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Why you need to deal with armpit stains within 24 hours

Why you need to deal with armpit stains within 24 hours

OCTOBER 2022 | 5 Minute Read 

armpit stains

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Stains have plagued everyone at some point in their lives, but the most devastating ones are those that appear on your favorite shirt. If you’ve ever noticed yellow stains in the armpit area of your shirt and wondered how they got there, this article is for you. 

Even the most aggressive chemical remover can be ineffective for armpit stain removal and can possibly ruin your clothes.  

I’m going to give you a breakdown on why armpit stains form (hint: it has to do with the antiperspirant and natural deodorant you use) and how to get rid of them.  

armpit stains

HOW ARMPIT STAINS FORM WITH ANTIPERSPIRANT

Surprisingly enough, armpit stains don’t happen due to sweat. Sweat is actually colorless and odorless, but the sweat produced by the apocrine glands (the ones for in your armpits) produce sweat that is different from the rest of the body. This sweat contains a higher amount of fat and proteins, and this is where the problem originates. 

When the aluminum in antiperspirant interacts with protein from your sweat, it can form armpit stains. 

NATURAL DEODORANT CAN BE A SURPRISING CULPRIT TOO

The problem is not just antiperspirants; some natural deodorants contain coconut oil, which causes stains when it interacts with sweat. The product is more likely to get on your clothes, especially if your deodorant is hard to the touch as it will apply unevenly and leave deposits on the underarm of your shirt. Although not yellow, these stains can really ruin your shirts and be hard to remove. 

HOW TO PREVENT ARMPIT STAINS

armpit stains - switch to natural deodorant

1. SWITCH TO NATURAL DEODORANT

By removing aluminum found in antiperspirants from the equation, you’ll be able to avoid those pesky yellow armpit stains. Learn what to expect and how to easily switch from antiperspirant to natural deodorant here. 

armpit stains - avoid coconut oil formulations

2. AVOID COCONUT OIL FORMULATIONS

Keep your eye out for coconut oil based deodorant formulas (there are a lot out there and they not only stain, but also clog your pores!). This usually appears as cocos nucifera (coconut) oil” on the ingredient list. 

armpit stains - deodorant with glide

3. LOOK FOR DEODORANT WITH GLIDE

If you’re a natural deodorant user, you will notice that they come in a variety of textures. There are some that are made without glide and that are hard to the touch. Avoid deodorants that are hard to the touch if you want an even application and one that does not leave product deposits that can transfer to your clothing.   It also helps tremendously if you can wait until the product is fully absorbed before you get dressed. With this in mind, the takesumi detox® is made with an ingredient that gives it glide because I personally do not want a build up of product to transfer to consumers clothing causing stains that take too much work to remove. 

SHOP NATURAL DEODORANTS

HOW TO GET RID OF ARMPIT STAINS

The first 24 hours are crucial; you must act immediately upon noticing the stain. The longer you wait, the more time it has to form, penetrate and set within the clothing fibres. It creates twice the work and lowers the possibility of removing the stain.  

For those who want some natural solutions, here are some DIY methods: 

armpit stains - baking soda

BAKING SODA

Make a paste out of four tablespoons of baking soda and a ¼ cup of warm water to massage into the stain. Leave the garment out for half an hour before washing as you normally would.  

ASPIRIN

Crush two aspirins and mix the powder in a ½ cup of warm water. Soak the stained part of the item for two to three hours and wash as usual. 

armpit stains - lemon juice

LEMON JUICE

Mix equal parts lemon juice and water to rub into the stain. Lemon is a natural bleach due to its acidic properties. 

WHITE VINEGAR

If you have a tougher or older stain, pour white vinegar directly onto it and let it stand for 30 minutes. Wash as you normally would afterwards. Do not mix the vinegar with anything else unless you want a new stain to form. 

Note: OxiClean can do the trick as well if you are okay with a chemical alternative

All content found on this website is created for informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this Website. 

@madamesweat

Clean beauty industry maven and product developer Madame Sweat (Mary Futher) founded kaia naturals after spending 20 yearsworking for global beauty companies. She now shares advice on modern hygiene etiquette for grooming, hosting, home and travel on Instagram, TikTok and her popular blog called The House of Hygiene.

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