There's a big dilemma when using deodorant - armpit stains.
What to do? Deodorant stains on shirts are very common and they are also very noticeable especially if you are using a white or black colored shirt. It’s a pressing problem that many can’t seem to solve because even if they’re using mild deodorant, the stains remain the same.
Why do these pesky stains happen in the first place?
Never Ruin Another Shirt Ever Again!
The worst thing about deodorant stains is that it’s not just your day that gets ruined. Your shirt could get ruined as well. People always ask about how to get rid of armpit stains, deodorant stains, and other stains on their shirt because they want to keep it looking fresh and new all the time.
It would be horrible if something were to happen to your favorite shirt. That’s why it’s vital that you understand the science behind this phenomenon and why it happens. This might give you an idea of what it should take to prevent deodorant stains from ever happening to your favorite shirts again.
Understanding What Causes Deodorant Stains
Wearing deodorant is near-inevitable. You can’t really avoid using them because without them, you might be causing a bad odor that might ruin your reputation and your self-esteem.
At a glance, what you need to know is that deodorant has various chemicals that can react negatively with your sweat. Now, let’s take a look at why it happens.
A Double Edge Sword!
Most of today’s deodorant is made out of aluminum chloride. If not made out of it completely, it plays a very huge role in deodorant manufacturing. It is a vital ingredient that helps create a protective layer in your armpit that lowers the amount of sweat you produce from your apocrine glands. Less sweat, less stench.
While it’s an amazing ingredient that helps deodorants be more effective, aluminum chloride is a double-edged sword. The chemical reacts negatively with sweat. However, it doesn’t affect your health, that much we can say. What the chemical reaction does is cause the yellowish stain that appears on your shirt.
That yellowish stain is very unappealing. Some can be easily removed by washing, but there are some stains that stick longer depending on the material of your clothes. What really matters though is that you should always act fast when those pesky stains finally appear on your clothes.
To understand how to remove deodorant stains, we should first understand what causes them!
Aluminum Chloride
Some people sweat excessively. For some, the problem is worse and this results in them getting unwanted body odor. It takes a toll on your self-esteem and it might also make others uncomfortable around you if you give off a bad stench. That’s where aluminum chloride takes charge.
Aluminum chloride is an active ingredient that can prevent excessive sweat. At the same time, it results in a chemical reaction that stains your clothes.
It can be a bother to remove deodorant stains from black shirts and especially from white shirts. However, it’s impossible to create a good and effective antiperspirant without aluminum chloride. Deodorant manufacturers are always going to use this active ingredient so you best know how to counter problems created by it instead of just letting them be.
Excessive Sweat
Another problem that occurs when using deodorant is that aluminum chloride reacts with sweat. What you can take away from that is that the more you sweat, the heavier the case of stains are going to be. It’s a big dilemma if you think about it.
You want to use an antiperspirant to control your excessive sweating. However, your excessive sweat is going to react negatively to your antiperspirant, which results in you getting unwanted and sometimes permanent stains on your clothes. Sweat stains on shirts is a major problem for many people.
In truth, the only way to reduce the amount of sweat you produce without compromising your shirts is to get surgery. However, that’s a very expensive ordeal that you might not want on your plate. As such, it’s the best way to just know exactly what you need to do to clear out deodorant stains.
The Bottomline
Antiperspirant deodorants are a double-edged sword. It’s one of the best ways to avoid armpit sweat. Not using enough antiperspirant - or the right antiperspirant - might cause excessive sweating. Using too much can cause excessive stains on your favorite shirts.
The key is to find the perfect balance between using deodorant and preventing stains. Once you find that perfect balance that your body needs, you’ll no longer have to worry about getting deodorant stains and excessive sweating ever again. You’ll feel fresh no matter what.
Now, let's dive into how to get deodorant stains out of a black shirt as well as how to prevent it.
How to Prevent Deodorant Stains on Black Shirts.
Of course, aside from finding the perfect balance of deodorant use, you should also master the art of preventing deodorant stains as well. It can be a tough job doing this again and again but at least you won’t have to worry about the stains or smelling bad ever again.
Sweat stains on black shirts and white shirts can be removed by soaking the stain in white vinegar. However, this is just one way of doing things. There are a lot of other ways you can remove the stains from your clothes and it’s very important that you know what those steps are.
1) Wait for Your Deodorant to Fully Dry Out
Some people find it hard to get rid of deodorant stains on black shirts. For them, prevention is usually the answer. One of the ways you can prevent this from happening is by waiting for the deodorant to dry out before wearing your shirt. This way, you can lessen the risk of getting stains.
This is an effective method because it keeps your armpits cool and dry before you wear your clothes. In some cases, the deodorant won’t cause your armpits to sweat excessively. As a general rule of thumb, you should always wait at least 10 minutes before you wear your clothes.
2) Be Extra Cautious of Aerosol Spray Deodorants
There are various types of deodorants you can buy and use. If you want to know how to remove armpit stains, the first step is to be aware of what types of deodorant sprays to use. There are roll-on deodorants, lotion deodorants, and spray deodorants. The first two are okay. Avoid aerosol spray deodorants.
The problem with spray deodorants is that it’s harder to control the amount of deodorant you are putting on your body with them. In most cases, you might be excessively applying deodorant on your body which in turn causes more stains. As such, you should go for roll-on deodorants instead.
3) Consider Switching to Roll-On Deodorants
Roll-on deodorants are convenient for many reasons. One is that they are very handy and easy to use. They come in smaller packaging as well so you can always have them on the go. Another reason to choose this is that it’s easier to manage how much deodorant you use with roll-ons.
When picking a roll-on deodorant, try to go through the ingredients list. Try to find ones that have the least amount of chemicals. There’s always going to be aluminum chloride but the best you can do is to find a deodorant that doesn’t have too much of the chemicals in them so there’s less chances of a chemical reaction.
4) Don't Over- Apply Your Deodorant
Deodorant is good for you in moderation. However, when applied excessively, it can result in the problem we’ve been trying to prevent in the first place. If you want to know how to get rid of deodorant marks, you should first focus on understanding how much you need to use on your body first.
When it comes to roll-on deodorant, the best amount to use is to at least swipe the deodorant on your armpit up and down. Don’t do it excessively as you might be applying too much of it as well. It’s best to read the instructions for a better understanding of how much you need to apply.
5) Consider Switching to an Antiperspirant
Another alternative is to switch to using an antiperspirant instead. These have lesser chemicals so you don’t have to worry about knowing how to get deodorant out of a black shirt again. Antiperspirants are the best alternative to people that have an adverse reaction to deodorants.
The best clinical strength antiperspirant on the market should not cause any stains, or cause very little stains on your shirt. They might not smell as good as deodorant but they can certainly do a good job when it comes to preventing you from smelling bad throughout the day.
6) Regularly Wash Your Used Clothes
The problem with deodorant stains on clothes is that they become harder to remove over time. Preventing the problem is also possible if you regularly wash your clothes. If you don’t have the time to wash your clothes every day, you should at least steep them in cold water so that the chemicals wash out.
If you leave your clothes after a day of wearing deodorant, you can expect the clothes to get solid and hard to remove stains.
How to Remove Deodorant Stains
Getting rid of deodorant stains is possible especially if you act fast. The key is to understand the steps to help you remove deodorant buildup on your clothes. Once you master the technique, you don’t have to worry about deodorant stains on your clothes again.
If you want to know how to get white deodorant stains out of black shirts or for any shirts that matter, then read on to find out the steps involved in resolving the problem.
1) Add Some White Vinegar
Vinegar is one of the best things you can have at home. It’s not just used as a cleaning agent. As it’s acidic, it can also be an effective cleaning agent that can help you get rid of most stains and dirt. Removing deodorant stains is best tackled with the help of natural ingredients like these.
You can either add vinegar like a spot treatment on the affected area. However, it’s easier to steep the deodorant in a mixture of one part water and two parts vinegar for at least an hour. This helps dissolve the chemicals on the stain.
2) Add Lemon Juice to the Stain
This method is the same with white vinegar. Lemon is also acidic so it helps break down the chemicals needed in removing deodorant stains. The same method applies but this time, you’ll need a higher concentration of pure lemon juice on the stain.
It’s a good alternative to vinegar as lemon juice is also more fragrant to work with as well. It’s the best item to use if you want to know how to get deodorant stains out of black shirts or any shirts. Ideally, you’ll be using a cup of lemon juice for a single shirt.
3) Mix Baking Soda and Warm Water
Like vinegar, baking soda is also one of the best items to have at home. It’s a good cleaning agent that can help you get rid of most stain problems when it comes to clothes. However, they’re best used when partnered with warm water. It’s very easy to do.
What you’d first want to do is putting baking soda directly on the affected area. Once there, pour warm water over it and then rinse the area thoroughly. Once done, just let the clothes steep in the water for a few hours to help the chemicals dry out and wash away from your clothes.
4) Add a Pinch of Salt
Salt is also an effective cleaning ingredient in many cases. When washing your clothes with vinegar, baking soda, or lemon, you should add a pinch of salt into the mix. The salinity will help dissolve the chemicals on your clothes, thus making it easier for you to remove the stains.
Don’t worry about going overboard with the salt as this is a harmful natural cleaning agent for your clothes. It won’t leave your clothes smelling salty in every way. Coarse salt works better as compared to fine iodized salt. This is a household ingredient that you should have in your home somewhere.
5) Hydrogen Peroxide and Dish Soap
Hydrogen peroxide is typically used to clean wounds but it can also be used to help get rid of chemicals on your clothes. However, the problem with hydrogen peroxide is that it can be too strong and unsafe to use for your hands. There’s a workaround to this though.
To lessen the strength of hydrogen peroxide, what you’d want to do is to add a drop or two of dish soap with it. This not only weakens the solution, it can also make the solution smell better. Pour directly on the affected area and rinse thoroughly. There’s a good chance that it can get rid of the stains.
6) Specialized Detergent
There are some cleaning detergents that are designed to get rid of those tough stains. Ideally, you’d want to look for detergents that are boosted with enzymes. You’ll never have to wonder about how to get deodorant stains out of black shirts ever again if you find the right detergent.
Once you find the right detergent, you’ll have to wash the clothes naturally as you would with any other detergent. It’s the easiest way to do it but if this method doesn’t work, just stick with the natural cleaning agents instead as they’re a lot safer.
7) Wash Using Hot Water
Hot water is a good cleaning agent that can help remove a lot of the chemicals on your clothes. When using hot water, make sure to steer clear of the area as steam will make it hotter to be in there. In most cases, the best use for hot water when washing off stains is to soak the clothes in it.
8) Use Laundry Bleach in Moderation
As a last resort, feel free to use laundry bleach. This is safe when you’re working with white clothes but if it’s black shirts that you want to treat, it’s best to stick with other cleaning methods on this list instead. When using bleach, make sure to use them in moderation as it can still be a bad cleaning agent for most clothes.
What Deodorant Doesn’t Leave Yellow Stains
If prevention and treatment doesn’t work for you, then it might be time to consider using other deodorants instead. Our antiperspirant is designed to keep you dry - which doesn't allow bacteria to mix with sweat to cause odor and stains in the first place.
Expanding your horizons is a good way to avoid the stains. You’ll never have to wonder how to get deodorant stains out of shirts if you act fast and find good alternatives that fit your needs. Here are some alternative options that may be good for stains, but not necessarily for sweat and odor.
Natural Deodorants
The technology behind deodorant manufacturing has come a long way. Such a long way in fact, there are products that are somewhat effective but are also made out of natural ingredients.
However, most of these products are on the pricey side but they can be worth it.
These deodorants are made from various ingredients such as fruits, herbs, and other natural ingredients. They smell great, they work, but most importantly, they don’t cause any problems for your shirts at all. Natural deodorants are easy to come by these days so looking for one shouldn’t be a problem.
Aluminum-Free Deodorants
Aluminum chloride is the culprit when it comes to causing the stains on your shirts. If you want to make sure that your shirts are free from these problems, then why not go for deodorants that don’t have this chemical? Believe it or not, more and more deodorants are coming without it. The problem is that they might stop odor, but they don't do much for sweat.
If you aren’t sure about the products you are buying, it would be best to look at the ingredients list of the deodorant you are interested in.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Can I Use Instead of Deodorant?
If you want to know how to get rid of deodorant stains, you should consider swapping your products instead. A good alternative to deodorants are antiperspirants. These aren’t as fragrant as deodorants. However, they can prevent you from sweating thus stopping unwanted odors from happening. These don’t have aluminum chloride either.
What to Do if You Don't Have Deodorant?
Well, you’d want to make sure that you don’t sweat too heavily. Avoid doing too much movement and avoid going to hot areas. Just stay calm and avoid moving too much. If you don’t sweat, you won’t have to worry about odor ever again. Of course, this is still a major problem so we recommend using deodorant or antiperspirant.
What Is Natural Deodorant?
Natural deodorant are products that are made completely out of natural ingredients such as fruits, herbs, vegetables, and more. They don’t use chemicals like aluminum chloride. Though more expensive, natural deodorant is a great alternative that can help you avoid stains on your clothes. As much as possible, try to look for a natural deodorant.
