How do you take out the yellow underarm stains on white shirts? What causes it?

Question

I like wearing white shirts but lately I noticed these white shirts have yellow underarm stains. I tried using bleach but I can't take it off.

It must be the deodorant. I am about to throw out my supply of deodorant that might cause this. This never happened before I changed to this brand of deodorant. I should switch back to my old brand.

But my problem now is bleaching it without causing damage on my cotton undershirts.

Thanks for all the replies!

Answer 1

No bleach....it won't work anyway.
Use white vinegar! Lightly rub the area with white vinegar, then let the shirt sit for 30 min before washing as usual.
The stains are from the aluminum in the deororant, Degree for example has a high content, Secret has a lower content. Check the labels, this is what I do.

Answer 2

the stains are usually caused by a combination of deodorant and sweat/body oils.

simply bleaching usually won't do the trick -- try Oxy Clean ...

1. turn shirts inside out and wet in the sink
2. leaving damp, sprinkle dry Oxy Clean onto stains
3. let sit for at least 2 hours
4. rinse, repeat if necessary (still visible stains)
5. wash in regular cycle to remove excess cleaner

this works for white shirts and all other *natural* stains.

good luck!

Answer 3

I'm not sure how to get rid of it, but I do know the cause of it. What causes the yellow stain is (believe it or not) antiperspirant! I discovered this when I wore white cotton uniforms and used antiperspirant instead of regular deodorant.

Answer 4

The aluminum in the anti-persperant stick combined with uric acid from your sweat causes the yellowish green stains on your shirts.
Apparantly if you take boiling water and mix in lemon juice and let the steam permiate fabric it helps to release the stain.
If you switch to Tom's Natural deoderant you won't get the yellow pit stains..

Cheers,

Answer 5

it can be your deodorant.

i always though it was nasty when i saw that. i mean i've had the stinkiest underarm odor ever and yet never turned a white shirt yellow.

then i thought my friend was urinating through his arm pits. but that just isn't possible.

then i thought he eats too much garlic...

not true.

i believe it's the deodorant.

Answer 6

The combo of sweat and underarm deoderant cause it, will bleach solve it? I've found no. They soon become my "have to paint the living room shirt."

Answer 7

bleach the stains or use a stain remover like shout and sweat causes it.

Answer 8

Cigarette smoking causes it and Shout takes it out.

Answer 9

not sure about how to get it out but it is similar to urine .liquid waste

Answer 10

don't know what causes it but try OXYCLEAN. It works.