How to Remove Deodorant Stains From Fabric

It's not difficult to remove deodorant stains from most fabrics, but you might work up a sweat doing it.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Detergents
• Fabric Stain Removers
• Washing Machines

1. Get to the stain as quickly as possible.

2. Read fabric care instructions.

3. Use a spot remover product, or take the item to the dry cleaner.

4. Apply a dab of detergent moistened with water and rub, if you opt to attack the stain at home.

5. Reapply spot remover.

6. Wash acrylics in hot water, permanent press cycle, with detergent.

7. Wash washable wool by hand or in a washing machine's gentle cycle, using warm water with liquid detergent.

8. For washable silk, follow the same instructions, but do not rub the stain.

9. Wash washable silks in warm water with liquid detergent.

10. For cotton, follow the same steps, then rub pretreatment into fabric. Wash at warm or high temperature.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't rub at black or color fabrics, just white.
• Treat fabric in a hidden area first to see if the stain removal solvents damage the material.
• Follow care labels to the letter.
• If a delicate, very expensive or favorite item gets stained, take it straight to the dry cleaner.
• The longer a stain sits untreated, the deeper it will sink into a fabric.

[Adam1983]

on 11/1/2008 I have a white shirt that had these disgusting yellow spots under the arms. I thought I had a problem at first, but found out that it was my deoderant causing the stubborn stains. I had very good luck removing the spots by wetting them with white vineger, then sprinkling the area with baking soda. It fizzed for a second (letting me know it was working, I guess). I then scrubbed the area lightly with a brush on both sides of the fabric. I let the garment sit overnight and washed with bleach, inside out, the next day. It came out like brand new. I have only tried this on a white shirt, so test first on anything color.

[MLF121]

on 9/29/2008 Deodorant residue on black... DO NOT GET IT WET (does no good -still there when it dries) just rub with a USED dryer sheet. Takes it right off.

[ezgrandma]

on 7/30/2008 To get rid of deodorant/antiperspirant stains wipe it with pantyhose. Believe it or not it really works! Best on dark colors. Tried on my granddaughter's favorite black dress.

on 9/21/2006 Wipe with pantyhose. Best with freshly stained deodorant on dark colors.

on 2/1/2006 I have a dark blue silk shirt and it had white deodorant stains on it. I rubbed detergent into the stains then washed the shirt, but the stains stayed there. Then I soaked the stains in white vinegar and washed the shirt, but the stains remained. Then I poured Methylated Spirits over the stains and rubbed the fabric together to loosen the deodorant substance, and then straight away I put the shirt into the washing machine (which had a small amount of ordinary soap powder in it). I washed the shirt in that for five minutes then took it out and rinsed it in cold water and dried it on a coat hanger outside. The stains were completely removed without a trace.