Removing deodorant/anti-perspirant underam stains?

[neato]

I have a few dress and sport shirts that have white residue stains, even though I always wear an undershirt (I sweat a lot!).

I've seen a lot of different methods online, has anyone tried any of them? What would you recommend?

I know I wouldn't have this problem if I used a "natural" anti-perspirant without deodorant, but I've tried some of them and just don't like their effectiveness.

[lpresq]

I've heard the aluminum contained in most deodorants tends to cause this problem. My only advice is to launder, self or professionally, quickly after you've worn the shirt, esp. white dress shirts. Certain-Dry, avail. at Walgreens, is very effective in reducing underarm persp.

[bdbb]

I don't think those stains are coming out. What you need is something called B-Drier, which you can buy at HEB. Put that stuff on every couple of days, and use a deoderant without any aluminum/antipersperant. On the days you use B-Drier, make sure to let it dry/soak in before you put deoderant on.

[scruff]

search for a thread on here that has a two-day long oxyclean, vinegar, hot water treatment. I did it for a batch of my shirts I run and bike in and it worked like a charm.

[NukeMeSlowly]

The trick here is preemptive action, I believe.
I used to get those stains too. Now I am careful to remove any excess antiperspirant from my armpits before I put on my shirts. When I take the shirts off I thoroughly rinse the underarms with cold water (I found a site online that had tested different methods and this was the best they found) and scrub them with a SprayNWash stick. In the wash, I use oxyclean. I don't put my shirts in the dryer and I don't run the iron over the underarm areas either - don't want heat to set-in any remaining antiperspirant and make that evil permanent stain you are lamenting right now.

[Odd Morsel]

Oxi Clean worked wonderfully on a number of my shirts underarm regions. A few of the more thoroughly-stained white shirts (with yummy yellow pits) were too far gone for Oxi Clean to work.

[misterjase]

don't use chemical anti-perspirants. use natural deodorants.

[Jumbie]

Originally Posted by misterjase

don't use chemical anti-perspirants. use natural deodorants.

That's not an option for some of us. Believe me, I've tried.

I just have stinky pits or I perspire a lot. I've tried using deodorants alone which don't have the ammonium in them but then I end up with huge wet spots under my arms. This includes using the allum stones like Crystal. Okay in the winter when it's cool but not so much when the temperature increases.

[knittieguy]

Calling Billy Mays ...

[js00]

Try heating up some white vinegar just short of boiling, then soak the armpit areas in it for an hour or so. You can do several shirts at a time if you have the right basin. Wash right after. This has worked great for me on colored shirts. For white shirts, soaking overnight is OxyClean has given me the best results.

[exchange239]

I used to have the same problem more with stick deodorants, I switched to a spray deodorant a few years back and haven't had the problem since.

May help to try a spray-based. Spray it on and give it a few minutes before putting your shirt(s) on.

[gnumonic]

Seconding (thirding, whatever) the oxyclean suggestion. I managed to save half a dozen beater OCBDs that I thought were long past the point where they could be saved.

Also, after switching from gel-based antiperspirants to solids and wearing undershirts every day, I haven't seen stains creep up on any other shirts. (After trying everything, I found that unscented speed stick actually strikes the best balance between working well and not ruining shirts.)

[swb120]

I third the Oxyclean recommendation: I don't wear undershirts and sweat a lot. I launder my own Brooks Bros. non-iron shirts (mostly white and blue). I use Oxyclean to treat the neck and armpits of each shirt before washing, and it always works.

[NukeMeSlowly]

Originally Posted by bdbb

I don't think those stains are coming out. What you need is something called B-Drier, which you can buy at HEB. Put that stuff on every couple of days, and use a deoderant without any aluminum/antipersperant. On the days you use B-Drier, make sure to let it dry/soak in before you put deoderant on.

I have adopted this ritual but I put it on at night before bed and use a Tom's Natural deodorant (completely non-staining) during the day. No stains and no smell.

[PITAronin]

Got an email from the Ribbed Tee folks (who have some of the better undershirts around IMHO) the other day and noticed that they have a new sideline venture called Deo-go (getdeogo.com) that is designed for getting rid of pit stains. Testimonial from Andy Gilchrist of Ask Andy seems positive. Anyone looked into it? (And no, I'm not a paid shill for the company, just someone who's bought undershirts from them.)