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The yellow crust in the armpits of your white shirts isn’t just sweat. It’s a chemical reaction between your sweat, the aluminum in your antiperspirant, and the fabric. That’s why bleach makes it worse instead of better – you’re trying to bleach out protein, which just turns it more yellow.
The good news: most pit stains come out with stuff you already have.
1. Dish soap and hydrogen peroxide
Mix equal parts dish soap, hydrogen peroxide (the 3% stuff from the drugstore), and baking soda. About 2 tablespoons of each for a normal stain.
Scrub it into the stain with an old toothbrush. Let it sit for an hour, then wash normally. Works on fresh stains and most older ones.
2. White vinegar soak
For crusty, set-in stains, soak the armpit area in undiluted white vinegar for 30 minutes before washing. The acid breaks down the aluminum deposits.
If the stain’s really stubborn, make a paste of vinegar and baking soda, let it fizz into the fabric for 15 minutes, then wash.
3. Aspirin paste
Crush 3-4 uncoated aspirin tablets (not the gel caps) into powder. Mix with just enough water to make a paste.
Spread it on the stain, let it sit for 2-3 hours, then wash. The salicylic acid in aspirin is surprisingly effective on protein-based stains.
4. Lemon juice and sun
Rub fresh lemon juice into the stain, then lay the shirt in direct sunlight for a few hours. The combination of citric acid and UV light bleaches without the yellowing effect of chlorine bleach.
Best for white fabrics. Test colored shirts first because lemon can fade dyes.
5. Meat tenderizer
Sounds weird, works well. Mix unseasoned meat tenderizer powder (the kind with papain or bromelain enzymes) with water to make a paste.
Work it into the stain, let it sit for 30 minutes, then wash. The enzymes break down the protein in sweat.
Prevention
Aluminum-free deodorant won’t stop you from sweating, but it will stop the chemical reaction that causes the staining.
If you’re committed to antiperspirant, apply it at night instead of morning. Gives it time to sink into your pores instead of sitting on your skin mixing with fresh sweat all day.
And wear an undershirt. Yeah, it’s an extra layer, but it’s cheaper to replace a Target 3-pack than your nice button-ups.