How to remove sweat or deodorant stains
Yellowing comes from sweat + aluminium in antiperspirant. Here's the safe way to lift a sweat or deodorant stain — these steps work for most fabrics, and you can tailor them to yours in the tool below.
Good odds
Usually lifts if you treat it promptly.
Do this now
- 1
Make a paste of baking soda and water (or soak in white vinegar) and work it into the marks.
- 2
Leave 30 minutes.
- 3
For yellowing on whites, soak in oxygen bleach.
- 4
Wash as the label allows and air-dry.
Use
- Baking soda
- White vinegar
- Oxygen bleach
Avoid
- Chlorine bleach (yellows it more)
- Hot drying
- Never mix bleach with vinegar, ammonia, alcohol, rust remover, or other cleaners.
- Use only one stain-removal chemical at a time, then rinse before trying another.
Good to know
These steps suit most washable fabrics. Choose your fabric to tailor them — gentler for wool, silk and other delicates, firmer for cotton and denim.