How to Clean Antiperspirant From a Cotton T-Shirt

Remove antiperspirant stains from cotton shirts as soon as possible.

Although antiperspirant prevents sweat from showing on your clothes, it can leave behind noticeable stains on cotton t-shirts. Deodorant leaves behind stains that are most evident on darker colors. Neglecting the stains can result in a permanent discoloration on your favorite shirt. Instead of discarding it, salvage your t-shirt by treating the antiperspirant stain before you launder it. After you remove the deodorant stain, prevent it from returning to keep your t-shirts clean and attractive.

Things You'll Need

• 1/2 cup table salt
• 1/4 cup hot water
• Bowl
• Cotton ball
• White vinegar
• Ammonia
• Washcloth
• Commercial pre-wash stain-removal solution

Instructions

1. Mix 1/2 cup of table salt with 1/4 cup of hot water in a bowl. Dampen a cotton ball in the salt water and blot it over the antiperspirant stain until you remove it completely.

2. Dissolve any remaining deodorant stains by blotting them with white vinegar. Launder the t-shirt in the hottest water possible. Remove the t-shirt from the washer and examine it for the antiperspirant stain. Do not put the shirt in the dryer because it can cause a lingering deodorant stain to become permanent.

3. Apply ammonia to tough deodorant stains with a washcloth. Blot the stain instead of rubbing on it because you can cause the stain to spread. Rinse the ammonia from the t-shirt.

4. Treat the deodorant stain with a commercial pre-wash stain-removal solution. Read the directions on the pre-treatment carefully to prevent damage to the shirt.

5. Wash the shirt with the hottest water setting possible. Hang the t-shirt to dry and carefully examine it after it dries to ensure that the antiperspirant stain is completely gone.

Tips & Warnings

• Add oxygen bleach to the washing machine to remove tough deodorant stains.

• Always apply deodorant without your shirt on and let it dry completely before you wear the shirt.

• Never mix ammonia or vinegar with chlorine bleach because harmful fumes may form.

• Always read the care label on the shirt to ensure that you use a safe water temperature.

References

• Mrs. Clean: Tips On Removing Sweat, Perspiration And Deodorant Stains
• "Good Housekeeping": Stain Buster -- Deodorant
• "Good Housekeeping"; Total Time Savers: Remove Underarm Stains; Carolyn Forte