How to Get Rid of Crusty Armpits on Shirts

Everyone sweats, and even the best anti-perspirant deodorant can’t keep your armpits dry on a hot British summer’s day, or even on those humid, heavy days in the winter when you have to speed-walk to get out of the cold, but then find yourself in a room with the heating on full blast.

The inevitability of sweat will mean that sometimes your comfiest and most worn piece of clothing will start to show evidence of sweat stains. If you are not quite ready to part with this trusty garment, here’s the best method to ensure that those crusty armpits don’t stick around!

What Causes Sweat Stains?

Sweat stains are caused by the chemical reaction that occurs when sweat, aluminium and the material of your clothing mix together, creating an unpleasant, stiff yellow stain.

What Is the Most Effective Method for Removing These Stains?

The best way to completely remove these crisp yellow marks is to turn to one of the most trusted household cleaning ingredients, vinegar.

Vinegar works when it comes to cleaning almost everything, and sweat stains are no exception. Tackle the pesky stains by combining three tablespoons of white vinegar with one cup of water before soaking the stained area with this solution.

Leave the garment to soak for at least an hour and then use a brush of some kind to scrub the soaked stains and loosen any crusty spots that have survived the vinegar immersion.

Finally, add the garment to your washing machine and run it through a hot water wash with some of your favourite detergent. When the item emerges from the machine it should be shining and good as new!

This technique will be equally effective for items that are both coloured and white.

Struggling with Deodorant Stains as Well?

Sweat and deodorant stains often come hand in hand. If you’ve eradicated the pesky sweat stains but find there are still traces of a deodorant build-up, there’s a handy method for removing that too.

The most effective method would be to get your hands on some hydrogen peroxide and some bicarbonate of soda. Mix the two together until they have become a paste consistency.

The next step is to boil some water and soak the garment in the scalding liquid before applying the mixture of bicarbonate of soda and hydrogen peroxide. Apply as much of this paste as possible to the armpits of your garment.

Once the item has been soaking for around an hour, remove it from the water and run it through your washing machine on a hot wash cycle, along with your usual detergent. The chemicals should have done their job and efficiently removed any lingering signs of stains!

How to Prevent Sweat Stains

If you are tired of consistently having to rely on these methods to remove the annoying stains in the armpits of your favourite clothes, there are a few preventative measures you could try.

The most effective step would be to wash the clothing item relatively soon after wearing it. If you leave the garment in your washing basket for a few days, the stain will have longer to harden and settle into the material.

Another possible preventative method is to be more cautious while applying your deodorant. Overusing your deodorant is a quick way to ensure that it will get all over your clothes. It is also beneficial to wait a minute or two for the product to dry onto your skin before you get dressed.

Conclusion

Sweat stains can be inevitable but they are also manageable, and you don’t have to give up on your much-loved shirt or dress just because the armpits are feeling a tad crusty. Try out our trusty method and get those garments back to their clean and cosy state.

An adventurous book lover with an animal obsession and a proclivity for travel and spontaneity. Used to passionately despise cleaning but has grown to enjoy it thanks to learning all the best tricks and shortcuts to guaranteeing a stress-free routine and a spotless home.