Pesky deodorant stains can be removed in a variety of ways, from a classic white vinegar and baking soda solution to a simple salt and lemon mixture. It requires a little patience, but it’s not too difficult and can be done using ingredients you can find in your own kitchen.
While deodorant helps you smell good, the stains it leaves behind may ruin your most-loved top. But nothing to worry, a little effort, and a few simple remedies can remove the deodorant stains and bring your clothing back to a good condition.
These approaches are easy to do, so just follow the steps of any procedure below to resolve your problem.
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Classic vinegar and baking soda method
The use of white vinegar and baking soda in removing undesirable stains is probably not new to you. These two classic stain removers have the individual properties that make them a good stain remover. Their common outcome is the ability to strip off stains, like the ones caused by deodorant.
A simple vinegar solution
White vinegar’s acidic nature does the work in the stain removal process when removing deodorant stains from your clothes. Its role in color preservation also makes it a good stain remover for both white and colored clothes. Now get your deodorant-stained clothes and follow the procedure below.
- In a basin, prepare a solution of two tablespoons of white vinegar and a cup of warm water.
- Soak your deodorant-stained clothes in the basin with the vinegar and water solution.
- Leave it to soak for an hour.
- If you don’t have an hour, cut the wait and speed up the process by gently rubbing the stained area with your bare hands or using an old soft-bristled toothbrush. Note that you should start rubbing only after a 20-minute soak time has passed.
- After an hour has elapsed, put your clothes in the washing machine and wash on a hot water cycle.
- Let it dry to make sure the stain is gone.
Baking soda is more effective on older stains
In the event that the deodorant-stained clothes were discovered a bit late, baking soda can also be used. It works best with old and dry stains. White vinegar complements baking soda by strengthening its ability to remove deodorant stains from clothes.
For this method, resolve your problem with the following steps:
- Mix three tablespoons of baking soda with a tablespoon of warm water to form a paste.
- If you think the baking soda paste is not enough to cover the entire stained area, you can make more by following a 3:1 ratio of baking soda to water.
- Apply the baking soda paste thinly on the deodorant-stained surface.
- Leave it for an hour or two. A maximum of two hours is applicable for old deodorant stains.
- Wash the clothes in a hot water wash cycle.
- You can also add a tablespoon of white vinegar to the stained area to help accelerate the stain removal process.
- Let it air dry.
A natural remedy for removing stains using salt and lemon
As they usually say, two is better than one. And true enough, the combination of salt and lemon provides nothing but a synergistic action. Salt is the best remedy for the yellow discoloration caused by deodorant stains on white clothes. In addition, lemon is an excellent deodorant stain buster.
Use the steps below to help you eliminate pesky deodorant stains:
- Get a lemon and press it against a compact surface. Cut it and squeeze the juice on the deodorant stain.
- When the deodorant-stained area is soaking with lemon juice, immediately apply a teaspoon of salt.
- Rub the salt granules thoroughly against the stained area. The lemon juice and salt will work together at this point to strip the stain away.
- Dry the clothes in the sun for half an hour. Be sure to expose the stained area to direct sunlight.
- Afterward, wash your clothes as usual.
This method is best for white clothes because the lemon’s bleaching effect might cause colored clothes to strip off their colors when exposed to sunlight. However, there is another method where you can only use salt, which does not require lemon or any exposure to sunlight.
Salt-only method for dark-colored clothing
The following are the steps to removing deodorant stains using salt:
- Dissolve four tablespoons of salt in a quart of hot water to make a solution.
- Soak a sponge or a soft cloth in a bowl containing the solution.
- Rub the deodorant-stained area with the sponge or cloth. Continue rubbing until the stain is no longer visible.
- Wash your clothes, and allow it to dry.
This salt method is useful in removing fresh deodorant stains. Old stains are hard to remove with salt alone, and continuous rubbing action can destroy the fabrics of your clothes.
Video: How to remove deodorant stains from t-shirts and other clothes with white vinegar
Common questions about deodorant stains
Can aspirin remove deodorant stains?
Aspirin, the widely known pain reliever, can also be used as a deodorant stain remover because of its salicylic acid component. This specific component shares the same action as that of acetic acid found in white vinegar. It makes aspirin an excellent deodorant stain remover.
Follow the steps below to remove deodorant stains using aspirin:
- Get at least five aspirin tablets from your medicine cabinet.
- Crush the pills into a fine powder using a mortar and pestle.
- Transfer the pulverized aspirin on a small dish and add water to form a paste.
- Thinly coat the deodorant stain with the aspirin paste. Let it sit for 30 minutes.
- Wash your clothes the way you usually do.
- Allow it to dry.
Be sure you don’t leave your aspirin-soaked garment in reach of young children as it could be dangerous if they ingested the aspirin.
Can meat tenderizer break down deodorant stains?
Meat tenderizer can break down stains because of its active enzyme ingredients. Usually, deodorant stains are blended with sweat proteins forming pit stains, making them difficult to remove. The enzyme ingredients in meat tenderizers are the ones responsible for breaking down the sweat proteins that adhered to fabrics.
- Wet the deodorant-stained area with warm water.
- Sprinkle the meat tenderizer powder on the wet area.
- Rub the powder with your hands to allow the settling of the meat tenderizer.
- Let it sit for 20 minutes.
- Wash your clothes as normal, and enjoy stain-free clothes.
Can deodorant marks be removed in polyester without washing?
The residing deodorant marks on polyester can be removed even without washing it by using baby wipes. These pre-moistened wipes can loosen the deodorant stains from your clothes made of polyester. It lifts stains and does not wet your clothes.
When in a hurry, this technique can deliver the best results as you all need to do is rub the pre-moistened wipes on the deodorant stain until the stains disappear.
Does deodorant stain clothes
Deodorant can leave stains on clothes. The white stains that antiperspirant deodorant leave comes from the ingredients. It is the aluminum salts that are part of the antiperspirants that leaves dull marks on you. From the skin, it will often be carried onto your clothes and give white marks.
The Bottom Line
The deodorant stains are attention seekers, so give these blemishes the attention they deserve by banishing them from your clothes. Manage these stains before they take away your confidence. Deodorant stains can easily be noticed, and you might end up keeping your underarms to yourself. The good thing is, you can do any of the methods above and be free to raise your hands up.
