Sweat is a natural phenomenon that affects us all. However, some people are more likely to suffer from unpleasant odors or excessive sweating. In addition to these inconveniences, sweat stains on clothing can occur at any time, even with the best deodorant. It’s enough to make you break out in a cold sweat! Fortunately, it’s easy to get rid of them. Find out how to clean perspiration stains without ammonia or chemical household products, and how to avoid them in the future.
1) Take steps to avoid sweat stains
Yellow underarm halos occur when the salt in sweat mixes with the aluminum in deodorant or when the sweat interacts with bacteria and fungi that proliferate on the skin. In addition to carefully choosing an aluminum-free deodorant or antiperspirant (or, for example, opting for alum stone), there are a few things you can do to limit the occurrence of underarm marks. This includes applying your deodorant without excess and waiting for it to dry before getting dressed. You can also choose loose-fitting clothes, as these will limit friction. Finally, remember to wash clothes immediately after use.
2) Act quickly when a stain appears
With sweat stains, the problem is the same as with most stains (blood stains, ink stains…): if you give them time to dry, they become more difficult, if not impossible to remove. So, whether you’re in a restaurant or at work when you notice the stains, don’t hesitate to take a trip to the bathroom and rinse them thoroughly with warm water. If you’re at home, you can use white vinegar (or lemon juice for delicate fabrics) directly to dab the stain in question.
3) Opt for natural stain removers that are effective against perspiration stains
Several natural cleaning products can bring their stain-removing power here. Cleaning and deodorizing also, white vinegar is an excellent example. On delicate fabrics, however, it is preferable to use lemon juice. To remove stains and the bacteria they contain, 70° alcohol is a good choice. Otherwise, go for hydrogen peroxide, which is however to be reserved for white fabrics and other light colors to avoid the risk of discoloration. For all these products, the process is the same: dab the stain with a clean cloth soaked in the solution, rinse and emulsify with a little soap before rinsing again and putting in the washing machine.
You can also soak your stained clothes for several hours in a basin of hot water with baking soda, soda crystals (even more powerful than baking soda) or a mixture of equal parts lemon juice and vinegar. This will work great for cleaning multiple clothes at once or removing stubborn stains.
4) An unstoppable combination when nothing works on stains
To fight perspiration stains or any kind of stain, you can combine baking soda and hydrogen peroxide to make a soft paste to which you add a few drops of dishwashing liquid. Then apply this product to the stains and scrub with a toothbrush for a minute. Leave it on for about two hours and put the garment in the washing machine.
5) Baking soda and lemon to remove stubborn perspiration stains
We already mentioned this very effective recipe for removing tough sweat stains, especially in case of yellow stains. This trick consists of diluting a little lemon juice with water before adding salt and bicarbonate. Spread the mixture on the stain and use a soft-bristled toothbrush to gently scrub the product and dissolve the unsightly stain. Then let it sit and dry. Rinse this mixture with warm water and wash the garment as usual.
