Why does deodorant stain clothes?

Deodorant has the potential to stain clothes because many formulas contain aluminum as a primary ingredient. Underarms create a warm, humid environment, which are the perfect conditions for the aluminum to mix with sweat, body oil, and laundry detergent. The end result of these chemical interactions? Pesky deodorant stains. "Once the stains have cooled to room temperature, they are very difficult to remove," says Gagliardi. These stains can build up over time, especially if you wash your clothes in cold water, which is less effective at removing these types of stains.

Are deodorant stains permanent?

Fortunately, deodorant stains are not permanent. "Treating them right away will decrease the chance that the stains will set," says Armstrong. Heavy stains that have built up over time will be harder to remove, but most items—even white garments—can be restored.

Will laundry stripping remove deodorant stains?

Laundry stripping may be satisfying to watch, but it’s not particularly helpful for removing deodorant stains. Deodorant stains must be melted before treating them, and it’s important for the chemistry of concentrated detergent and stain removers to get to work. Laundry stripping is a dilute process to work out built-up detergent and soil that aren’t thoroughly cleaned or rinsed away during machine washing, explains Gagliardi. When laundry is properly washed with warm or hot water, bleach, an extra rinse cycle, and without overloading the washing machine , laundry stripping is typically not needed.

How to Remove Deodorant Stains in a Few Simple Steps

We talked to laundry care experts for advice on removing deodorant stains and how to prevent them in the first place.

By

Nina Derwin

Published on August 4, 2024

Blouse on Hanger — Photo: moodboard / Getty Images

One of life's small joys is getting dressed in the morning and putting on your favorite shirt. It’s comfy, it fits perfectly, and it makes you feel confident. But chances are your favorite shirt has been worn so often that it’s starting to have deodorant stains under the arms.

Deodorant stains can quickly inspire you to turn your favorite shirt into a cleaning rag if you don’t know how to remove them. Fortunately, removing deodorant stains is possible—even from white clothing—with just a few simple materials and a little bit of patience.

We turned to laundry care experts to find out the best ways to get rid of deodorant stains and how to prevent them from forming in the first place.

Kim Romine, fabric care scientist at P&G
Sarah Armstrong, new product brand manager, Maytag
Mary Gagliardi (aka "Dr. Laundry"), Clorox's in-house scientist and cleaning expert

Materials You'll Need

Good quality laundry detergent
Fabric rinse
Soft-bristled brush (optional)

Instructions

Deodorant stains are complex and can worsen over time, so there is no surefire way to remove them. However, fabric care scientist Kim Romine recommends giving this effective method a try.

Remove any excess deodorant left behind using a soft-bristled brush.
Rinse your garment in warm water to dilute the stain.
Pre-treat the stains with a high-quality detergent. Pour detergent directly on the fabric to cover the stain, rub gently, then let set for 20 minutes.
Without rinsing off the detergent, place the garment into the washer. Leaving the detergent on the stain will give it extra cleaning power. Load detergent as usual.
Use a fabric rinse to remove stuck-on residue and buildup. To use, pour it into the fabric softener compartment of your washer so that it’s released during the rinse phase of the wash.
Run the washing machine as usual.
If the stain remains, repeat the steps above before machine drying, as the heat of the dryer can set in stains.

Using a fabric rinse can be key to eliminating tough-to-remove deodorant stains. "A fabric rinse works differently than detergent by breaking down residue that’s stuck on clothes, giving you an extra boost of clean," says Romine.

Removing Deodorant Stains From White Cotton or Polyester

White garments made from cotton or polyester can often be restored if you melt the stains first, which can be done by pouring boiling water on them, says Mary Gagliardi, Clorox’s in-house scientist and cleaning expert, aka Dr. Laundry. Then, treat the stains with a one-to-one baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, and water solution before machine washing with laundry detergent and bleach.

How to Prevent Deodorant Stains

More often than not, making the effort to prevent deodorant stains is easier and more effective than trying to remove them. For clothing that is free from deodorant stains, give these tips to avoid them a try.

Make sure your skin is completely dry before and after deodorant application to ensure it is fully absorbed, says Sarah Armstrong, a new product brand manager at Maytag.
Try switching to a deodorant that does not contain aluminum zirconium, recommends Romine. Aluminum is the ingredient responsible for reacting with sweat and body oils to create deodorant stains.
Pre-treat the armpit areas of your clothing even if you don’t see a stain, suggests Gagliardi. This is particularly helpful for people who consistently experience deodorant stains.
Treat deodorant stains as quickly as possible. The longer they are allowed to set, the harder they will be to remove.
Always wash your clothing in the hottest water possible, depending on the material, and add the appropriate additives to the load, like bleach or a fabric rinse.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does deodorant stain clothes?

Deodorant has the potential to stain clothes because many formulas contain aluminum as a primary ingredient. Underarms create a warm, humid environment, which are the perfect conditions for the aluminum to mix with sweat, body oil, and laundry detergent. The end result of these chemical interactions? Pesky deodorant stains. "Once the stains have cooled to room temperature, they are very difficult to remove," says Gagliardi. These stains can build up over time, especially if you wash your clothes in cold water, which is less effective at removing these types of stains.
Are deodorant stains permanent?

Fortunately, deodorant stains are not permanent. "Treating them right away will decrease the chance that the stains will set," says Armstrong. Heavy stains that have built up over time will be harder to remove, but most items—even white garments—can be restored.
Will laundry stripping remove deodorant stains?

Laundry stripping may be satisfying to watch, but it’s not particularly helpful for removing deodorant stains. Deodorant stains must be melted before treating them, and it’s important for the chemistry of concentrated detergent and stain removers to get to work. Laundry stripping is a dilute process to work out built-up detergent and soil that aren’t thoroughly cleaned or rinsed away during machine washing, explains Gagliardi. When laundry is properly washed with warm or hot water, bleach, an extra rinse cycle, and without overloading the washing machine, laundry stripping is typically not needed.

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