For the longest time most of us were pretty frustrated with white streaks down our black tops and yellow underarm stains on our white shirts (not so fun fact: those nasty yellow stains are caused by aluminum in antiperspirants). Now that aluminum-free deodorant is here to stay (yay!), deodorant stains should be a thing of the past, right? Unfortunately, that’s not always the case because not all natural deodorants are built the same. Some may contain essential oils and fragrance ingredients that can still leave marks on your clothes or stain (ahem, not Type:A).
If you still haven’t switched over to the best aluminum-free deodorant out there, you may need some pointers on how to remove deodorant stains. Here’s our tried and true list:
Wipe with a dry towel: It’s always a good idea to let your natural deodorant dry for a few minutes before putting on a black shirt but, sometimes, you just don’t have the time or you just might forget (it happens!). To remove a white deodorant mark from a black garment or dark fabric, simply take a dry towel and rub the white mark until it comes off. Note: don’t use a white towel because it might leave lint on your clothes, and then you’re back to square one ☹.
Try a baby wipe: Dry towel didn’t do the trick? It’s time to bring in the big guns, I mean baby wipes. Baby wipes are a super easy way to remove white deodorant stains on black fabric, and they will leave your clothes drier than if you had soaked them in water. All you need to do is rub the white mark with your baby wipe and, voila! All gone.
Check your kitchen cabinets: The acid in lemon juice can help break down and remove yellow deodorant stains on white shirts. For mild stains, try scrubbing lemon juice directly on the stain. For stronger stains, soak the stained fabric in a solution of equal parts water and white vinegar before throwing it in the wash. Baking soda, our natural deodorant power player, is another kitchen-ready deodorant stain fighter. Just mix enough baking soda and water to create a light paste and rub it into the stain to let it work its magic.
Soak in stain remover: We swear by Meliora, a natural stain treatment and remover made from coconut oil. Simply wet the fabric and then scrub the soap stick over the stain until you have a light lather, then rinse. Our theory is that Meliora works so well because the coconut oil naturally attracts and removes any oils in the deodorant stain, and the vegetable soap in the stick washes out all those oils and dirt.
Try a new detergent:Have you tried Hex? If you haven't, now’s the time. Hex detergent is the best detergent for workout gear and works hard to battle stink (just like yours truly 😉). This heavy duty, eco-friendly detergent can get out the toughest clothing stains (deodorant or otherwise) on all kinds of fabrics, and especially for synthetic fabrics.
Of course the best way to remove deodorant stains is to start by switching to an aluminum-free deodorant that won’t stain your clothes. If you’re still trying to figure out how to remove deodorant stains, it might be time to try our ultra-sheer, sweat-activated deodorant. Once it’s on your body, it stays put. And if you were to accidentally smear our deo cream all over your clothes, well we’ve tested on a wide range of fabrics, and a range of colors, and guess what? It has always completely disappeared in the wash. So, what are you waiting for?
Stop battling deodorant stains and avoid them altogether with our lightweight, clothing-friendly deo.
