How to Get Rid of Yellow Underarm Stains in White Clothes

Removing sweat stains means that you don't have to hide your white shirt under a jacket.

Sweat contains a protein called urea, which is also found in urine. While the concentration of urea in sweat is a fraction of that in urine, these proteins cause stains when they are present on your clothes. While it may be tempting to remove yellow sweat stains from white clothes with the use of bleach, this tactic may backfire and cause the stain to become worse. Using the correct supplies and procedures completely removes sweat stains from your clothes as well as any sweat odor.

Things You'll Need

• Mortar and pestle
• 2 aspirin
• Bowl
• Spoon
• Laundry detergent
• Sponge
• Ammonia
• 1 cup white vinegar

Instructions

1. 

   Aspirin helps to remove underarm stains from white-colored clothing.

   Crush two aspirins with a mortar and pestle.

2. Mix the crushed aspirins with 1/2 cup water in a bowl with a spoon and place the underarm-stained portion of the white shirt in the aspirin solution. Allow the clothing to soak in the solution for two hours.

3. Remove your clothing from the aspirin solution and drizzle a bit of laundry detergent onto the underarm stains. Rub the fabric together to work the detergent into the fabric's fibers. Allow your white shirt to sit with the detergent on it for 15 minutes.

4. Flush the underarm area of the shirt with cool water while rubbing the fabric together.

5. Treat any remaining stubborn underarm stains by blotting them with a sponge dampened with a mixture of 1/2 cup ammonia and 1/2 cup water. Blot the remaining stains until they're gone.

6. Wash your white shirt with laundry detergent. Add 1 cup white vinegar to the wash cycle to help lift remaining underarm stains and deodorize any accompanying smell. Before you place your shirt in the dryer, check to make sure the entire stain is gone; repeat these steps if any stain remains.

Tips & Warnings

• Make a paste of 4 tbsp. baking soda and 1/4 cup warm water and apply it to underarm stains to remove the stain and odor.

• Mix 1/2 cup table salt in 1/4 cup warm water and use the solution to soak your underarm-stained white clothing.

• Lemon juice and sunshine make a natural perspiration stain remover. Apply the lemon juice to the stained area and lay the garment in the sun to dry before washing it as usual.

References

• Mrs. Clean USA: Tips On Removing Sweat, Perspiration and Deodorant Stains: How to Remove Sweat and Perspiration Stains
• "Good Housekeeping": Stain Buster: Sweat, Perspiration: Fabric
• University of Illinois Extension: Stain Solutions: Perspiration
• Ohio State University: Quick and Easy Stain Removal Guide: Stains Needing Special Treatment: Perspiration