How To Prevent Armpit Sweat Stains

Sweat stains – hardly flattering, right? The good news is, they can be avoided. If you’ve been struggling with them, don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Discover how to stop sweat stains from ruining your clothes and your day right here.

What’s causing your sweat stains?

Our sweat is made up of 99% water and 1% fat.¹ When we sweat onto our clothes and it dries, a residue of salt, oils, and protein can be left behind. You probably won't even notice it, as sweat itself is colorless and usually disappears as soon as you wash it.

So, what’s with those pesky yellow and white marks that plague the pits of our clothes? It’s largely due to antiperspirant and deodorant residue. Over time, the aluminum found in antiperspirants can combine with the salt in your sweat and cause sweat stains which can be difficult to remove with machine washing alone.

8 tips to prevent sweat from staining your clothes

Here are our top tips for how to stop sweat stains from ruining your clothes.

1. Trim or shave your armpit hair

Underarm hair can collect more sweat than skin alone. Keep your armpit hair tamed and tidy – or shave it completely – to stop bacteria and dirt from mingling with the aluminum in deodorant and prevent sweat stains.

2. Keep it clean

It kind of goes without saying, but keeping clean and fresh can help keep your clothes stain-free. Shower or bathe at least once a day, especially if you’ve been working up a sweat. Then make sure your armpits are dry before applying your antiperspirant and deodorant.

3. Launder shirts ASAP

Letting sweaty shirts and t-shirts linger in the laundry basket is a surefire way of locking in those sweat stains. It makes it much harder to give them a good clean. Don’t delay – get sweaty clothes washed as soon as you can to stop sweat stains from setting in.

4. Apply less product

In the quest to sweat less, it’s easy to go overboard and apply too much deodorant. But using too much product will only make sweat stains worse. Remember that less is more – a light spray or a few swipes of a high-quality antiperspirant deodorant is all you need to reduce your sweating and avoid stains.

It’s also super important to let your product dry fully before you put on your clothes.

Over time, the aluminum found in antiperspirants can combine with the salt in your sweat and cause staining.

Spray it and see

1. Spray for women: Degree®UltraClear Black+White Pure Fresh Antiperspirant Dry Deodorant for Women
2. Spray for men: Degree®UltraClear Black+White Driftwood Antiperspirant Deodorant Dry Spray

Stick it to ’em

1. Stick for women: Degree®UltraClear Black+White Pure Rain Antiperspirant Deodorant Stick
2. Stick for men: Degree® UltraClear Black+White Ocean Air Antiperspirant Deodorant Stick

6. Re-evaluate your wardrobe

Ever find yourself sweating more in some shirts than others? This may happen even when the temperature is the same or you’re working out at the same intensity.

That’s because different fabrics react differently to sweat. Synthetic fibers can make you sweat more, especially when they’re tight-fitting. And, as the fabric is touching your skin, deodorant can rub off onto it as you sweat and cause a stain.

Choose loose-fitting clothes made of natural fibers like cotton, linen, and silk as they’re more breathable. For workouts, go for sweat-wicking polyester blends to stop sweat stains from getting in the way of your next PB.

7. Stay cool, calm, and collected

Stressful situations can get our sweat flowing. Then self-consciousness and embarrassment may also kick in, making you sweat even more. If you've experienced this, remember that this is a normal reaction to stress and linked to our fight and flight response.

While you can't control your body's stress response, you can manage it to prevent sweat stains by calming yourself down when you feel hot and flustered.

So, the next time you’re feeling stressed, and sweat is on the horizon, give deep breathing a go. Focus on filling your stomach with air as you breathe in through your nose, hold it for a few seconds, and then slowly breathe out.

8. If all else fails, bring in the tough guys

If you’ve tried all of the above and are still sweating too much, it may be time to try clinical-strength antiperspirant deodorants. Here are a couple of our favorites ready to provide you with prescription-strength wetness protection and a whole load of confidence:

For women: Degree®5in1 Protection Clinical Antiperspirant Deodorant

For men: Degree®Clean Clinical Antiperspirant Deodorant

How to get rid of tough sweat stains

Pre-soak your clothes

If your stains are particularly stubborn or ‘set in’, simply throwing them into a regular wash just isn’t going to cut it. Instead, create a stain soak with one-part cold water and two-parts white vinegar. Soak the affected area for around 30 minutes before washing. Don’t do this on delicate fabrics like silk or lace, though. That’s one for the professional cleaners.

Go bio

Choose biological washing powder rather than non-biological, as this will help break down sweat and product residues on your clothes.

Put the iron down

You should never iron a sweat patch or sweat stain. If you do, the heat will ‘set in’ the stain and make it harder to get rid of.

With these handy tips in your back pocket, you can stop sweat stains in their tracks before they put a damper on your day. Now, take that sweat-proof confidence and show the world what you’re made of.

References:

1. Berman J. Sweating. MedlinePlus [Internet]. 2023.