Although we might sometimes wish it wasn't, sweating is unavoidable. It's a natural process that happens when our bodies help cool us down. But we've all found those yellow stains on the underarms of our favourite white shirts, and sometimes around the collar and cuffs as well. Nightmare!
Well, you'll be glad to hear that we've got some tips and tricks that'll help you lift those annoying stains, and help you avoid more in the future too.
WHY DO WE GET SWEAT AND DEODORANT STAINS?
Yellow marks on light/white colours: these are usually due to sweat reacting with the aluminium in our deodorants, as well as the bacteria on our skin and chemicals in our clothes. Because the deodorant contributes to the stain, using more deodorant doesn't help to avoid this problem, and can actually make the marks spread further.
White marks on dark colours: these are different. These are formed when the white coloured (usually stick or bar deodorants) transfer onto clothing.
Are tough odours making washing your gym clothes a workout? Find out how to remove those smells from your sportswear here...
HOW TO REMOVE YELLOW STAINS
HOW TO REMOVE WHITE MARKS
Brush white, powdery marks away with our Lint-Free Bamboo Cloth. No need to wet it - it will brush off best when dry.
OTHER TIPS FOR SWEAT AND DEODORANT STAINS
- Make sure your deodorant is dry before getting dressed - stains can come from the wet roll-on or stick deodorants if they haven't dried before contact with clothing. There are also specialist anti-stain deodorants on the market!
- If the stained item is white, try treating the area with a little lemon juice or white wine vinegar, and/or leaving it in a sunny spot, as they have natural bleaching properties.
- Don't use more deodorant! As stains are often caused by a chemical reaction between sweat, the bacteria on your skin and the aluminium in antiperspirant, adding excess deodorant will only make stains worse!
- Strange as it may sound, old sweat on clothing can actually attract moths, so with fine natural fibres such as cashmere, wool and silk, there's even more reason to deal with any stains before putting your item away for any length of time.
For everyday items machine wash your garment as normal. We recommend our Basil and Mandarin Leaf Duo Set that combines the invigorating peppery aroma of basil with the detoxifying benefits of mandarin leaf - it really is the perfect combo to make laundry day an absolute pleasure.
Looking for other clothing care products to turn laundry day into fun day? Browse through our specialist range and help extend the life of your clothes.
Sweat and deodorant marks on your clothing can be irritating, but now you have the tools to help fight even the toughest of stains, so your clothing can stay fresher for longer!