How to remove sweat stains from colored clothes

Basic rules for cleaning colored clothes

Since sweat stains are quite difficult to remove from fabric, many people solve the problem radically - simply throw things away. But if sweating is profuse, especially in the hot season, then with this method of solving the problem you can simply be left without things.

Today, there are two main methods that can be used to remove sweat stains under the arms. The first method is to use special chemical products. This is the method of cleaning things that most people prefer, but the problem is that such products contain components that negatively affect the body, and it is possible that an allergic reaction may develop in the form of a rash all over the body.

The second method is to use folk remedies. The most popular are the following:

oxalic acid;
alcohol;
vinegar;
aspirin.

In addition, to protect yourself and your belongings, you must comply with a number of requirements:

wear rubber gloves to protect your hands from the aggressive effects of chemicals and folk remedies;
before applying the composition to the site of contamination, check the reaction of the fabric fiber to the substance by coating a small area in an inconspicuous place;
apply compositions to remove traces of sweat from the inside of the product;
moisten the area around the stain with water, this will prevent the aggressive effects of cleaning agents on the rest of the fabric;
after using products containing acids, rinse and wash the items thoroughly (if their particles remain in the fabric, they will turn yellow under the influence of ultraviolet rays).

Useful tips

To ensure that your favorite things remain as good as new for as long as possible, you need to follow simple rules:

Before using this or that recipe against yellowness on things, you need to make sure that the chosen product will not harm the material. To do this, you need to read the product label and test the product on an inconspicuous area of the item, for example, under the collar.
Before removing the yellowness, things need to be cleaned of dust. To do this, first clean the product with a dry brush and then with a damp one.
If the yellowness shows through, then it is best to start removing it from the wrong side. Only then is the material processed from the face.
To prevent the yellowness from spreading even further during treatment with solutions, they begin to remove it from the edges to the center. If you do not follow this advice, you can completely ruin the item.

There are many ways and home remedies that you can use to deal with the yellowness that appears on blouses or blouses. All you have to do is choose the recipe that suits you best and start rescuing your favorite clothes.

Aspirin is an effective means of removing traces of sweat

Many people are accustomed to perceiving acetylsalicylic acid as a drug that saves them from migraines. But this product also quite effectively removes yellow sweat stains that are present on colored clothes.

To eliminate traces of sweat, you need to take 2 tablets of the drug and crush them thoroughly. It is recommended to check that there are no lumps in the resulting mixture, otherwise the drug may not give the full effect.

Then the powder mixture is combined with 50 ml of warm water. The powder must be completely dissolved. It is better to avoid the idea of combining powder with cold liquid, as it will not dissolve properly and, therefore, will not remove stains.

After the aspirin has completely dissolved, a napkin is dipped in water and the area of contamination is wiped with it. The clothes are left for a couple of hours and then washed thoroughly by hand. Old sweat stains cannot be removed immediately, so the procedure will need to be repeated several times.

Oxalic and citric acid

All types of acids do an excellent job of removing any stains from clothes. But such means must be used very carefully. Even if the concentration of the product is slightly exceeded, there is a possibility of damage to clothing. To remove sweat from colored items, the acid present in lemon or sorrel is most often used.

To prepare an effective remedy, you need to take ½ teaspoon of any of the acids and combine with 50 ml of cold water. If you have fresh lemon in the house, you can use that too, only the ratio of juice and water should be 1:1.

Next, dip a cloth into the resulting mixture and use it to wipe off the stain several times. At the same time, you should not rub very hard, since the acid can negatively affect the condition of the fabric fibers. After applying the composition, the clothes are placed in a cool, dark place for an hour, and then washed in cold water. When using these products, you will definitely need to put the item in a dark place, since the influence of the sun's rays in combination with the applied acid can only provoke an increase in the area of contamination.

When removing sweat stains from colored clothes at home, acid from lemon and sorrel is often combined with baking soda. In this situation, the components are combined in a 1:2 ratio, the composition is applied to clothing and left for up to an hour. Then the item is washed by hand in warm water.

Hygienic methods of combating excessive sweating in women and men

There are several reasons why increased sweat production and the appearance of an unpleasant odor may occur:

increased air temperature;
overheating of the body;
physical or emotional stress;
state of stress;
genetic predisposition;
use of a number of medications;
health problems (diabetes mellitus, endocrine system disorders, neoplasms).

When faced with an unpleasant odor, it is worth reviewing your daily body care and making adjustments to it:

For a person with excessive sweating, especially those involved in sports, one of the most important habits should be regular showering.
It is recommended to give preference to clothing made from natural, breathable materials that will not aggravate the problem.
Hair removal in the armpits will help influence the situation, especially in the summer.
Regular use of high-quality deodorants and antiperspirants that are as safe as possible for health is one of the most effective ways to combat the problem.

Using white spirit

If contaminants were found on silk clothes or wool, then white spirit would be the ideal option in this situation, especially if it is combined with ammonia.

The remedy against sweat marks on things should consist of white spirit and ammonia in a ratio of 4:2. If you do not maintain the ratio and use a larger percentage of ammonia, you can only provoke an increase in the area of contamination. In addition, excessive concentrations of these components provoke loss of color in clothing or damage to fabric fibers.

After preparing the composition, it must be applied with extreme caution to the area of contamination. Intense rubbing should be avoided, as the sweat will become absorbed even more. After applying the product, leave it for a period of several hours, after which it is rinsed 2-3 times in cold water.

Combination of denatured alcohol and ammonia

To effectively get rid of sweat stains from clothes (in particular cotton), take denatured alcohol and ammonia in a 1:1 ratio, and mix the components thoroughly. The resulting composition is applied to the area of contamination and left to absorb for 30-40 minutes. After the time has passed, the item is washed by hand.

In addition, denatured alcohol is often combined with yolk. Proportion – 1:1. The only point that needs to be taken into account is that after applying the product, the item should not be left for a period of more than 20 minutes. After this time has elapsed, the clothes are rinsed in cold water and then washed in warm water.

And ammonia can be combined with white spirit and table salt. In the first case, the ratio is 2:1, in the second – 1:1 and to 100 ml of water.

Using alcohol or vodka

Products containing alcohol are quite effective against sweat on colored clothing, since they instantly penetrate the fabric fibers. For example, any stain remover can easily be replaced with vodka or 96% alcohol. It is better to avoid drinks such as whiskey, cognac or gin, as they can only cause an increase in the area of contamination.

To remove sweat stains from clothes, alcohol-containing substances should be diluted with water. When using vodka, the ratio is 1:1, and when using 96% alcohol - 1:2. Then the prepared product is applied to the stain and rubbed over its entire width. The active substance must be absorbed, so the item is left for an hour and then hand washed.

Why do stubborn stains form?

Sweat secretions, which contain salts and various organic substances, are mixed with antiperspirants and literally eat into the structure of the tissue. Therefore, you need to deal with stains without delay. By throwing wet clothes into the dirty laundry basket, the owner allows the formations to soak into the fabric. In this case, after a few days it will be difficult to remove traces of deodorant. It is even more difficult to eliminate yellowness by wearing the T-shirt repeatedly, for example, for training in the morning and evening without regular washing. The yellowness will stain the fabric and eat into the fibers; it will be extremely difficult to remove traces from the textile.

The effect of salt, soda and vinegar

Baking soda can remove both sweat and deodorant stains from underarms. To do this, it must be combined with a small amount of water. The ideal proportion is 4 large spoons of soda and 50 ml of water. As a result, a paste-like substance is formed, which is applied to the stain with a brush. To get maximum effect, leave applied for 1-2 hours. Next, the clothes are rinsed in cool water and washed using powder.

Vinegar can also be an excellent aid in removing sweat stains. It is recommended to use a 6% solution. If a higher concentration is used, the fabric can be seriously damaged. To remove sweat stains, vinegar is mixed with water in a 1:1 ratio. The mixture is applied to those areas of the stain where the yellowness is most pronounced. Next, the item is left for 15-20 minutes and then washed thoroughly.

If necessary, remove sweat stains from linen, silk and cotton fabrics, use table salt. To do this, mix a tablespoon of the product with 50 ml of water and wait for complete dissolution. Then the fabric is sprayed with the resulting product and left for several minutes to dry completely. The procedure must be repeated 2-3 times. Next, the fabric is rinsed in cool water and washed using powder.

How to remove an unpleasant odor that doesn’t go away if you can’t wash it?

In some situations, there is a need to refresh an item and remove the smell of sweat without washing. Such methods include the following:

Place the affected item in the freezer compartment of the refrigerator for several hours.
Hang the item outside overnight in winter. This method is especially suitable for refreshing bulky items - parkas, down jackets, etc.
Rub baking soda into a dry cloth and leave for several hours. After this, shake off any remaining powder.
Blot the stained areas with the vinegar solution.

When using any means of combating the smell of sweat, you should take into account the composition and type of fabric so as not to spoil your clothes even more.

Read more about ways to get rid of sweat odor on clothes without washing here.

Removing stubborn stains

If there is an old sweat stain on your clothes, then there are several effective means for removing it:

Laundry soap shavings dissolve in hot water. After the water has cooled to 30 degrees, contaminated clothing is immersed in it.
Take 2 aspirin tablets and mix with a tablespoon of water until a paste forms. Apply the resulting product to the stains and leave for 3 hours. After a specified period of time, the clothes are hand washed.
Often stubborn sweat stains are removed with peroxide. To do this, pour a mixture of a glass of water and a teaspoon of peroxide into the armpit area. After 10 minutes, the clothes must be washed.
Combine 2 large spoons of acetic acid and 5 liters of water. Soak the contaminated item in the resulting solution for half an hour and then wash it in clean warm water.
Mix 100 ml of water and a tablespoon of ammonia. The liquid is poured onto the stains and rinsed thoroughly.
Combine 2 teaspoons of lemon juice and ½ cup of water. The product moistens all traces of sweat. After 2 hours, the item is washed in warm water.

Prohibited means

Many commonly used household ingredients can help remove sweat stains from colored clothing. But there are also products that are strictly prohibited from being used to remove stains from clothes, since they can completely ruin the item.

These funds include the following:

Boiling water. Clothes with sweat stains should be washed at a water temperature not exceeding 30 degrees. If you do not follow these rules, then there is a possibility that the stain will become even more ingrained.
Chlorine. All components containing chlorine are strictly prohibited from being used to remove stains from colored clothing. Chlorine should not be used unless there are sweat stains on snow-white clothes. In the case of colored fabrics, chlorine will, of course, remove the stain, but it will ruin the color; as a result, there will be a white blotch in place of the former trace of sweat.
Hydrochloric and nitric acid. These substances are very strong and can burn through clothing, thereby ruining it.
Acetone. This substance can cause discoloration of clothing, so it can only be used when wearing white items.
Petrol. This product causes damage to the fabric texture.

By refusing to use these products and following the instructions for preparing all the recipes presented above, dealing with the sweat stain present on colored clothes will not be difficult.

Causes of sweating

Sweating is a natural process of thermoregulation of the body, without which it is simply impossible for a person to survive. It is extremely undesirable to prevent the excretion of sweat, since along with it salts and harmful toxins come out, which poison the internal organs. But from time to time, a failure occurs in the functioning of the established system, and sweating goes beyond the limits. It is not possible to get rid of wet spots and unpleasant odor from the armpits.

There can be many reasons why armpits smell:

Increased emotionality. If a person is aggressive, angry or overly nervous, then he begins to sweat profusely. In this case, the cause is identified without examination.
Temperature. A fairly common cause of sweating is elevated temperature. Whatever the reason for the temperature - flu, oncology, pneumonia, people sweat throughout the day.
Hormonal imbalance. This problem also causes unpleasant odor under the arms. This pathology is often found in women during menopause.
Adolescence. At this time, hormonal changes occur in people and reach their peak.
Obesity. People with large body weight always have increased sweating in any part of the body.
Serious illnesses. Quite often armpits stink due to the progression of a serious pathology. This could be tuberculosis, HIV, problems with the thyroid gland, endocrine system, diabetes, oncology, benign tumors.

Sweating can also occur as an independent disease called hyperhidrosis.

Why does sweat smell?

Sweat itself is practically odorless. Sweating is a normal physiological function of the body of every person, which is of great importance for cooling the body under stress, elevated temperature, physical activity, and emotional stress.

Sweat is 90% water and has almost no odor. Along with it, salts and trace elements are removed from the body. A specific odor in the armpits appears due to the spread of bacteria that normally live on the surface of the dermis. Absorbing the fatty and protein components of sweat, they separate organic substances into unsaturated fatty acids and ammonia. They are responsible for the smell. The greater the number of pathogenic organisms, the more unpleasant the smell will be.

Some habits and lifestyle features also affect the frequency of sweating. Armpits smell for the following reasons:

Nutrition. Foods have a serious impact on sweating and the smell of sweat. There are a number of products that increase heat transfer from the body and support sweating, and they also add a strong unpleasant odor to the secretions. These can be seasonings that give food a spicy taste. Usually the stench comes from hot peppers, garlic, ginger, onions, and mustard. Armpits also smell strongly if a person consumes pork and beans. The person begins to sweat profusely, and the smell becomes pungent. Stimulants are products that include caffeine and theobromine. They have a similar effect. Such products include tea, coffee, Coca-Cola, chocolate, cocoa.
Bad habits. The armpits of those who have bad habits also smell of sweat. Nicotine, alcoholic drinks, and drugs affect the balance of the thermoregulatory system. They change it and promote inappropriately strong sweating.
Cloth. A garment made of synthetic fabrics, which has low breathability, does not allow moisture to evaporate from the surface of the dermis. For this reason, further initiation of sweating is noted.
Hygiene. Stinky armpits are much more common in those who have armpit hair. Hair inhibits the process of evaporation of sweat from the surface of the dermis and contributes to a longer observation of the bad odor.
Physical activity. Insufficient physical activity and excess weight reduce resistance to physical activity. For this reason, excessive sweating develops even with slight exertion.
Mental balance. Prolonged nervous tension, emotional instability, and frequent worries become the root cause of sweating. If a person is completely healthy and does not avoid the rules of personal hygiene, then the smell will not be very unpleasant.

It is very important to find out before getting rid of armpit odor that the cause does not lie in a dangerous disease