How to remove yellow stains from underarms of white shirts

We’ve all been there—you toss on your perfect white tee only to notice that dreaded yellowing at the armpit. But don’t sweat! You may be able to save your favorite tee with common household items hiding in your cupboards and keep sweat stains from happening altogether.

Read on for a few DIY tips to remove sweat stains: 

First things first: Did you know? Sweat stains are not actually caused by sweat! Your aluminum-based deodorant might be the culprit, which can cause yellowing when it reacts with sweat.

Spot treat with vinegar

Add two tablespoons of vinegar to one cup water & apply to the stains. Rub gently, let sit for 30 minutes & wash. Use cold water to wash & don’t add heat until the stain is completely gone to avoid setting.

Mix baking soda & hydrogen peroxide

Mix equal parts of two household staples—baking soda & hydrogen peroxide—with equal part water to form a paste. Rub into stains & wash as above.

Use Lemons as a Stain Remover

Have a few lemons in the garden? Squeeze the juice into equal parts water, rub into stains & toss in the wash.

Soak Out the Stain

If one spot treatment isn’t enough, double up! Mix one cup vinegar with two cups of water & let your garment soak for 20 minutes. Next, mix ½ cup baking soda with a tablespoon each of salt & hydrogen peroxide to form a paste. Wring out your tee & rub! Toss it into a load of whites & voila!

Washing Tip: Never reach for bleach! Chlorine bleach can actually have the opposite effect by making sweat stains appear darker.

If you’ve got more stains to combat, you’re in luck! We’ve got a printable washing guide that you can tape right next to your washing machine—or wherever you do your laundry.

—Tyler

Ready to put these tips into play but fresh out of crisp white pieces? Take your style quiz to get started and schedule a Fix. Our expert stylists will gather five options for you to explore. Remember,  shipping, returns and exchanges are always free. It’s as simple as that. 

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Let’s face it, we’ve all dealt with embarrassing armpit stains. However, you can still save your favorite shirt from a trashcan extinction. Follow the steps below to remove those stubborn yellow stains and prevent future ones from ruining your wardrobe.

Things You Should Know

• Mix baking soda with warm water in a 1:1 ratio. Scrub the paste into the stains with an old toothbrush and let it sit for an hour.
• Alternatively, mix equal parts warm water and vodka in a bucket. Submerge the stained areas in the mixture for 15-20 minutes.
• After soaking or using a paste, wash the shirt in hot water to remove the stain.

1. 

   1

   Choose your preferred stain removal remedy. There are multiple ways to get out those yellow stains. Whether your choice is based on a friend’s raving review, or because you already have the product in your cabinet, decide which remedy is the best fit. Choose from the following products then look to the subsequent steps for each individual product.

   • Baking Soda (Sodium Bicarbonate)
   • OxiClean (baking soda and hydrogen peroxide)
   • Vodka
   • Dish Detergent
   • White Vinegar
   • Crushed Aspirin (kept safely away from children)

2. 

   2

   Pretreat your stain by soaking in cool or warm water. Thoroughly moisten the stain by pouring the water over the fabric or sponging it on.

   • Stains are actually created by perspiration reacting to the aluminum found in most deodorants and antiperspirants. The combination of the protein found in your sweat combining with the aluminum creates the yellow stain. As the stain is protein based, immediate exposure to hot water sets in the stain.[1]
   • However, hot water is best for actually removing the stain. After submerging in cool water and treating with the remedy of your choice it is advised to wash in hot water to purge the remaining soils.

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3. 

   3

   Mix water with the cleaning agent in a separate container. No matter which of the previous products you have chosen, in order to activate the cleaning agents you must mix with warm water. Ratios and mixing specifications for each of the products are listed below.

   • OxiClean, vodka, hydrogen peroxide, white vinegar, and dish detergent should all be mixed in a container at a 1-1 ratio.
   • Baking soda should be mixed to water at a 3-1 ratio.
   • Aspirin pills must first be crushed. Use 3-4 pills and then mix into a bowl of warm water. See How to Remove Sweat Stains With Aspirin for more specific instructions. Keep aspirin out of reach of children, and be careful not to inhale any of its particles as it's being crushed.

4. 

   4

   Mix until the product has completely combined with the water, either creating a liquid or a paste. After the ingredients have been properly combined you will discover which form your solution has taken.

   • Baking soda will produce a paste.
   • Vodka, hydrogen peroxide, white vinegar, and aspirin will dissolve into a liquid. You will be soaking the garment or stained area in this mixture, so be sure to have a large enough container for the task.
   • OxiClean and dish detergent will dissolve into water with the given 1-1 ratio. However, you can also create a paste by using more OxiClean or detergent at a 3-1 ratio. Some prefer the paste solution, believing it fights harder against tough stains. [2]

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1. 

   1

   Spread a thick layer of paste onto the stain. Make sure you have completely covered the stain before proceeding.

2. 

   2

   Thoroughly scrub the paste into the garment using a toothbrush or a nailbrush. You may need to apply more paste as the fabric absorbs the solution. You will start to see the stain fade away.

   • Although the baking soda paste works well on its own, you can also try pouring vinegar over the stain while you scrub. The vinegar will immediately bubble up, so use caution.
   • Baking soda is a base while vinegar is an acid, so the two combined produce an explosion of sorts in the form of bubbles. This reaction’s abrasive qualities helps eliminate residue while the bubbles lift the stain out of the fabric. [3]

3. 

   3

   Let the stain sit for an hour. This will give the cleaning agents enough time to settle in and break up the chemicals causing discoloration.

   • If the stains are especially bad, let the treatment sit overnight.

4. 

   4

   Wash as usual in the hottest water safe for the fabric.

   • Some materials do not react well with heat, either shrinking the garment or fading the color. Check the garment’s tags for washing instructions. [4]

5. 

   5

   Repeat steps as necessary. Tough stains may not completely fade after the first treatment. Scrub more paste into the stain, let sit and wash again until the discoloration has completely faded.

   • If using OxiClean or detergent paste, try soaking tough stains in the liquid form as well. This will increase the stain-fighting power. Follow the steps in the section below. [5]

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1. 

   1

   For extremely tough stains, create one of the paste solutions to use in combination with the soak.

   • Mix baking soda or higher proportions of OxiClean, detergent or crushed aspirin with water in order to create a paste.
   • Scrub the paste into the stain with a toothbrush or nailbrush as described above. Let sit for an hour.

2. 

   2

   Pour liquid solutions into a bucket or container large enough to soak the stained garment. You really only need to soak the stained portion, but you can submerge the entire garment if you like.

   • For lesser stains, soaking may not be necessary. Pour the solution into a spray bottle and apply to stained areas. Generously spray and allow the solution to soak in before washing as usual.
   • If you have sensitive skin you may want to wear rubber gloves for the following steps, as the cleaning agents contain strong chemicals.
   • Stay away from bleach products when soaking clothing, as the chemical oxidize dyes which could lead to discoloration. [6] The items listed in this article do not contain bleach and should be fabric safe.

3. 

   3

   Let the fabric soak. Soaking time really depends on how light or dark the stain. Lighter stains may only need to sit for 15 to 30 minutes, while dark stains can sit for a few hours, possibly even overnight. [7]

   • Monitor your garment. If the stain fades quickly, remove from the soak. If the stain barely fades in an hour, leave overnight.
   • If a garment has been stained for a long period of time, it will be harder to remove. Try to treat your armpit stains as soon as they appear.

4. 

   4

   Wash as usual in the hottest water safe for the fabric.

   • Some materials do not react well with heat, either shrinking the garment or fading the color. Check the garment’s tags for washing instructions.

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1. 

   1

   Use an aluminum free deodorant or antiperspirant.

   • Stains are actually created by perspiration reacting to the aluminum found in most deodorants and antiperspirants. The combination of the protein found in your sweat combining with the aluminum creates the yellow stain.
   • Tom’s of Maine makes an aluminum free line of deodorant.

2. 

   2

   Wear less deodorant or antiperspirant. Caking on the deodorant or antiperspirant could lead to worse discoloration. Try to use sparingly. Excess deodorant will only cling onto your clothing and create more stains.

3. 

   3

   Take preventative measures. Before wearing, after washing, turn the garment inside out. Sprinkle baby powder liberally over armpit areas and iron. This works best for cotton or cotton blend fabrics.

4. 

   4

   Wear a less expensive undershirt. To keep stains away from nicer dress shirts, use an undershirt as a buffer zone between your sweat and the garment. [8]

5. 

   5

   Treat your stain every time you wash. Wash stained garment immediately after wearing and pretreat with a stain removal product, such as OxiClean or Spray and Wash.

   • Fresh stains are far easier to treat than old ones. By consistently treating the stain, you keep the garment clean and prevent it from settling into the fabric. [9]

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Add New Question

• Question

  How do you get rid of yellow armpit stains?

  

  Susan Stocker runs and owns Susan’s Green Cleaning, the #1 Green Cleaning Company in Seattle. She is well known in the region for outstanding customer service protocols — winning the 2017 Better Business Torch Award for Ethics & Integrity —and her energetic support of green cleaning practices.

  

  Green Cleaning Expert

  Expert Answer

  Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

  For an all-natural solution, dampen the stain with a mixture of 1 part lemon juice and 1 part water. Let it soak for 5 minutes and then scrub the stain with a moist cloth until the stain disappears.

• Question

  It's okay to use vinegar only?

  

  Yes, vinegar on its own or mixed with water can be helpful in treating the stain. Ensure you wash normally when you're finished.

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Article SummaryX

To remove yellow armpit stains, pretreat the fabric by soaking it in cool or warm water. Next, mix your chosen cleaning agent, such as baking soda, Oxiclean, or laundry detergent, with warm water to create a thick paste. Apply the paste mixture directly to the stain, covering it completely, then scrub it into the fabric with an old toothbrush. Let it sit for an hour, then wash the fabric as you normally would with hot water. To learn how to remove yellow armpit stains with a liquid cleaning solution, read on!

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Reader Success Stories

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  Erika Schell

  Jun 28, 2016

  "For years I have been throwing out my white T Shirts and other white tops due to unsightly yellow underarm stains,..." more

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