How can I get these yellow pit stains out of my old cotton T-shirts?

Question

I like to wear secondhand and thrift-store clothes and have a few ancient white cotton T-shirts (from the '70s and '80s) that I'm not willing to part with that have noticeable yellow sweat stains on the armpits. I've noticed this old, really soft T-shirt material seems much more susceptible to pit stains than today's seemingly stiffer cotton/cotton blend T-shirts. Anyway, what can I do to whiten these back up (bleach doesn't work at all)? Or are they doomed to be set aside as nightie and house-cleaning shirts?

Answer 1

Sometimes the stain isn't sweat stains. Its antiperspirant that didn't get washed out and then got baked on in the dryer.

If bleach won't get it out I, personally, don't know anything that will (although someone else on here may). If you figure that everytime a shirt is worn it is worn with deodorant or antiperspirant, you can imagine how if small amounts are left on with every wash it would build up.

There is, however, a bluing agent you can get in the laundry aisle; and it is meant to make clothes whiter (with the subtle blue tint it leaves on clothes). You could try that if that stains aren't too bad. You have to make sure not to use too much, or you'll dye your clothes blue.

Answer 2

the "stains" may actually be from antiperspirant, not just plain old sweat.

anyways, there are so many possible tricks to try that you might as well try them all. You've already discovered that bleach doesn't work, so try:

vinegar
any oxy-based color bleach
hydrogen peroxide
boiling clothes for 10-20 minutes
ammonia
whitening toothpaste

I wouldn't try this all at once because your shirts may disintegrate, but it's worth a shot.

Answer 3

I'm sorry to say that if bleach won't get rid of that, nothing will. I could be wrong, but I don't see it happening.