How to Eliminate Sweat Stains

Perspiration stains are among the more unpleasant ones. You might feel a bit uncomfortable, and that once-favorite white shirt with yellow stains might soon be relegated to the "only for wearing under a jacket" pile after a few failed attempts at cleaning it.

Sweat stains are, as you’ve likely discovered, particularly tough to tackle. The discoloration occurs due to a reaction between urea, a broken-down protein (which is also found in much larger amounts in urine), and salts — often further complicated by antiperspirant ingredients. This potent mix can feel impossible to remove, which may have led you to believe that getting rid of yellow stains from your clothing is hopeless. However, if all you’ve done is wash the shirt with your regular laundry, you might be giving up too soon.

And if you've been using chlorine bleach on it, you're actually making things worse.

So, what can you do when sweat seems to have "ruined" your clothes? The good news is, there are plenty of options, especially when the yellowing appears on more durable shirt sections like collars.

How to Remove Sweat Stains from Collars

Collars on white dress shirts are one of the most common places to find sweat stains. While the neck area doesn't perspire as much as the underarms, even a little sweat can show up noticeably on a crisp, white collar.

Fortunately, if your shirt is made from a durable, washable fabric (like cotton), there are several methods you can try. Just make sure to avoid chlorine bleach, as it can interact with the proteins in sweat, making the stain darker. Instead, consider giving one of these methods a go:

Laundry detergent - One of the easiest ways to tackle sweat stains is by using a liquid detergent that's specifically designed to handle protein-based stains (like grass stains) or one that boasts "oxygen cleaning power." Apply it directly to the stain without diluting it and let it sit for about 30 minutes before washing.

Lemon juice - Prior to washing, mix equal parts lemon juice and water, then scrub the solution into the stain until it vanishes.

Vinegar - Combine 2 tablespoons of white vinegar with 1 cup of water and apply directly to the stain. Allow it to sit for 30 minutes before washing. (Make sure to use only white vinegar.)

Salt - Dissolve 1 tablespoon of salt into 1 cup of water, then sponge the solution onto the stain until it’s completely removed. Wash afterward.

Baking soda - Mix 4 tablespoons of baking soda with 1/4 cup of water. Dab the mixture on the stain until it disappears, then proceed with washing.

Ammonia - Mix ammonia with an equal amount of water, and pour it directly onto the stain. There's no need to wait before washing; simply toss it in.

Hydrogen peroxide - Dilute hydrogen peroxide with an equal amount of water, apply it to the stain, and let it sit for 30 minutes before washing. Avoid using hydrogen peroxide on colored fabrics, as it has some bleaching properties.

Ideally, your first attempt at removing sweat stains will do the trick. If it doesn’t, continue experimenting with different methods until you find one that works (remember to wash in between each method).

If your sweat stain remains resistant to these methods, you might need to step up your efforts. Underarm stains, for example, tend to be harder to remove than collar stains because there's usually more sweat and antiperspirant residue. For tough stains, consider adjusting your approach a bit.

How to Remove Yellow Underarm Stains

To tackle particularly stubborn sweat stains, like those that often appear under the arms of shirts and dresses, you can use some of the same ingredients mentioned earlier, but with a stronger application. This will make the treatment more intense but also more effective.

Before applying any product, it's essential to determine whether the stain is from sweat. In the underarm area, you could be dealing with an antiperspirant stain, which requires a different approach (see How to Remove Grease Stains and Save Your Clothing). If the stain is yellow and stiff, it's likely sweat; if it's white or clear and greasy, it’s probably from antiperspirant.

If you've identified the stain as sweat, try one of these pre-wash, extra-strength solutions:

For tougher fabrics like cotton shirts or dresses, using heavy-duty cleaners gives you a good chance of eliminating the sweat stain. But what if the stain is on a more delicate fabric? In that case, you'll need to take a gentler approach.

How to Remove Sweat Stains From Bras

Removing sweat stains from bras can be tricky. You need a solution that effectively tackles stains, often requiring a stronger treatment, but still gentle enough to preserve delicate fabric. You can use some of the gentler methods mentioned earlier, such as diluted white vinegar or baking soda, but there are also other approaches that work particularly well on bras.

Start by considering the material of the bra. Acetate and rayon are delicate fabrics, while nylon, polyester, and Spandex are more durable.

For the more durable fabrics, wash as usual but add an enzyme pre-treatment. Enzyme pre-wash products contain protease, which breaks down proteins. You can find pre-soak products specifically for this or use a liquid detergent labeled with enzymes. In either case, follow the instructions for pre-treatment on the product label.

For bras made from especially delicate fibers, try a different method: Wet the stain with water, apply a wet spotter (a mixture of water, glycerin, and dishwasher detergent — see How to Make Wet and Dry Spotters), and add a few drops of ammonia. This solution should pull the stain out so it rinses away. The key is to really draw it out: After applying the solution to the stain, soak an absorbent pad (or a good paper towel) in the mixture and leave it on the stain, keeping both the fabric and pad moist until the stain is fully absorbed into the pad.

Getting sweat stains out of bras and shirts can be challenging, but usually doable — it might require trying more than one of these methods. Preventing sweat stains, however, tends to be easier: Wear an undershirt to absorb sweat before it can stain your good shirt, and if sweat stains are a frequent problem, consider avoiding antiperspirants containing aluminum compounds. While aluminum works well to stop sweat, it can interact with sweat that does get through, worsening the stain.

Alternatively, you could invest in a great jacket. At least this way, you'll have no qualms about covering up.