Stains are an unfortunate part of life. It’s important to learn to remove stains from all types of clothing, but you will only need to do this occasionally. Deodorant staining is a common occurrence. The. Time. You know that moment when you are putting on dark shirts, and you pull them over your heads, stretching as far down as you can to avoid your armpits only to discover– womp, womp –white marks all over? Even if you manage to avoid it, you will still get that white deodorant on your shirts near the armpits. This residue builds over time and eventually damages them. You don’t need to grin and endure it or throw away those items. You can remove deodorant stains from shirts if you have the right knowledge.
How can you prevent this? You can prevent this from happening by taking care of your clothes on a regular basis rather than waiting until the problem is severe. It’s still not too late, even if you already notice the white buildup. You can save your clothes and avoid permanent stains by using one of the top stain removers available. Or, you can look for them in your pantry. You may not believe it, but some of the most effective stain removers are household products.
Before we begin, a few notes: the strategies below work best with cotton and poly-blend fabric. It’s best to take delicate fabrics such as silk, satin, or wool to a professional dry cleaner. For all of the options below, you should soak the material with the warmest amount of water allowed by the care label to increase your chances of success. Here are some of the best deodorant stain removers.
VinegarWhite vinegar is one of the best methods to remove deodorant stains from shirts. Jennie Varney is the brand manager of Molly Maid – a Neighborly product. She says that soaking your T-shirt in white vinegar will help remove stains as well as any lingering smells. After drinking it for one hour, lightly brush the affected area. Vinegar is also useful for removing coffee stains from clothing.
Baking soda
This powder works wonders for stains. Varney says that mixing baking soda and water into a paste will help gently agitate stains and lift them before washing them in hot water. The paste can be applied to the color and left to sit anywhere between 20 minutes to overnight, depending on how severe the color is. Throw it into your normal laundry.
Lemon Juice
Sean Busch, CEO and cofounder of Puracy says that the acidity of this liquid can help dissolve the thickening of deodorant. Most fabrics are also safe to use. Varney says that a simple 1:1 mixture of lemon juice with water is a great spot treatment. You can leave it on for an hour, then wash it as normal. It’s also one of the ingredients that you should add to your laundry – stains or no stains.
Aspirin
Aspirin can be crushed into powder and made into a paste. Varney suggests mixing it with water to treat white clothing. It’s similar in its effectiveness to baking soda because it is abrasive without damaging the fabric. Let it sit anywhere between 20 minutes and an hour, depending on the severity.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Experts recommend that you only use hydrogen peroxide on white clothing. Varney says that a simple hydrogen peroxide-water mixture is ideal for soaking an entire white garment prior to washing. Test it first on a small area that is not visible to see if there are any effects. Be careful not to use the product on delicate fabrics such as silk, satin, or wool.
Buy a stain remover at the store
Deodorant residue can be removed with classic stain remover. Busch recommends using a stain remover that is natural and designed to remove all residues and stains, including deodorant white stains. After your day’s activities, spray a stain remover on your clothing. You don’t have to rub the product in. Let it sit for 15 minutes, and then wash it with your other clothes. Try Puracy’s Natural Stain Removal or The Laundress’ Stain Solution.
Transfer the deodorant stain
What is the idea? The idea is to remove the stain using another item before washing. Varney says that this will help to spread out the buildup. “Rub a cotton sock or shirt over the stain and then wash as usual.”
Deodorant stains are an exception. While it is important never to leave a stain for a long time, there is some breathing room. This is not the case when dealing with grease. You should, therefore, bookmark this article on how to remove oil stains from clothes. When it comes to that stain, time is crucial!
How to remove fresh deodorant from clothing
It’s important to learn how to remove and prevent deodorant stains that have built up over time, but what about the fresh white marks on your shirt as you get dressed? This two-step method will eliminate the color immediately so that you do not have to change your clothes.
Steam is a popular way to get rid of it
Onkar Bali of Bally’s Cleaners, Palm Desert, California, says: “Don’t scrub the stain too hard with a wet towel. This will only cause the color to run.” Steaming the area will help to moisten it lightly. The fabric and deodorant will be loosened, making the removal easier.
If you don’t have a steamer at home, many Irons can steam. You can also hang your shirt in the bathroom and let it cook while the shower runs.
Rub it
After the stain is steamed out, you can remove it manually in a couple of ways. You need to scrub the color with the correct material. You may not believe it, but a pair of pantyhose that has been rolled up is an incredibly efficient way to remove deodorant stains. You can use a dryer sheet instead of a hose if you don’t own any. You don’t have any of these at home? You can also use the foam rubber strips that are found on hangers for dry cleaners. If you tend to wear black clothes, consider investing in a Miss Oops Rescue sponge. It instantly removes deodorant and powder-based stains and is especially useful on dark-colored clothing.
It’s now time to get started. Rub your chosen tool gently in circular motions over the stain. The older the color is, the harder and longer you will have to work. You’ll notice that the color is slowly fading. While rubbing can be a great way to remove deodorant, it’s not the best method to use when trying to remove yellow mustard tu, turmeric stains, or dark chocolate stains. Rubbing can make the colors more embedded.
