx etc).Women stuff is much better than mens at not leaving marks. Plus it seems to work better for me too.
I've been using this for the last year or so: wonderstone.
It's more of a faff as you have to wet it to apply and then wait for it to dry, but it works well for me.
It's more of a faff as you have to wet it to apply and then wait for it to dry, but it works well for me.
The white staining is aluminium which is present in all anti perspirants, it's the agent that stops you sweating. The only way to eliminate the staining is to use an aluminium free deodorant. This won't stop you sweating though, so if you struggle with sweaty pits the best solution is to use a powerful anti perspirant like Odaban which you use a few times a week at night, then clean it off in the morning.
I've tried loads of things to get rid of the white staining, unfortuntely most stain removers make it worse. Deo Go worked, but also removed the colour from the shirt!
I've tried loads of things to get rid of the white staining, unfortuntely most stain removers make it worse. Deo Go worked, but also removed the colour from the shirt!
PAUL500 said:
thanks all, well apart from the last comment! they are nice shirts so will give all the options a try
You're in denial. The last comment is sensible. You will not successfully remove white deodorant stains from a dark shirt such that they're unnoticeable. Relegate the shirt to shed duties, get a new shirt and try a better deodorant. 
Gassing Station | The Lounge | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff