How to Remove Armpit Stains and Odor from Clothes

Remove Armpit Stains Using Baking Soda

Baking soda often works wonders at getting the yellow hue out of white shirts and restoring them to their original brightness. Success will depend upon how old the stains are and the fabric content of your shirt; cotton clothes whiten best.

1. Make the Mixture

   Mix one part baking soda, one part hydrogen peroxide, and one part water. (A quarter cup of each for this mixture is enough to clean one shirt.)

2. Rub the Stain

   Rub the mixture thoroughly into the stained area with a sponge or an old toothbrush. Allow the item to sit with the solution for up to 30 minutes.

3. Wash the Shirt

   Wash the shirt as usual with heavy-duty laundry detergent in the warmest water setting that is safe for the fabric.

Remove Armpit Stains Using Oxygen Bleach

Aside from baking soda, a combination of oxygen bleach—not chlorine bleach—and ammonia is another great method for removing yellow armpit stains. This should only be used on white fabrics, as it will remove color from dyed garments. It should also be a last resort, since it can weaken fabrics.

1. Mix Ingredients

   Find a well-ventilated room to mix ingredients. Be sure to put on rubber gloves.

   Mix one part oxygen-based bleach (OxiClean, Nellie's All-Natural Oxygen Brightener, or OXO Brite) and one part household ammonia in a non-metal bowl. Use about two tablespoons of each ingredient per shirt.

2. Rub Into Fabric

   Rub the solution thoroughly into the underarm stains with a soft-bristled brush. Rub for at least one minute.

3. Let Mixture Soak In

   Allow the solution to work for at least 10 minutes before washing away.

4. Wash the Shirt

   Wash as usual with heavy-duty laundry detergent in warm or cold water, depending on the washing guidelines for the shirt.

Remove Armpit Stains Using White Vinegar

Underarm stains are very evident on white shirts because the fabric turns yellow. While they might not be as apparent on dark-colored shirts, they may still be there. The underarm stains from deodorant and body oils trap bacteria, create odor, stiffen fabric, and eventually cause discoloration. If you notice a colored shirt is no longer as fresh as it used to be, even after regular washing, take the following steps.

1. Pretreat the Stains

   Mix a one-to-one solution of white distilled vinegar and water. A couple of tablespoons of each should be enough to treat one shirt. Use a soft-bristled brush or an old toothbrush to scrub the armpits thoroughly.

2. Mix the Ingredients

   Fill a sink or large bucket with cool water. Add one cup of white distilled vinegar.

3. Soak the Shirts

   Add the colored shirts. Allow the shirts to soak for at least 30 minutes.

4. Drain the Water

   Drain the vinegar/water solution from the bucket or sink.

5. Wash the Shirt

   Wash the shirt as usual in cool water with a heavy-duty detergent.

Removing Collar and Cuff Sweat Stains

Similar to armpit stains, stains on collars or cuffs—ring around the collar—can be difficult to remove thanks to a combination of sweat, body oil, and daily soil. The key to keeping collars clean is to tackle these oily stains after every shirt wearing. 

1. Pretreat the Stain

   Pretreat stained areas using a solvent-based stain removal product, or a laundry soap bar like Fels-Naptha or Zote, or a bit of heavy-duty liquid detergent like Tide or Persil.

2. Brush in Stain Remover

   Work the stain remover into the fabric with a soft-bristled brush. Allow the stain remover to work at least 10 minutes before washing.

3. Wash the Shirt

   Wash the shirt as usual in the highest water temperature appropriate for the fabric using the recommended amount of a heavy-duty laundry detergent.

4. Repeat if Necessary

   Inspect the washed clothes before drying at high heat. If stains remain, do not dry. Repeat treatment if necessary.

Additional Tips for Handling Underarm Stains and Odor

Fighting underarm stains before they happen reduces the need to deal with these ugly marks later. There are two ways to cut down on armpit stains on your shirts, and both have to do with the way you use deodorant. Switching to an aluminum-free deodorant can help. In addition, after applying any type of deodorant or antiperspirant, allow it to dry before dressing to prevent rub-off on fabrics. If pressed for time, use a hairdryer for a couple of seconds (this will also eliminate deodorant marks on the clothes).

If heavy sweating or sweat odor are regular problems, baking soda can boost the cleaning power of your laundry detergent. Baking soda helps regulate the pH level in the washer's water, and adding one-half cup to each laundry load helps detergent work more effectively and reduces bacteria.

For heavy perspiration odors, use baking soda as a presoak. Dissolve one cup of baking soda in warm water. Fill the ​washer tub or a large sink with cool water and add the dissolved baking soda. Submerge stinky clothes, and allow them to soak overnight. Then wash as usual.