How to Dissolve Caked on Deodorant

While deodorant is a great tool for deterring body odor, the ingredients have a tendency to build up in the armpits of clothing, particularly light-color clothes.

While the blessings of deodorant are a welcomed way to counteract unpleasant body odors, it can wreck havoc on the armpits of your clothing. Fortunately, there are a number of home remedies that use common household items to remove deodorant buildup. When used in conjunction with your standard laundry detergent, you will see the caked on stains wash away. It is best to try one option at a time and, if unsuccessful, move on to the next removal alternative.

Things You'll Need

• Water
• Ammonia
• Aspirin
• Detergent
• Baking soda
• White vinegar
• Lemons
• Tootbrush
• Meat tenderizer
• Enzymatic cleaner

Instructions

1. Mix one-half cup of water with one-half cup of ammonia. Dab the mixture onto the stain and let it soak prior to washing. Launder the clothing as usual.

2. Dissolve two tablets of aspirin in one-half cup of water. Pour the mixture onto the stain and let it soak for several hours prior to washing. Then, rub a few droplets of liquid detergent into the material and launder as usual.

3. Mix 4 tablespoons of baking soda with one-quarter cup of warm water until it becomes a paste. Rub the paste onto the stains and allow it to sit for several hours. Just before putting the clothing into the wash, pour a small amount of white vinegar over the paste and gently scrub with an old toothbrush. Then, launder the clothing as usual.

4. Cut a lemon in quarters and squeeze the lemon juice into a small bowl. Add an equal amount of water and pour over the stain. Place the clothing in bright sun to fade the stains. Then, launder the clothing as usual.

5. Pour a small amount of water on the stain and then sprinkle one-half teaspoon of meat tenderizer onto the clothing. Gently work the meat tenderizer into the clothing with a toothbrush and launder the clothing as usual.

6. Spray an enzymatic cleaner, such as a pet-stain remover, onto the stain and allow it to sit while the enzymes digest the proteins in the deodorant stain. Allow the clothing to sit for at least the minimum amount of time specified on the product label and then launder the clothing as usual.

Tips & Warnings

• You can also remove caked deodorant from your body by moistening a cotton ball with white vinegar and gently rubbing under your arms. The vinegar odor quickly vanishes and helps prevent excess deodorant from adhering to your clothing.

• Avoid deodorants with high levels of aluminum chloride as it is difficult to remove once it has set into your clothing.

References

• House Cleaning Central: Removing Sweat, Perspiration and Deodorant Stains
• Get Rid of Things: How to Get Rid of Sweat Stains