How to Remove Sweat Stains From Clothing

By
Sarah Aguirre
Sarah Aguirre

Sarah Aguirre is a housekeeping expert with over 20 years of experience cleaning residentially and commercially. Over that time, she has been writing about tips and tricks for housekeeping and organizing a home for national publications.

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Updated on 08/16/21
Fact checked by
Emily Estep
Emily Estep
Fact checked by Emily Estep
Emily Estep is a plant biologist and fact-checker focused on environmental sciences. She received a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and a Master of Science in Plant Biology from Ohio University. Emily has been a proofreader and editor at a variety of online media outlets over the past decade.
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How to Remove Sweat Stains From Clothing

The Spruce / Caitlin Rogers

Project Overview
  • Working Time: 10 - 15 mins
  • Total Time: 2 - 3 hrs
  • Skill Level: Beginner

Some of us may sweat more than others, but sweat stains are something everyone must deal with in their laundry. When white clothes start to get stains around the underarms, you might assume that sweat caused the stain, and that's only half right. The real cause of these yellowish stains is a mixture of the minerals (especially salt) in sweat mixed with the ingredients in antiperspirant or deodorant (primarily aluminum). This is the combo that makes the yellow stains on white clothes and discolors the armpit areas of colored clothes.

Sweat stains can be stubborn and may require more than one treatment, but you don't need any fancy stain removers or strong chemicals to erase them. Simple household solutions and ordinary laundry products usually work best.

Stain type Protein and chemical
Detergent type Enzyme-based laundry detergent
Water temperature Warm or hot
Cycle type Normal
1:08

How to Remove Underarm Stains and Odor From Clothes

Before You Begin

Test stain removers and cleaners, no matter how innocent they seem, on colored clothes before using them on sweat stains. Hydrogen peroxide, for example, is a mild bleaching agent that can lighten colored fabric that is not colorfast. Just dampen a white cloth or a cotton swab with peroxide (or another stain remover or cleaner you'd like to use) and dab it onto an interior seam, hem, or inconspicuous area to make sure no color comes off. If you see some color on the cloth or swab, use vinegar or a commercial stain remover that's safe for colors instead of the instructions below.

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What You'll Need

Equipment / Tools

  • Sponge or toothbrush

Materials

  • Baking soda
  • Hydrogen peroxide
  • Enzyme-based stain remover (optional)
  • Laundry detergent
  • White vinegar (optional)
  • Chlorine bleach (optional)

Instructions

Sweat stain remover supplies
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  1. Sponge the Stain

    Mix baking soda with enough water or hydrogen peroxide to form a paste. Rub the mixture onto the stained area, using a sponge or an old toothbrush. Alternatively, you can sponge the stain with undiluted white vinegar. Allow the item to sit with the solution for up to 30 minutes.

    Applying baking soda and hydrogen peroxide mixture to shirt stain
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    Tip

    Use a similar process to hand-wash sweat-stained baseball caps and other washable hats to keep their shape. During washing, scrub the stained area with an old toothbrush. Rinse well and let the hat air-dry.

  2. Rinse With Water

    Rinse out the solution with cold or warm water.

    Warning

    Do not rinse with hot water because it can set the stain.

    Rinse stain solution under water
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  3. Pretreat With Enzymes

    If desired, apply an enzyme-based laundry stain remover or laundry detergent
    (Tide and Persil are heavy-duty detergents with enzyme-based formulas) and let it sit for five minutes or as directed.

    Pretreat clothing stain solution
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  4. Wash as Usual

    Wash the item as you normally would, using the hottest water that is safe for the fabric.

    Clothes in washing machine
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  5. Line Dry the Garment

    Let the clothing air dry, then check for any evidence of the sweat stain. If the stain remains, repeat the treatment, as before.

    Line dry clothing
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Tip

Prevent sweat stains by using less deodorant so the built-up layers do not soak into the fabric. Or consider a new deodorant that is aluminum-free or with less aluminum than other brands which may help prevent stains.

As a last resort for stubborn sweat stains, submerge and soak the garment in a solution of one cup cold water and two tablespoons of white distilled vinegar, then let it sit for at least 30 minutes, rinse and launder. For white fabrics that are bleach-safe, wash with chlorine bleach to help remove the stain's yellow tinge. Once you know the sweat stain is gone for good, you can resume drying the clothing in a dryer.