How to Get Rid of Armpit Stains

Have you ever worn your favorite shirt on a hot day and taken it off, only to see that your shirt has potentially been ruined by armpit stains? It’s a bummer, but don’t toss your favorite concert tee or button down in the trash just yet. There’s hope and you won’t need to spend a ton of money to make your shirts look like you just bought them.

Armpit stains might be gross, but they’re also removable in most circumstances. You might be a frustrated mom hoping to DIY your way through your kids’ stained laundry or wondering whether to have a pro handle it for you, or you might even be a professional housekeeper in need of a hand. Either way, we’ve got you covered. Here are the best armpit-stain-removing tips from our Pros.

What Causes Armpit Stains?

You know that armpit stains are gross, but do you know what causes them, or why? Here’s the lowdown.

The basic explanation for why you might end with armpit stains on your shirts is that there’s a chemical reaction happening. The chemicals involved might include:

• Chemicals in your sweat, including ammonia and urea
• Chemicals in your deodorant, including aluminum
• Naturally-occuring bacteria on your skin

The materials in your shirt can also affect the chances of developing armpit stains. You can reduce the likelihood of stains by wearing breathable fabrics. Some examples are:

• Cotton
• Silk
• Bamboo
• Linen
• Microfiber designed to wick moisture away from your armpits

Heavy polyester and some rayon fabrics can trap sweat and odors, so you may want to avoid wearing them in warm weather.

What Do You Need to Remove Armpit Stains?

Removing armpit stains doesn’t require rocket science or sorcery. Here are some of the products and cleaning supplies you’ll need to get the job done right.

You won’t use every product listed above. If you keep reading, you’ll get detailed steps to help you pretreat stains and launder them to banish armpit stains. You may even decide to use the sun as a bleaching agent!

How to Get Rid of Dark or Yellow Armpit Stains

If you get armpit stains on your shirt, there’s a good chance they’ll be either dark or yellow in color. Here’s an overview of how to get rid of them, and then we’ll give you steps for specific circumstances.

• Treat armpit stains as soon as you notice them.
• Use a pretreatment method with baking soda, vinegar, or bleach to get a jump on the stains.
• Machine washable clothes can be thrown into the washing machine after you pretreat them.
• Hand washable clothing should be washed following the manufacturer’s instructions.

The most important thing to remember is that if you pretreat and launder a shirt and it’s still stained, don’t put it in the dryer. The heat will set the stain and may make it permanent.

How to Get Rid of Armpit Stains on Colored Shirts

The most important thing to know about armpit stains on colored shirts is that you’ve got to be careful if you don’t want to bleach the armpits and ruin the shirt. That’s why you should make sure to test any cleaning solution you use on a hidden area of the shirt before proceeding. Here are the steps.

Step 1: Soak the shirt in a basin with two cups of water and one cup of white vinegar for at least an hour.

Step 2: Wring out the shirt.

Step 3: Launder per the manufacturer’s instructions.

Step 4: Hang shirt to dry.

We recommend air drying until you’re 100% confident that the stains are gone. Remember, the high heat of your dryer can make the stains permanent!

How to Get Rid of Armpit Stains on White Shirts

White shirts require a different method, and it’s here that using either bleach or something with bleaching properties can be useful, especially for yellow stains.

Step 1: Pretreat the stains by soaking the shirt in a mixture of two cups of water to one cup of vinegar for 30 minutes.

Step 2: Wring out the shirt and lay it on a flat surface.

Step 3: Make a paste using ½ cup of baking soda, one tablespoon of salt, and one tablespoon of hydrogen peroxide. Alternatively, you can spritz the area with sodium-based bleach.

Step 4: Apply the paste to the stain and use a soft-bristled toothbrush or microfiber cloth to gently rub the paste into the fabric

Step 5: Allow the paste to sit for 20 minutes.

Step 6: Wash the shirt in the hottest temperature recommended by the manufacturer.

Step 7: Hang the shirt to air dry.

Watch the video below to see a slightly different method that can work on all types of shirts.

How to Use Sunlight and Natural Products to Remove Armpit Stains

One of the easiest and most natural ways to get rid of unsightly armpit stains is to use the bleaching power of the sun. Here are the steps to follow.

Step 1: Pretreat the stained area by spraying it with white vinegar or lemon juice .

Step 2: Lay the shirt out in the sun, making sure that the stained areas are in direct sunlight.

Step 3: Leave the shirt in place until the treated areas are dry.

Step 4: If the stains are gone, you can launder as usual.

Step 5: If you still see stains, retreat the areas and leave them in the sun. Repeat as needed.

Tips for Avoiding Armpit Stains

Here are a few pointers to help you avoid armpit stains from forming in the first place.

First, consider switching to an aluminum-free deodorant. While a lot of commercial deodorants contain aluminum, it can react with your sweat and cause stains.

Second, if you can, wear an undershirt. There are options available that do a great job of keeping sweat from absorbing into your favorite shirt.

Third, try to wash sweaty clothing as soon as possible, or at least pretreat the armpits to avoid stains. When sweaty clothes sit at the bottom of your hamper, it gives the stains a chance to settle in for the long haul.

FAQ About Removing Armpit Stains

Now, let’s get to some frequently asked questions about removing armpit stains.

Conclusion

Armpit stains can be gross, but you don’t need to let it depress you. With simple cleaning products and the steps we’ve outlined here, you can get rid of them and wear your favorite shirts with confidence thanks to our Pros.