How do I get the yellow armpit stains out of white shirts?

Question

I never understood how some people seem to keep those yellow armpit stains out of their white clothes. Well my white clothes never fail to end up getting those stains. I am a person that sweats a lot for a woman (how embarassing) I have even had to start wearing men's deodorant. What can I use to get those kinds of stains out of my white clothes? Thanks!

Answer 1

First of all, do not use bleach or hot water. Bleach will actually darken the stains, which are usually not from sweat, but from the deodorant/antiperspirant. Hot water will set the stain as will drying it with heat so if the stain is not gone after the first washing, let it air dry and repeat the process. There are several alternatives to using bleach to remove these stains and/or brighten your whites.

You should soak the area/shirt in white vinegar or a mixture of hydrogen peroxide and water. Hydrogen Peroxide is a natural bleaching agent which will not add to the discoloring like bleach will. Soak in either solution for 15-30 minutes and then wash the item normally.

As previously stated, do not dry the shirt in a dryer if the stain has not yet come out. Repeat the process.

A paste of baking soda and water can also be applied to the area. Let the paste dry and then wash normally.

Tips     Avoid anti-perspirants with Aluminum as the active ingredient, which causes sweat stains in the first place

Answer 2

Make a paste of powdered dish washing detergent and water and rub that into it, let set, then wash like normal. ( you don't need to rinse it out)

Answer 3

A few years ago, I called the TIDE and CHEER customer service departments to find out how to get rid of the yellow stains.  They told me to use a bar of soap PRIOR to washing the shirts in the washer.  The soap bar should remove deoderant stuck to the shirt, the same way we it cleans bodies.  (I also tried liquid soap but that did not work.)  On occasion, I still had faint yellow spots.  I found it helpful to pour lemon juice on the stain, pour salt onto it and then let it sit in the sun for about 1 hour.  

Answer 4

use bleach in your wash