How to Get Deodorant Stains Out of Shirts

Stains on shirts are inevitable when you use deodorant or anti-perspirant. You never know exactly when they’ll appear, but at some point you pick up a shirt and see greasy, discolored spots and want to gag. These stains are annoying, but you don’t need to give up on the shirt yet. The solution is very simple and utilizes many ingredients that you already have sitting in a cabinet at home.

Another common stain in your clothes is blood. Learn eight household items that will take the stain out in one wash.

Family Handyman

How to Remove Deodorant Stains with a Homemade Solution

Hydrogen peroxide, dish soap, baking soda and a toothbrush are all you need to eradicate deodorant stains. Before you try this on your favorite shirt, test the solution on an unseen section of fabric to confirm that this cleaning hack won’t affect the shirt’s color. Please note: Washing soda will work just as well as baking soda. Follow these five simple steps for removing deodorant marks:

1. Fill a spray bottle with hydrogen peroxide and spray it directly on the armpit stain. Don’t oversaturate the shirt, five to 10 spritzes is all you need.
2. Add a few drops of dish soap to the stain. Unscented dish soap is ideal for this purpose.
3. Sprinkle five tablespoons of baking soda onto the stain.
4. Scrub the solution into the shirt with a toothbrush. Brush for a minute to really penetrate the shirt’s fibers.
5. Let the shirt sit for 30 minutes, and then toss it in the washing machine as you normally would.

After you get the deodorant stains out of your favorite shirt, gain storage space and learn how to fold your clothes exactly like Marie Kondo.

Family Handyman

How to Get Deodorant Stains Out with a Store-Bought Solution

The best product I have found at both removing and preventing deodorant stains is OxiClean Max Force Laundry Stain. It isn’t only a Billy Mays classic, this stuff really works. Spray the stain on the inside and outside of the shirt until saturated, let it sit for five minutes or a few days, depending on how bad the stain is, and then wash it as usual. I like to spray the stain one last time before throwing the shirt into the washing machine.

Family Handyman

How to Prevent Armpit Stains

What is truly incredible about the OxiClean product is its ability to prevent stains. I have started to keep a spray bottle of it in my closet and after I take off a shirt, I spray the armpit areas with one spritz of OxiClean before tossing the shirt in the hamper. It greatly reduces the amount of stains I see on laundry day.

Learn 13 more laundry tips that are sure to make your clothes fresh and new.

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