We love being outside and getting active! But as we all know, time in the sun can make you sweat and leave deodorant stains on your clothes. No matter the season, deodorant stains can show up on your day to day clothes, and be difficult to remove! If you’re having a particularly tough time getting these stains out, read on to learn how to remove deodorant stains quickly and easily.

What Causes Deodorant Stains?

Deodorant is designed to keep away armpit odor–but depending on the deodorant, it can bring about unsightly stains. There are many kinds of deodorant, but the traditional stick deodorant is the biggest culprit. The chalky white stains are caused by a mix of alkali, aluminum (if you are not using an aluminum-free formula), and proteins in your deodorant. Add in sweat, any other skincare products, and your natural body chemistry, and you have a recipe for staining, particularly on dark or black shirts. An occasional stain is nothing to be concerned about, but if you find recurring staining to be an issue, consider switching to a roll on, gel, or crystal deodorant.

Now that we know how the staining happens, let’s learn how to wash out deodorant stains!

How to Remove Deodorant Stains

What you’ll need: A cotton sock, nylon stocking or piece of foam rubber; Dropps Oxi Booster Pods; Laundry Detergent of your choice.

Step 1: Remove stain

Before soaking or washing the garment, it’s time to remove the stain! When it comes to learning how to remove deodorant stains, we have a little known trick. You can remove white deodorant marks by rubbing them with a cotton sock, nylon stocking, or a piece of foam rubber, like what is found on the top of hangers. Firmly rub your material of choice over the stain in a circular motion. The sock, stocking, or rubber should remove the stains, particularly white stains left behind by a solid deodorant stick.

Step 2: Soak in Stain Fighting Solution

Still have some stubborn stains left over–or maybe some sweat stains snuck their way in as well? Dissolve an Oxi Booster Pod in the warmest water recommended by the care label. Soak the shirt until the stain is lifted–overnight is best! Our Oxi Booster Pods are designed to tackle stubborn stains and odors, eliminating stains without bleaching your clothing. Soaking the shirt in Oxi Booster pods should make removing deodorant stains easy, whether they’re stains from a solid stick deodorant or a gel style.

Step 3: Wash and Dry

Once the stain is removed, you can wash with your favorite Laundry Pod and dry normally, in accordance to the wash tag on your item! You can always add another Oxi Booster Pod to your wash for extra whitening and brightening, and to prevent stains overtime. Be sure the stain is fully removed before putting your garment in the dryer, as drying a stained item can actually cause the stains to set–sometimes permanently. Once the stains are gone, however, you can toss them in your dryer and feel confident drying them according to the care instructions on the tag. Then you’re ready to enjoy fresh, stain-free clothes!

Frequently Asked Questions

Have more questions about how to remove deodorant stains? We’re here to help.

What removes deodorant stains quickly?

The quickest way to get rid of deodorant stains is by rubbing the stain with a sock, nylon stocking, or piece of foam rubber! This method quickly removes the stain without needing to wash the item–perfect for preventing last minute fashion disasters!

How do you remove old deodorant stains?

To remove old stains, soak the item in an Oxi Booster solution overnight. The Oxi Booster should help remove the set in stains, restoring the shirt back to its original glory!

How do you get rid of deodorant buildup on armpits?

Deodorant buildup can happen in both your armpits and your clothes! Be sure to wash your armpits thoroughly when showering to prevent buildup. You may also consider switching to a more natural deodorant with less buildup.

What is the fastest way to remove deodorant stains from a black shirt?

The fastest way to remove deodorant stains from a black shirt is by firmly rubbing the stain with a sock, nylon, or piece of rubber. This should remove the stain from your black shirt so you can go out without a problem! When the shirt is ready for the wash, try adding an Oxi Booster Pod to the wash to tackle any remaining deodorant residue and prevent staining from setting in.