How to remove deodorant stains - Sanitisation Singapore

Deodorant is a liquid applied to smelly body parts to mask the stink of body odour. Body odour is the result of the sweat of armpits, feet and groin due to bacterial breakdown.

Deodorant is commonly used around the world to get rid of body odour, but it has some cons which cannot be ignored.

Table of Contents

What ingredient in deodorant causes yellow stains

If you don’t want your clothes to be tinted with yellow stains, then do not use a deodorant having aluminium in it because when aluminium mix with bacteria present in sweat, it gives off these yellow stains.

Does deodorant cause stains

Deodorants leave stains on almost every kind of fabric, no matter coloured, white or black material. Deodorant stains can be hard to remove.

Do deodorant stains dry

Yes, deodorant stains dry off. Well the product is make to keep us dry but deodorant itself dried off leaving deodorant marks and stains on the fabric. These stains are stubborn and hard to remove. In this articles many ways are discussed to get rid of these dry deodorant stains.

Can deodorant stains be removed

If you are noticing those yellow patches on your light clothing or white stains on the black fabric, you may wonder how to remove these unsightly stains.

These stains appear due to deodorant use in routine, and you can clean them at your home by using household items. Deodorant stains can be removed.

What will remove deodorant stains

Deodorant stains vary in colour. Its colour depends on the colour of the fabric and how old the colours are. Mostly deodorants leave white colours on the back fabric, known as deodorant marks, and when left untreated, they leave nasty yellow stains on white or light clothing.

Fresh deodorant stains are pretty easy to remove.

What can remove fresh deodorant stains

1. Dryer sheet

Buy one and put it in your bag! Whenever you notice some white marks on your clothes, wipe them off with a dryer sheet.

2. The garment you are wearing

Yes, that’s right! You can rub the clothes with the mark to remove them.

3. A damp piece of cloth

Damp a piece of cloth and rub it against the mark.

4. Sock and nylon stocking

Believe it or not, rubbing a piece of nylon on the colour and then popping the garment along with colour-safe detergent into the washing machine will remove all the deodorant stains from your favourite coloured t-shirt.

5. Deodorant expunging sponge

It is an excellent product for removing deodorant stains. It’s available on amazon. Again rub it against the deodorant marks.

If you lack items mentioned above that are great for instant stain removal, then this remedy is for you. Remember, this remedy is for fresh stains and both coloured and light clothing.

6. Soak a washcloth

Firstly, soak a washcloth in cold water. Squeeze out the excessive amount of water but make sure that the washcloth is wet, not damp.
Apply dish soap on washcloth. Grab a strong dish soap. Put some drops of soap into the washcloth but don’t put a large amount of dish soap as it will leave a soap residue behind it. Rub the dish soap onto a washcloth to make lather.
Eradicate the stain. Apply the soapy area to the fabric. Gently rub the stained surface to remove the stains. Once the stains are removed, pat the area with a damp piece of cloth.

7. Air-dry

You will be restless and eager to wear your garments. Most probably, you will iron damp clothes or dry blow them, but no, this is a wrong way of drying the clothes which were previously having deodorant stains.

The chemical reaction between the heat and deodorant can ruin the fabric. So it’s highly recommended to Air-dry your dresses. This precautionary measure is to ignore any response between heat and remaining deodorant.

8. Aspirin

Yup, it’s more than a pain-relieving tablet. Aspirin is used as a stain remover, especially for white clothing. What you need are three to four aspirin tablets.

Crush aspirin and make a paste by adding a small amount of water and some baking soda.
Apply this mixture to the stained area.
Leave it there for some hours before washing it.

This method does wonders for white clothing.

9. White vinegar

Submerge the stained area in white vinegar for almost an hour.
Afterwards, clean the stained area with a clean toothbrush.
Put the clothes in the washing machine along with detergent. This method is suitable for both coloured and white garments.

This method is suitable for both coloured and white garments.

10. Water and lemon juice

Mix an equal amount of water and lemon juice, and then apply this mixture to the stained surface.
Leave the clothing in the sun for an hour or so.
Rinse the garment before washing it in the washing machine as usual.
Naturally, the overall bleaching effect of lemon juice and sun remove the deodorant stains from lighter garments.

What can remove old deodorant stain

In white or light clothes, you may not notice the deodorant stains instantly, but when the clothes are left untreated, these deodorant marks form thick yellow stains on white garments, especially on the armpit area.

To remove these stains, use the following methods:

1. Baking soda and hydrogen peroxide

Mix an equal amount of baking soda to hydrogen peroxide, preferably 1:1 ratio.
Mix the ingredients to form a thick paste, then apply this thick paste to the stained surface.
Let it sit there for 15 minutes.
After giving the fabric, it’s required time scrub away the paste and stains with a toothbrush having stiff bristles.
Rinse the garment, then launder it as usual.

2. Bleach

This method is specifically for white shirts and garments.

Mix an equal amount of water and chlorine-free bleach.
Pour this mixture on the stain and let it sit there for few minutes before rinsing.
Wash the shirt as usual.

Does vanish remove deodorant stains

Vanish works best for cotton clothing, so if you notice some terrible deodorant stains on your favourite shirt, vanish can be the best solution.

Pour two milliliters of vanishing directly on the stained area.
Gently rub the stained area, then let Vanish cover the stain for approximately ten minutes.
Rinse the shirt thoroughly and wash as usual.

Does shout remove deodorant stains

Shout is the perfect product to remove deodorant stains. But before applying it to the fabric, make sure that your clothing is colour fastness and instruct nothing like dry clean only.

If your material is fulfilling the above conditions, then apply shout to the material. Rub it profoundly, setting it into the garment. If the stain is the older one, leave it overnight before washing it as usual. Do use warm water if your fabric is okay with it.

How to remove deodorant stains from armpits of shirts

As stated above, it is easy to treat fresh stains. In the case of armpits pre-treating your clothes is crucial before popping them into the washing machine etc. Following are some practical items.

Stain remover for armpits:

Specially designed stain removers for armpits should be used for this purpose. Spray the stained spot with this stain remover before popping it into the washing machine.

Oxiclean:

OxiClean works best for deodorant stains.

To remove deodorant stains, add one scoop of OxiClean to a bowl of water, preferably cold water.
Leave the shirt in this mixture for almost an hour, then wash the clothes as usual.

How to remove deodorant stains from silk

Silk is a delicate material. You will be amazed that household items can be used to treat this soft material. Rub the cotton rag again the fabric and during this process, make sure that this is not ruining your fabric. If your fabric stays fine, rub the cotton rag all over the stains.

Afterwards, mix an equal amount of vinegar and cold water. Soak a sponge in this solution. Apply it to the deodorant marks. Pat the wet area with a cotton rag to absorb moisture. Wash your clothes as usual.

How to remove deodorant stains from polyester

Use makeup wipes to remove the stains from polyester by rubbing it against the material and then leaving the clothing for 30 minutes before tossing it into the washing machine. Launder it in warm water.

The hydrogen peroxide can also be used (the method is listed above ) but apply it in some hidden area before thoroughly using it because, in some cases, peroxide ruins polyester.

How to prevent deodorant stains

Whenever you apply deodorant, wait for some time before putting on your clothes. This will give some time for the deodorant to dry.

Wash your white and light coloured clothes as soon as possible. It will stop bacteria from mixing with the deodorant hence preventing these unsightly, nasty, yellow stains.

What deodorant doesn’t leave yellow stains

The aluminum free deodorants don’t leave yellower stains on the clothes. Few are mentioned below:

Native deodorant (Qt: pack-3, weight 2.65 oz)
Secret aluminium-free deodorant( Qt: 3 pack, weight 2.4oz)

Both are available on Amazon.

Final thought:

Deodorant stains are removable no matter if you have these nasty marks on silk clothes or cotton clothes. Even household items can save you from spending a lot of money on stain removers, but in some cases, you need these stain removers. But usually, these stubborn stains can be treated with vinegar or baking soda.