Yellow armpit stains…

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Yellow is a lovely colour, but it’s not so lovely when it shows up in the armpits of your shirts and dresses. It’s something we’ve all experienced at least once and it’s absolutely embarrassing to flash armpit stains when we lift our hands. What’s more, armpit stains make washing more challenging because they’re difficult to remove. Yellow armpit stains are the most common, but they can also be grey, white, or black, depending on the garment colour and fabric.

Armpit stains don’t have to be a frequent nuisance! Keep reading to discover more about the science behind armpit stains and how to avoid and remove them.

The science behind armpit stains

Photo credit Canva

Although they are commonly referred to as “sweat stains”, they are not necessarily caused by sweat itself. Sweat is a colourless liquid made up of a mixture of water, ammonia, urea, salts, and sugar. Apocrine sweat glands which are the glands present in the underarms produce a different type of sweat than in other glands throughout the body; in addition to this mixture, armpit sweat contains lipids and proteins.

The real cause of the stain is a reaction between the salt and protein in sweat and aluminium, which is an active agent in most over-the-counter and prescription antiperspirants and deodorants. This sweat-aluminium reaction results in the formation of a yellow colour, which ends up discolouring the armpit area of our garments and leaving a pesky yellow stain.

Photo credit — Canva

Understanding how yellow armpit stains appear is one thing; knowing how to remove them from clothes is another. Fortunately, there are several at-home and professional sweat stain removing options available. In Fact, it would surprise you that some of the best ways to remove these stains can be achieved with ingredients you probably already have at home. Let’s dive right into it!

Treatment of armpit stains

When it comes to armpit stains, patience and persistence would be the most important ingredients since it takes some time for the stains to disappear .

1. White Vinegar- If the yellow armpit stains are just starting to show, mix three tablespoons of vinegar with one cup of water. Allow one hour for the mixture to penetrate the stain before washing with cold water. Check if the stain is still visible before drying; if so, repeat the procedure.
2. Lemon- Squeeze 3 tablespoons of fresh lemon juice and mix with 3 tablespoons of water. Rub the liquid into the stains and let it dry for an hour. Now wash as usual.
3. Baking soda + Hydrogen peroxide- Combine 4 tablespoons of baking soda and 4 tablespoons hydrogen of peroxide to make a paste. Rub the paste into the spots with a soft toothbrush and allow it to soak for an hour or longer if the stains are really stubborn. Now wash your clothes as normal.
4. Aspirin- Crush 6 aspirin pills and make a paste with a little water. Apply directly on stain with a gentle toothbrush and leave for an hour to soak. The salicylic acid in aspirin will help remove the discoloration.
5. Hands off the bleach- The desire to use bleach for this is strong, yet despite its whitening properties, bleach actually worsens armpit stains on clothing. When chlorine bleach reacts with protein stains, it renders the stain more yellow.

Chances are you may need to move from one treatment to the other and back again. Remember, patience is the secret ingredient, at a point, you would see progress.

Photo credit The Spruce, Nelly Cuanalo

Avoiding armpit stains

Sweating is a normal mechanism that your body uses to regulate temperature and eliminate toxins. This is a totally natural process which can only be reduced and not prevented. Recurring armpit stains, results in constant stain removal which can drastically reduce the lifespan of the garment. However, future staining can be prevented.

1. Apply a moderate amount of antiperspirants/deodorants. Overapplication causes residue build up. After application, allow time for deodorant to dry before dressing up.
2. Sweaty clothing should be washed as soon as possible to prevent the stain from setting.
3. After removing your clothes, spray the underarms with a 50/50 mixture of water and white vinegar, and air dry before placing them into the laundry basket.
4. Switch to an antiperspirant or deodorant that does not contain aluminium.

Now that we’ve covered armpit stains, we hope we’ve persuaded you that although fighting armpit stains is tough, it’s not hopeless. Our recommendations are quite simple!

But wouldn’t it be fantastic if you didn’t have to deal with the stain at all? Trenor Coats and Gowns Limited are the experts to call. We would take care of any staining matter in a way that the fabric’s safety comes first, using natural and ecologically friendly methods, thanks to our well-trained team and dedication to world class fabric care.

Written by :

Loveryn Dodu

Research and Training Supervisor

Trenor Coats and Gowns Ltd

References

Classic Drycleaner.(2020).How to remove yellow sweat stains from dress shirts. Retrieved from https://www.classicdrycleaner.com/removing-yellow-sweat-stains-from-dress-shirts/

Crystal spring blog.(2020).What causes yellow armpit staining. Retrieved from https://crystalspring.co.uk/blogs/under-our-skin/what-causes-yellow-armpit-staining/

Ejis.(2021). The 28 Best Ways How to Prevent & Remove Sweat Stains on Shirts. Retrieved from https://www.ejisinc.com/blogs/news/get-rid-armpit-stains

Nudelman,G.(2019).How to Remove and Prevent Armpit Stains. Retrieved from https://www.askmen.com/style/fashion_advice/how-to-remove-and-prevent-armpit-stains.html

Thompson. B,(2021).The science behind pit stains & how to stop them. Retrieved from https://thompsontee.com/blog/the-science-behind-your-pit-stains-and-what-to-do-about-it/