How to Get Sweat Stains Out of White Shirts

A sweat stain on your white shirt often leads to discoloration.

Sweat stains on your white shirts are bound to happen. When sweat stains form on white shirts, they often take on a discolored, yellow appearance, which makes the shirts look dirty even when they're actually clean. Sweat stains contain proteins, so the best way to tackle sweat stains on your white shirts is to break down the proteins in the stains for easier removal.

Things You'll Need

• Old towel Hyrdrogen peroxide Oxygen liquid laundry detergent Spray bottle 1/2 cup baking soda

Instructions

1. Lay an old towel on your work surface. Place your sweat-stained white shirt on the towel with the sweat stains facing up. Pour undiluted hydrogen peroxide onto the sweat stains.

2. Allow the shirts to sit with the peroxide on them for 30 minutes. The peroxide will break down the protein in the sweat stains. Flush the fabric with cool water.

3. Pour oxygen liquid laundry detergent on the remaining sweat stains. Use enough to cover the stains. Rub the detergent into the stain and the fibers of the fabric by rubbing the fabric together.

4. 

   The sun is a natural sweat-stain remover.

   Place your white shirts in the sun. Allow the laundry detergent to soak into the fibers while the sun bleaches the sweat stains. Mist the stained areas with plain water to keep the fabric moist. Allow your white shirts to sit in the sun for a few hours.

5. Launder your white shirts in cool water with oxygen laundry detergent. Add 1/2 cup baking soda to the wash water to tackle any sweat odor. Line-dry your white shirts, preferably outdoors.

Tips & Warnings

• Switch anti-perspirants every three months, as they eventually tend to lose effectiveness.

• Avoid the use of bleach on a sweat stain, as it may turn the stain more yellow.

References

• Mrs. Clean USA: Removing Sweat and Perspiration Stains
• Iowa State University: Quick and Easy Stain Removal Guide
• Care2: Effective Ways to Remove Laundry Stains