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There’s sweater weather, and then there’s sweating (all the effing time because you have a garbage air conditioner) weather. While both of those types of weather involve the root word of “sweat,” it’s during that latter calendar timeframe when you might find yourself loading up more than usual on your signature deodorant in an effort to not drip through all your clothes. Except, oops…you’ve gone a little overboard and are now left with streaky, chalky, starkly white deodorant stains on basically all your warm-weather garments. So, in light of you being today years old and the sweaty-season being upon all of us, let’s learn once and for all how to remove deodorant stains.
Before we learn how to remove deodorant stains, though, let’s remember why you get left with them in the first place. “The white residue you see comes from your deodorant’s antiperspirant properties,” says Gwen Whiting, co-founder of eco-friendly detergent and fabric-care company The Laundress. “The aluminum salts used in antiperspirants often leaves a chalky film on the skin, which can then transfer to clothes and leave white marks. These can build up overtime and cause set-in stains.”
Since that’s not the most desirable look, to say the least, you probably want to know how to remove deodorant stains (or just keep them from happening in the first place). So to keep you fresh, clean, and stain-free, keep reading for all the intel (and products) you could possibly need.
How to prevent deodorant stains in the first place
“To avoid those pesky white marks, apply deodorant after you put on your top by applying beneath your shirt, from the bottom hem,” says Lindsey Boyd, co-founder of The Laundress. “Avoid pulling at the neckline to apply deodorant, because this can stretch out the fabric. If you apply deodorant before dressing, be sure to wait a couple of minutes for it to dry before putting on your clothes.”
“To avoid those pesky white marks, apply deodorant after you put on your top by applying beneath your shirt, from the bottom hem.” —Lindsey Boyd, co-founder of The Laundress
Likewise, you can consider trying a deodorant that doesn’t contain aluminum salts, which is the culprit behind white streaks. Or, you can try the following nifty hack with your sleeves: “Another trick is to fold over the hem of the garment before slipping it on,” says Boyd. “This way, it’s less likely you’ll get a mark on the outside of the garment.”
How to remove deodorant stains from clothes
In the event you’re past the stage of working to prevent stains and the damage is done, all isn’t lost. According to Whiting and Boyd, removing deodorant stains boils down to three easy steps.
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