Wearing white shirts, especially when it’s hot, is very comfortable. However, this shirt color is very prone to getting permanent sweat stains. Many people resort to throwing them away because they cannot get the stains out through regular washing. If you’d rather hang onto your shirts a little longer, read on to learn the process of how to get sweat stains out of shirts.
Housekeeping Tips Winfield IL: How to Remove Sweat Stains
Why Does Sweat Stain?
Before talking about how to get sweat stains out of shirts, let us first find out why sweat can leave stains on them. Well, sweat is colorless, and sweat alone is not what causes unwanted yellow patches on your shirts. It is the reaction between three factors: sweat, bacteria, and deodorant.
You might be lucky if you only sweat when you are active. But some people sweat excessively even when not doing anything. If you are one of those and you want to prevent sweat from staining your favorite white shirt and other clothes, here are some tips to follow:
- Wear an undershirt: Undershirts are thin, light, and absorb sweat. For extra protection, opt to wear a sweat-proof undershirt.
- Consider using a natural or organic deodorant: Avoid aluminum-based antiperspirant and use natural or organic deodorant instead. A few swipes should be enough as excess product applications may cause staining on your clothes.
- Trim your armpit hair: Your underarm hair can cause less sweating which means less antiperspirant (or deodorant) usage and fewer yellow sweat stains on your clothes.
- Avoid sweat-inducing food and beverages: Caffeine, alcohol, and spicy foods can trigger sweating. Choose foods that you can easily digest that won’t make you sweat excessively.
- Wash shirts after wearing them: Yellow pit stains form in the armpits of shirts after you’ve worn them for a while, and throwing your shirt into the hamper without washing it won’t help stop this discoloration. Wash your shirts sooner rather than later to prevent the yellow stains from setting.
But if you still can’t avoid sweat stains, some cleaning solutions may help you!
Solution 1: White Vinegar, Baking Soda, Salt, and Hydrogen Peroxide
When mixed, white vinegar, baking soda, salt, and hydrogen peroxide create one of the most powerful solutions that can remove stubborn sweat stains. These three have natural cleaning and disinfecting properties that will bring back the old glory of your clothes.
Here is how you can create your solution and clean your shirt:
- Get one cup of white vinegar, half cup of baking soda, and one tablespoon of salt and hydrogen peroxide. Combine them together to create a cleaning paste.
- Using an old discarded toothbrush, get a small amount of paste and scrub it on the stained areas of your shirt, then let it sit for a few hours, or best if overnight.
- Machine wash your shirt by following the instructions written on it.
Solution 2: Crushed Aspirin
Aspirin has acetylsalicylic acid. It acts similarly to the acetic acid that you may find in white vinegar, as it also has natural cleansing and disinfecting properties.
To remove a sweat stain from a garment using an aspirin, here is a step-by-step guide that you should follow:
- Dissolve two white uncoated aspirin tablets in a small amount of water to make a paste.
- Scrub the stained area thoroughly with a brush, and then allow the garment to soak for several hours or overnight.
- After that, machine-wash the garment on the delicate cycle using cool water.
Solution 3: Dish Soap and Hydrogen Peroxide
Dish soap and hydrogen peroxide also create an effective solution that can combat sweat stains on your favorite shirt. Here is how you can do that:
- Carefully mix one part dish soap and two parts hydrogen peroxide together in a plastic container.
- With a brush, thoroughly scrub the stain. Allow the shirt to soak for a few hours.
- Then, machine-wash your shirt based on its care instructions.
Solution 4: Salt and Hot Water
Salt is a natural, inexpensive stain remover that can help keep the color of your clothes. Furthermore, it can also be used on delicate fabrics to reduce yellowing.
Here is how you can remove the sweat stains in your clothes using only salt and hot water:
- Dissolve four tablespoons of salt in one liter, or a little over four cups, of hot water.
- Scrub the stain extensively with a brush, and let the garment soak for a few hours or overnight if the cloth is heavily stained.
- Throw your clothes into the washing machine and run the cycle according to the care instructions.
Solution 6: Lemon Juice and Warm Water
Lemons are a substantial source of citric acid, which is not only great for keeping your teeth white but also for removing stains on clothes. Here is how to use it:
- Mix one part of lemon with one part of water.
- Scrub your shirt with the solution and leave it overnight, especially if your clothes have heavy staining.
- Machine-wash your clothes based on the instructions provided.
Solution 7: OxiClean or Raise Stain Remover
To remove heavier sweat stains, consider using OxiClean or Raise Stain Remover products. Both brands offer a variety of stain-removal products. Simply follow instructions according to their packages to avoid ruining your clothes.
Also, it is essential to keep in mind to avoid using chlorinated bleach and club soda as they can harm the color of your garments. Bleach can cause the sweat stains to become darker too.
Your Cleaning Partner in Winfield IL
Helping Hands is your trustworthy cleaning partner. We offer different services that can help you with any cleaning needs in Winfield IL, such as residential and commercial cleaning. Because of the overwhelmingly positive feedback from our customers, we have been rated as one of the best in the industry.
If you want to get our services and start working with our professional, hardworking, and trustworthy cleaners, you can call us at (630) 530-1324 or send us a message.