Hey everyone! I'm a pretty sweaty guy and I'm tired of my shirts being ruined by underarm stains. It's been a while since I've shopped for clothes (thanks to COVID), and now most of my old shirts are stained—dark shirts have dark stains, white shirts have yellow stains, and I even have white marks on dark fabrics. I'm looking for advice on a few things:
1. What exactly causes these stains? Is it just sweat, or could it be the aluminum in antiperspirants?
2. If deodorants are the culprit, what are some good brands that won't stain my shirts while still keeping me dry? I'm in the U.S., so I can easily get most brands.
3. If it's just sweat, is there any hope for me?
4. Are there any tricks to refurbish my old shirts and get those stains out?
Any pointers would be greatly appreciated!
5 Answers
For the yellow stains, I've had success with OxiClean. Make a paste with OxiClean and some hot water, rub it onto the stained areas, and let it sit overnight. Then just wash it like normal in the morning. It works wonders on white shirts! My colored shirts turned out fine with the color-specific version too.
Hey, I've been through this too! I used Certain Dri at night for a few weeks, and it reduced my sweating by about 90%. It’s strong stuff, but it worked for me! As for the fabric, using dress shields can also help keep your outer shirts free from sweat stains.
Switching to a natural deodorant really made a difference for me, and I barely sweat compared to before. I also make sure to put on deodorant at least 5 minutes before I put on my shirt to let it set. This technique stopped those annoying stains from forming.
To get rid of those stubborn deodorant stains, you need something acidic. White vinegar works wonders! Soak the stained areas in vinegar for about 30-60 minutes, then scrub with a cloth or an old toothbrush before washing. It really does help to lift those stains! Plus, it can neutralize odors too.
From what I've seen, those underarm stains are mostly from antiperspirants. I switched to Schmidt's sensitive skin formula deodorant and had no issues with stains. Also, be careful with your choice; too much aluminum can be bad!