How to remove yellow stains from white clothes

That white T-shirt, your regalona, ​​the one that fits so well in your arms and falls to your waist like it was made for you by a tailor, suddenly one day, one fucking day, has two yellowish stains armpits. You don’t remember anyone urinating on it. Where do they come from?

Even if you want to throw it away or use it as a mop and cry over it thinking how beautiful you are every time you use it, there’s no need to waste time or tears on it: the battle against these horrible yellowish stigmata. is not lost.

Surely you have already guessed: the deodorant is to blame. The aluminum salts in antiperspirants, by contracting the upper part of the sweat glands, reduce the flow of sweat to the armpits and also help reduce odor-causing bacteria. But the side effect is that when this aluminum interacts with body fats and salts, it forms a consistency that then soaks into your clothes, leaving them stained and stiff.

These are chemical reactions that, if we don’t deal with them in a particular way and just put them in the washing machine, they will persist very stubbornly in your clothes.

This is a problem almost always suffered by people who wear tight-sleeved clothing, because the contact between the skin of the armpit and the clothing is permanent, and when moisture and perspiration from the body are trapped between the skin and tissue for long periods of time, an accumulation of bacteria begins to form. When these remain on our clothes for a long time, harmful stains appear.

There are different ways to save a garment from these unpleasant yellowish stains. In addition to time, you need to have some basic supplies to be able to pull it off, but the good thing is that they are all cheap, easy to get, and also easy to use.

Here is a list of a few combinations that will surely eliminate – or at least make invisible – those ugly yellow spots. Of course, remember to always wear gloves to protect your hands from chemicals.

• Baking soda + water: In a container, mix four tablespoons of baking soda with a quarter cup of water (60 ml, approximately). Pour some of the mixture onto the stain, first rubbing with your hand, then spreading it with a toothbrush. Then let the garment sit with the rest of the mixture for at least an hour, then wash it as usual in cold water in your washing machine.
• Baking soda + hydrogen peroxide + water: again, mix four tablespoons of baking soda with a quarter cup of water (60 ml) plus another quarter cup of hydrogen peroxide. Stir and, using a toothbrush, pour the mixture over the stains, brushing lightly. Leave on for thirty minutes and then wash your garment in cold or lukewarm water, as usual.
• Baking soda + developer 40 volumes: this can be a great tip for those who also touch up their hair color at home. Instead of using hydrogen peroxide in liquid form, you should replace it with this 40 volume peroxide cream. To do this, you must first moisten your garment with a white detergent, such as the iconic Popeye. Next, add a large dollop of baking soda to the affected area and add a little 40 volume peroxide cream, and scrub gently – with a toothbrush – for a few minutes until a paste forms on the garment. Leave to stand with a little water, but without letting it float, and cover with a bag for at least five hours. Once the time has elapsed, you can wash your garment as usual.

If you’re using baking soda, we recommend using the specialized ones for cleaning, as they’re usually stronger than the baking ones. The latter will still come in handy anyway, you may just need to add a little more to the mix to get the desired effect.

• Distilled white vinegar + water: In a spray bottle or spray bottle, mix 1/2 cup of white vinegar with 1/2 cup of water. Spray the mixture on the stain and let it sit for an hour. Then wash the garment in cold water. If you notice that the stain is still not gone, you can repeat the process once the garment is dry.
• Hydrogen peroxide + water: Mix a cup of hydrogen peroxide – also known as hydrogen peroxide – with a cup of water in a container and immerse the affected area. Rub gently with your fingers — but always with gloves! — and let stand for at least an hour. Then, wash your garment in cold water and voila: your yellowish stain should have disappeared from your white garment.
• Lemon + hot water: one of the oldest and most natural secrets is to use luscious lemon juice as a natural bleaching agent. Squeeze two lemons and add the juice to a liter of boiling water. Mix everything in a container and immerse the garment. Wearing gloves and very carefully, brush the affected areas with a toothbrush then soak for at least an hour. Then wash as usual and dry in the sun.
• Try an off the shelf stain remover : if none of this worked, or if you don’t want to be a mad chemist, you can try one of the industrial stain removers that are sold in all supermarkets, such as Vanish Oxi-Action , The Magic Stain Remover, or Oxiclean. Any of these products should be able to remove yellowing from your garment if you apply it as a pre-wash treatment and follow the product directions.

To avoid having to go through the hassle of stain removal, the best thing you can do is prevent them, which isn’t as hard as it sounds. In the following list, there are some actions you can take to avoid these inconveniences.

• Shake and let dry: If you use a spray deodorant, you must shake it well before using it. Thus, the aluminum chlorohydrate powder will be evenly distributed in the can and subsequently on the skin. It’s also a good idea to wait for the antiperspirant to dry or fully absorb into your skin before putting on your clothes.
• Wear looser clothing: It might seem like a no-brainer, but wearing slightly looser clothes will give your armpits plenty of room to ventilate, preventing excessive sweating.
• Try the t-shirts: in winter, wear first layers which, in addition to keeping you warm, will act as a protective barrier to prevent perspiration from reaching your white garment.
• Avoid bleaching agents like chlorine : These can cause the yellow spots to persist and even become more prominent instead of removing them. If you want to bleach the area, you should use non-chlorine cleansers or use one of the methods we recommend above.
• Cut armpit hair: armpit hair, by t-shirt brand thompson t-shirt , retains more moisture and sweat than the skin. “So the less you have underneath, the better,” they point out. It may not need to be waxed, but it needs to be trimmed a little.
• Wash as soon as possible: these stains are chemical reactions, so the longer you leave them on clothes, the greater the bacterial growth. If you put them in the laundry basket, hopefully they get some airing and don’t end up on the bottom. If you can, it’s best to wash them the day after you use them.
• Opt for natural fiber textiles: cotton, wool or silk are less susceptible to these stains. Polyester, one of the most common synthetic fibers in retail stores and the fast mode, it has an unfavorable reaction with sweat, since it absorbs it, whereas natural fibers are better able to circulate it.

Try aluminum-free deodorants: As we’ve told you before, antiperspirants typically contain aluminum salts, which “create a temporary clog in your armpits to reduce sweating,” as described on the site. Dove . By opting for aluminum-free options, you might feel more sweat, but at least you won’t smudge. Here it already depends on your body and how your body reacts to the product.

*Prices for products in this item are updated as of July 14, 2023. Values ​​and availability may change.