This isn't a very lovely title for a blog post. But then again, underarm stains on your shirt aren't lovely either! And since I wear a lot of white shirts, I needed to find a way to rid them of this nasty blight on a regular basis.
Understanding what causes the stains seemed like a logical place to begin. But apparently, the "experts" don't agree on this. Some believe it is the result of sweat which excretes minerals from your body and onto the shirt. They suggest that drinking more water will dilute these minerals and cause the stains to at least be lighter in color. Others believe that the wax and castor oil from stick deodorants is the culprit. This group recommends switching to a roll on. Still some think it's the result of acid in antiperspirants. Mike Thomas of Proctor and Gamble stated:
"People assume that sweat causes underarm stains, but you wouldn't have stains if it weren't for your antiperspirant. Antiperspirants are very acidic and it's that acidity that causes the colors on your clothes to shift."
Ummm... I don't wear antiperspirants, Mike.
Years ago I gave up antiperspirants and have only worn deodorant since . So obviously, these stains must be the result of more than one factor. Therefore when treating them it may require more than one method.
While there are probably lots of heavy duty chemical agents on the market that would get rid of these stains, I wanted something that was a bit more natural; something I was familiar with and could control. When cleaning antique linens, it is often recommended to spray the spots with white vinegar or lemon juice and lay the garment in the sun for a few hours before washing. I've used this method for other items with some success, but never on underarm stains. However, I really don't have time to lay out each and every garment in the sun and monitor it from the wind and animals on a weekly basis. (Guess I could hang it on a clothesline!)
So, I tried a new recipe for stains this week:
You'll need baking soda and hydrogen peroxide (Do not use on colored fabrics! Try the vinegar instead)...
Here you can see a small stain forming on the trim of my white tank top. It's small and not too dark at this point, but I'm thinking that if I get these when they are light and haven't been set by the heat of the dryer, they'll come clean better. (Can you see it there? It's kind of a grayish stain in the photo - usually they are more yellow)...
Understanding what causes the stains seemed like a logical place to begin. But apparently, the "experts" don't agree on this. Some believe it is the result of sweat which excretes minerals from your body and onto the shirt. They suggest that drinking more water will dilute these minerals and cause the stains to at least be lighter in color. Others believe that the wax and castor oil from stick deodorants is the culprit. This group recommends switching to a roll on. Still some think it's the result of acid in antiperspirants. Mike Thomas of Proctor and Gamble stated:
"People assume that sweat causes underarm stains, but you wouldn't have stains if it weren't for your antiperspirant. Antiperspirants are very acidic and it's that acidity that causes the colors on your clothes to shift."
Ummm... I don't wear antiperspirants, Mike.
Years ago I gave up antiperspirants and have only worn deodorant since . So obviously, these stains must be the result of more than one factor. Therefore when treating them it may require more than one method.
While there are probably lots of heavy duty chemical agents on the market that would get rid of these stains, I wanted something that was a bit more natural; something I was familiar with and could control. When cleaning antique linens, it is often recommended to spray the spots with white vinegar or lemon juice and lay the garment in the sun for a few hours before washing. I've used this method for other items with some success, but never on underarm stains. However, I really don't have time to lay out each and every garment in the sun and monitor it from the wind and animals on a weekly basis. (Guess I could hang it on a clothesline!)
So, I tried a new recipe for stains this week:
You'll need baking soda and hydrogen peroxide (Do not use on colored fabrics! Try the vinegar instead)...
Mix equal parts of each...
And make a paste...
Here you can see a small stain forming on the trim of my white tank top. It's small and not too dark at this point, but I'm thinking that if I get these when they are light and haven't been set by the heat of the dryer, they'll come clean better. (Can you see it there? It's kind of a grayish stain in the photo - usually they are more yellow)...
Apply with a toothbrush to the stain and massage it in and let it sit for 30 minutes...
Then launder as usual. The results?
The stain is gone! I call this a success!
I tried it on my husbands white shirt around the neckline where he gets a ring around the collar. Again, it worked really well. We may have a winner here. I'm going to continue using it for a few weeks and see if it yields the same results over a period of time and on different fabrics.
So, how do you get rid of underarm stains naturally?
I'm so glad to know that I'm not the only one with stains! I think we have peroxide in the closet, so I'll give this a try too. Nothing else has worked in the past (bleach, Oxyclean) so I'm excited to try this.
ReplyDeleteThat's brilliant! I'm going to use that on my son's winter work coat. I don't think it'll harm the fabric long term either.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the fabulous tip. I'm going to be trying this with my next white load I have to wash.
ReplyDeleteBlessings, Bluebell Country
I'm so glad you addressed this nasty little problem. I wear a lot of white too, and nothing is more frustrating than this discoloration, even after just a few uses! I'm putting this recipe on my laundry list. Thanks, Melissa
ReplyDeleteAmy,
ReplyDeleteI found this post really interesting because I gave up traditional anti-perspirants and deodorants years ago. I found that they were no longer effective after pregnancy hormones had their way with me. That was before I enven knew all the dangers of those products.
I mix about 1 tsp. of baking soda with enough water to make a paste in my hand and apply to my underarms daily. It works GREAT! No odor, but still sweat, and unfortunately, stains. I'll give this a try soon! Thanks, Mia
I'd really like to hear feedback on how it worked for you. I think I'll try it on a stain that is a bit more stubborn this week and see if I get the same results.
ReplyDeleteThanks for all your comments, ladies!
I'm going to have to try this! I used Secret stick deoderant forever & always got stains. In the last year I have almost stopped using it & switched to more natural deoderants & plain coconut oil. I have not seen any new stains forming on any new shirts.
ReplyDeleteYou are so funny...
ReplyDeleteI need to do a whole laundry load with baking soda and peroxide! I wonder if that would work?!
Amy, you are SO smart! I'm going to try this. Also I will try it on a couple of long-sleeve white tees (favorites for layering!!). They have makeup stains around the neck. I'm so messy :) Thanks so much for the tips. I need to catch up on your last few posts since I've been MIA. Missed ya! -Tammy
ReplyDeleteTammy, good at being stubborn till I find an answer, yes; smart? I don't think so. There's not much new under the sun, but I appreciate your encouragement! Let's see if this works for all of you. Then I'll get really excited!
ReplyDeleteI'd certainly give this a try. For some reason this reminds me of how my mom used to get stained whites clean: she used to boil then simmer them in water and washing soda on the stove. I'd come home from school to ask "what's for dinner?" lifting the lid and discovering "socks?" Grrr. Thanks for the memory AND the tip. Off to try...
ReplyDeleteFor sure it's an interesting topic. I gave up all types of deo a long long long long time ago....maybe 15-20 yrs! Boy I'm old. I've used a crystal stone since and I never have stains. BUT the rest of my family uses various types of deo and some antiperspirants and they all have stains. My other theory is that since recovering my body from chronic illness, I've done extensive detoxing and they haven't. Toxins are released in our sweat. I hardly ever have any odor and it's my understanding that the odor is an indication of toxins in the body. I can go days without using the stone and no odor. Sweating is good for us!
ReplyDeleteAnyway....I will have to pass this tip onto my DD who is always dealing with this issue on her white shirts! Thanks Amy!
Thanks so much for this tip!
ReplyDeleteMy husband is not real pleased with the quality of clean on all of our whites since I have switched to making my own laundry detergents. They just seem dingy to him. Your post has caused me to wonder if I could add equal amounts of baking soda and peroxide to a washer load of whites to soak for a couple of hours before washing. I think I'll give it a shot.
:o)
Interesting information on the crystal stone Diane. Thanks for passing that along. I have thought about the need to detox, but I've been hesitant because I fear it will make me feel worse before I feel better! (I'm a bit chicken!).
ReplyDeletePaula, I'd love to hear how this works. Are you making your laundry soap with Fels Naptha or Zote? I hear a lot of ladies using the Fels Naptha complain about the dinginess, but those who use Zote, seem to have less of this problem.
I haven't used either of those. For a while I was just using baking soda, washing soda and borax without any soap at all. That could very well have been my problem. :o)
ReplyDeleteBut a family in our Oklahoma Food Cooperative sells homemade soap (with lye, some good quality oils and tallow) and I'm now grating that and adding it to my other ingredients and hoping that it helps. But for the dingy-ness that is already there, I hope the soda/peroxide will help!
Thank you for this timely post! I noticed the other day that one of my favorite white tanks had some yellowing. I am so going to try this! (I layer my tanks under other shirts so no one will see the yellowing but I will know it is there.)
ReplyDelete