How to Get Sweat Stains Out of Clothes
Even if you’re wearing the right fabrics , there are days when hot summer weather really makes you sweat. Excessive sweating is bad enough, but it doesn’t stop there: it can also leave yellow stains on your clothes.
Fortunately, there are ways to remove these stains. Here’s what you need to know.
Why are sweat spots yellow?
When most people sweat , the sweat running down the face and seeping out from the armpits is colorless. So why are sweat spots yellow?
“Deodorants and antiperspirants contain many different ingredients that can and will create stains when combined with sweat,” Wayne Edelman, CEO of Meurice Garment Care , also known as “Stainmaster,” tells Lifehacker. “These ingredients read like a chemistry lesson and include aluminum-based elements as well as wax-based formulas and petrochemicals.”
How to get rid of sweat stains
“First of all, sweat stains should be removed as soon as possible after wearing the garment,” explains Edelman. “If left untreated, the stain can become discolored and at this point it may be permanent or require additional treatment to remove it,” he says.
Like other types of stain removal, how sweat stains are removed depends on the materials and dyes used to make the garment. And generally speaking, Edelman recommends only trying to remove sweat stains at home on washable clothes—any dry-cleaning-only items should be professionally laundered.
“Sweat stains on their own can usually be cleaned up by first treating them with any broad spectrum stain remover available, such as Spray ‘n Wash or Shout,” explains Edelman. “They can be sprayed on the affected area and then gently brushed with a special brush. Brushing creates a mechanical action that moves the soap and detergent into the fibres.”
But it’s not enough to pre-treat the stain: it must then be washed to wash away the residue of the pre-treatment.
If yellow sweat stains still remain after pre-treatment and laundering, Edelman recommends using a vinegar-based tannin solution.
To make it at home, mix 1/2 teaspoon of laundry detergent with 1/4 cup of white vinegar and 1/4 cup of cool water. Apply the solution as you would any commercial stain remover, lightly scrub the stained area with it, and then launder the clothing immediately.
Edelman says that for whites that retain their stains after the treatment above, you can try soaking them in a solution made from laundry detergent and a sodium-based bleach like OxiClean.
“Follow the instructions—depending on the amount of water used—and be sure to rinse the bleach thoroughly in your normal wash after trying a bleach bath,” he explains. “Maintaining the temperature during this process keeps the bleach active. Many new washing machines have heated soak cycles that are best for this process.”