How to remove deodorant stains

Deodorant is amazing! It helps prevent sweat and keeps you smelling fresh all day. However, the downside is that it often leaves behind stains on the armpit area of your clothing.

Fortunately, there are ways to remove deodorant stains so you don’t end up having to throw the stained garment away. There are a few ways to get rid of deodorant stains on your clothes and leave them looking as good as new.

To remove deodorant stains, several household products do the trick, including:

• Distilled white vinegar
• Baking soda
• Lemon juice
• Liquid dish soap
• Salt

White vinegar fights deodorant stains

Thanks to the acidic properties of white vinegar, we can remove deodorant stains from the armpits in a very simple way.

You’ll need:

• 1/2 cup of distilled white vinegar
• 1 gallon of hot water

Follow these steps:

1. Pour the vinegar into the hot water.
2. Add the stained garment to soak in the solution.
3. Leave it to settle for a few hours, giving it enough time to work on the stain.
4. Remove and wash as you normally would in the washing machine.
5. Repeat the process as many times as needed until all the deodorant is gone.
6. You can also replace fabric softener with vinegar in general, by adding vinegar in the fabric softener compartment of your washing machine.

Baking soda does the trick

There are many incredible cleaning uses for baking soda. This product should be a staple in every home, not just for cooking, but also for cleaning.

You’ll need:

• 1 tablespoon of water
• 3 tablespoons of baking soda

Follow the procedure:

1. Mix the baking soda and water to form a paste.
2. Apply the paste directly to the stain, rubbing gently using a toothbrush until the garment absorbs the paste well.
3. Let the paste sit for a few minutes.
4. Launder as you would normally.

Hydrogen peroxide to get rid of deodorant stains

Hydrogen peroxide is excellent for removing deodorant stains from clothes. You only need to dilute it in water. Make sure to do a spot test if your clothing is colored, because hydrogen peroxide can have bleaching properties.

Things you’ll need:

• 2 tablespoons of hydrogen peroxide
• 4 cups of water (1 liter)

Follow these steps:

1. Add the water and hydrogen peroxide to a bucket or basin.
2. You can add more solution, according to the ratio, depending on how many clothing items you want to clean. For every 4 cups of water, add 2 tablespoons of hydrogen peroxide.
3. Put the stained clothes in the bucket and give a good mix, making sure the solution is absorbed well on the stained parts.
4. Leave to soak for a few hours.
5. Rinse and wash as usual.

Lemon juice is an effective stain remover

Lemon juice is excellent for its brightening properties that help remove unwanted stains from clothes.

Things you’ll need:

• A lemon

Follow the procedure:

1. Cut the lemon into half.
2. Rub the sliced lemon on the armpit stain, squeezing the juice out to act on the stain.
3. Once done, place the garment in the sun and leave it for a few hours.
4. The sun enhances the stain removal effects of the lemon so it’s a necessary step.
5. Rinse with warm water and wash as usual.

Combination of salt and vinegar

As we already mentioned, vinegar is an outstanding ingredient for deodorant stain elimination. Combined with salt, its stain removal power is further enhanced.

Things you’ll need:

• 3/4 cup of salt
• 1 cup of vinegar
• 1 tablespoon of dish soap
• ½ a bucket of hot water

Follow the procedure:

1. Mix the salt and vinegar into a half-full bucket of hot water.
2. Next, add the liquid dish soap.
3. Take the stained garment and place it inside the bucket.
4. Leave it to soak for 3 hours.
5. After the 3-hour mark, rinse with cold water and wash as you normally would.

Video: How to remove deodorant stains from clothes with vinegar

Things to know about deodorant stains

Natural deodorant doesn’t stain as much

Commercial deodorants contain a lot of chemicals that can cause stains once they react with body sweat. One way to avoid this is with natural deodorant. Many people nowadays are opting to use natural deodorants because of their healthy and stain-free property. Making your own deodorant is quite simple and only takes a few easily available ingredients. So if you really don’t want the hassle of spot cleaning, you can opt for the natural one.

Can bleach be used to remove a deodorant stain?

No, bleach does not remove deodorant stains. Although they advertise that there is bleach for colored clothes, it will have no effect on deodorant stains. Bleach is very harsh, can be toxic, and should also never be mixed with any other ingredients. It is always advised to first use natural mild products when treating stains before moving onto stronger ones.

Can the products be used to remove deodorant stains from colored clothes as well?

Yes, other than hydrogen peroxide, all the other products are natural. Hydrogen peroxide in the measurements advised should be safe to use even on colored clothing but just to be sure try first on a small hidden place on your garment.

How can you prevent deodorant stain build up?

To prevent deodorant stain build-up, don’t wait until the stain is so impregnated on the fabric to start stain treatment. Teat the stains after every time you wear it. The processes are very simple. Just soak your shirt in the vinegar solution for a few hours before washing it. You can also use the stronger solution of vinegar, salt and dish soap.

Wrapping up

Maintaining personal hygiene and smelling fresh all day is very important for self-confidence. Nobody wants to go round smelling of and dripping sweat, but unfortunately using deodorant can have the negative side effect of staining your clothes. Luckily, discarding your outfit is not the final solution for a deodorant stain. You simply need to put in a little effort and soak your clothes before washing them.

Try the methods and let us know which ones worked for you.

Happy cleaning!