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Tips on how to remove deodorant stains

While many of us choose to wear deodorant to help reduce body odor, no one wants marks on their favorite shirts! If  deodorant comes into contact with clothing, it can easily create unpleasant deodorant stains. Whether it’s a yellow tint on a white shirt or a white mark on a black dress, these stains can ruin your morning! However, if you follow the tips and tricks below, you’ll discover practical ways to have your clothing looking great and ready to wear again.
A white deodorant stain on a black shirt. Description: Learn how to remove deodorant stains and avoid unsightly white marks on your clothes.

How to remove deodorant stains from clothes: Try prevention first

If your morning routine is to grab breakfast, throw on some deodorant, put on a T-shirt and jeans, then run out the door, only to discover that you’ve got white streaks all over your shirt… it might be time to slow down! There are ways to remove deodorant stains from shirts, but it’s always better to prevent them appearing in the first place. Try some of these tips:

  • Avoid applying deodorant while you’re already wearing a shirt
  • Try waiting until the deodorant has dried before putting on your shirt or dress. This will ensure little to no transfer of deodorant to your clothing.
  • Remove deodorant buildup by washing your clothing when you get home, especially after sweating on a hot day or exercising, for example. This helps prevent the sweat mingling with your deodorant ingredients and creating annoying yellow stains
  • Try not to apply so much deodorant – a little usually goes a long way!

Removing deodorant stains: Step by step

  1. Grab an old toothbrush and scrub off any visible excess from the deodorant. You can also rinse the garment under cold water while you do this.
  2. Next, pre-treat the deodorant stain by using a commercial stain remover or by pouring just a little Persil® ProClean® liquid detergent of your choosing directly onto the marks and scrubbing lightly with the toothbrush in order to break the stain down. For really stubborn stains, consider using Persil® ProClean® Stain Fighter laundry detergent. You can also rub the fabric together afterward, but either way, let the garment sit for roughly 5 minutes.
  3. Place the item(s) into the washing machine and pour in the correct amount of laundry detergent according to the instructions on the product label.
  4. Wash and dry the item according to the care instructions on the garment. Removing deodorant stains from shirts takes a bit of patience, but the results are worth it to get rid of unpleasant marks from your clothes!
  5. To remove deodorant buildup, especially when it has dried, try soaking the garment in warm water overnight or at least for a couple of hours, then pre-treat and wash as described above.

 

How to remove deodorant stains from shirts naturally

We have also heard that some people remove deodorant stains naturally. While we would always recommend using a tried and tested, stain-fighting detergent like Persil®, this approach could be useful in a pinch, such as if you don’t have access to a washing machine. Here are a few of the home remedies for how to remove deodorant stains that some people recommend:

  • Use an old toothbrush to rub a mixture of baking soda and water into the stain. A touch of hydrogen peroxide can also help on white clothing.
  • Scrub the stain with a mixture of lemon juice and water.
  • Soak the clothes in water with a drop of white vinegar.

Note: Even if you choose to try ones of these home remedies, we still advise washing your laundry afterwards with Persil® detergent for best results!