How To Get Hard Deodorant Stains Out Of Shirts

A white t-shirt with a yellowed underarm stain.

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How to remove deodorant stains from clothes

How to remove deodorant stains from clothes

Nothing's worse than putting on your favourite top on in the morning only to find it unwearable thanks to unsightly deodorant stains. Luckily, we've got some effective techniques to help you get your clothes looking sleek once again – many involving things you already have in your home. So, whether it's a yellowish residue left on your best white shirt, or white marks on your little black dress, there's no need to worry about deodorant stains when you follow these useful tips and tricks.

Instead of removing deodorant stains, try preventing them

Don't be left wondering how to remove deodorant stains from clothes after they appear; prevent them happening in the first place with these simple tips:

Wait until your deodorant is completely dry before getting dressed to ensure as little transfer as possible
Wash whites and light-coloured clothes as soon as you're done wearing them to stop the bacteria found in sweat from mixing with the ingredients in your deodorant to form those pesky yellow stains

How to get deodorant stains out using everyday items

If you've left it a bit late and are now trying to figure out how to get deodorant stains out of clothes, just have a look around your home. It's possible that you already own some of these stain-busting products. If the first method you try doesn't remove the stain completely, you can always try one of the other solutions below. Before you begin, remember to read the garment care label and to test your stain removal solution on an inconspicuous part of the item first.

Nylon stockings (yes, really!)

This is a great trick to use for coloured clothing. Try rubbing nylon stockings, a dry towel, or even a clean sock on the stain, then pop the item in the washing machine with a colour-safe detergent that's designed to help clothes stay vibrant, like Persil Colour Washing Capsules. This method is ideal for removing marks left behind from a deodorant stick.

Water and lemon juice

Apply a mixture of equal parts water and lemon juice to the stain, then leave in the sun for an hour before rinsing your garment and washing it as normal in your washing machine. The natural bleaching effect of both the lemon juice and the sun is great for fading deodorant stains on light clothing.

Neat laundry detergent

Using the Stain Eraser Ball, apply a small amount of Persil Bio Liquid to the stain. Gently rub the stain using the bottom of the Stain Eraser Ball and allow it to sit for a few minutes before washing at the highest temperature the care label permits. Dry normally.

White vinegar

Soak the stain in white vinegar for about an hour and brush the deodorant stain with an old, clean toothbrush. Then pop the garment in the washing machine with a biological detergent. Soaking deodorant stains in white vinegar is suitable for both white and coloured clothes.

Baking soda and water

Make a paste out of three parts bicarbonate of soda to one-part water, rub onto the stain, and allow to sit for a couple of hours then wash in a hot water cycle. This method is ideal for dried, yellowish deodorant stains.

Aspirin

Crush three or four aspirin tablets and make a paste using the same steps above. This method should only be used for white clothing.

So there you have it: being able to prevent and remove deodorant stains really is as easy as that. Simply follow our tips to remove any deodorant stains you find and your clothes and don't forget to read our other stain-busting articles – like how to remove sweat stains.