Don't toss that stained white shirt yet




Before I start talking about stains can we all just take a moment and admire this outfit?


We all get them, they ruin our best blouses and tee shirts, grrrrr. But I've found out that they can be stopped before they start and also an effective way to remove them once they are in.

I'm talking about armpit staining.  If you are using an antiperspirant then that is what's causing the staining. Antiperspirant contain aluminum and that's the culprit. Aluminum in essence enters the pores in order to block the sweat from coming out of our body.  Well that doesn't sound healthy and the aluminum causes the yellow staining, it's not from our sweat.

So try switching to deodorant which doesn't contain aluminum but does contain antibacterials to combat the odor. These do not cause the yellowing pit stains.  Yay.

Once the stains are in though, a half and half paste of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide will remove the yellow.  Just apply it to the area and let it soak in for a bit and remove.  It worked for me but to be honest it was a fairly fresh stain.  I don't know if it will work on old washed and dried in stains.  But try it and report back.  xo





30 comments

  1. Great tips, Janet and it struck a chord. In my late 20s my armpits started sweating profusely and all my clothes were getting ruined by huge sweat stains and OTC anti persistent had zero effect. My doctor prescribed a special aluminium treatment over some weeks. I totally stopped perspiring underarm and, rather scarily, haven't since.

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    1. wow mary that's pretty weird right?! there are lots of good stories and treatments in these comments! thanks for sharing yours. x

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  2. Gorgeous pic of Grace Kelly. It's amazing how absolutely timeless and classic her clothing is. Thanks for the tips! Can you recommend a deodorant without aluminum?

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    1. i agree, what a timeless classic look/lady. i've used toms lavender and also piper wai which is excellent but a little pricey. i'm going to add the links at the bottom of this post.:)

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  3. I don't know about staining from there. I honestly haven't had that problem. but for the last year I have been doing something that I read about.
    that you don't need deodorant.
    I use alcohol to kill the bacteria that causes any odor.
    then I just use a spray of my favorite cologne if I want to and that's it. I used to test it constantly... the sniff test! to see if I might offend. NOPE! just fresh and clean. I had read in that same article that Julia Roberts also does not use any kind of deodorant! who knew?
    if you can be healthier without offending anyone so much the better!

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    1. hi tammy thanks for sharing this. do you use alcohol just in the morning or at night too and do you spray your perfume directly under your arms for just in the general area? thanks. x

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  4. I've tried baking soda/peroxide on an old stain and it didn't work :-(. I've had better success saturating the stain with lemon juice and letting it sit in the sun for a day or two.

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    1. that's funny mary bc i use lemon juice and the sun to whiten my blouses/tees but it didn't work on the underarms. i will try again! x

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  5. I recently started using native ecos deodorant and love it! No aluminum, no odor, no stains and it works better than anything I have tried. It smells lovely too :)
    https://www.nativecos.com/

    Deni

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    1. thanks for the link deni. i've used piper wai and it's heavenly. pricey but works better than anything i've ever tried. i will look up native ecos. x

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  6. I use a natural deodorant that I get at the health section of my supermarket.
    As far as stains go I have a secret weapon...method grapefruit cleaner! Spray, rub gently and wash! I guess it's not a secret anymore!

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    1. thanks for sharing your secret leslie. i won't tell a soul. x

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  7. I read years ago about how sandalwood essential oil works well in a deodorant. I first tried combining it with coconut oil, but that did not work for me (many like coconut oil as a deodorant). But then I added a drop to aluminum free Crystal roll on deodorant. Crystal also has many scented varieties, but I buy the no scent so I can add the sandalwood oil. This works so well for me! My sister says the sandalwood is too strong for her, but it really neutralizes with my body. I don't have yellow stains on my white tees. Yay!

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    1. wow emily this sounds so fantastic too. at work when i'm feeling smelly towards the end of the day, i'll blend some essential oils, usually tangerine and patchouli which sound horrible together but they will get me through my last clients without that sour smell of sweat. thanks for sharing! xo

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  8. I never put anything on my armpits. I just feel it's safer that way. Why be terrified of any body odour? I do sweat underarm but I wash my armpits morning and evening. I only wear natural fibres and neutral colours to make sure no one can see any sweat stains. Sweating underarm is a pain but I take comfort in thinking its toxins going out of the body - so that's a good thing!

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    1. so true anna. sweating is a natural function of the body. that's why the aluminum thing freaked me out a bit.:) at work my armpits are in close proximity to people's faces so they need to smell good or at least be odor free so it's important to me. xo

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  9. I love the timeless look of Grace Kelly. Beautiful! Great tips.
    I stopped using deodorant in my 40s..due to a Dr saying some people react to the aluminum in cancer causing issues. My sister had breast cancer and I had 2 lumps removed under arm..benign. I just tried to keep washed and clean.
    Now I use Tom's natural and have no problems. This isn't for everyone but it was a personal health issue for me. 😊

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    1. nancy i've read the health risks/links between cancer and lots of beauty products and it's scary. hair dye really scares me! i'm glad you've found something that works for you. toms lavender is lovely too. xo

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  10. I am allergic to many, many products. I like the alcohol wiping of the pits to kill the stinky germs method. I'm pretty sure I am not allergic to rubbing alcohol.

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  11. YOU are a plethora of INFORMATION!
    AS to THAT PHOTO up TOP!How did they keep the scarf on their heads.........that material would slip so easily!Find out and REPORT BACK!!!!!XX

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    1. well it's photography so anything goes. maybe she didn't move an inch? x

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  12. Back in my 20's I also had problems with sweat stains ruining way to many shirts and blouses, so I just quit using anti-antiperspirants. No more problems. If I want extra insurance in the smell department I rub a hunk of salt under my arms and I'm set. You can find the salt chunks in health food stores in the cosmetic department (deodorant section). There's no need to be smelly, but your body does need to sweat to get rid of toxins and to cool you off, so I decided a long time ago that anti-antiperspirants were not a good match for me.

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    1. i have never heard of using salt. is that the salt crystal i've seen? must try that too. so many options right?! x

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  13. For several years now I have used the standard homemade version that contains coconut oil, corn starch, baking soda and tea tree oil. I do sweat some, but it isn't enough to be a problem and even at the end of the day I pass the smell test. The only time I had an issue was a couple of summers ago when my skin reacted to the baking soda and I used a natural store bought brand for a couple of weeks and only then did I start to smell at the end of the day. It was surprising to me so I went back to the homemade stuff and used less baking soda.

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    1. a couple of winters ago i used a friends recipe, v similar to yours but with peppermint instead of tea tree oil. i gave it as christmas gifts and everyone loved it. maybe i'll do that again this year. thanks for sharing your recipe! x

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  14. I've using Schmidt's lavender and sage deodorant and anti-perspirant for a while. It uses arrow root powder to absorb wetness. You have to hold the stick against your skin for a moment to warm it up enough to glide smoothly but it works.
    For anyone who worries about wetness and stains, try using dress shields in your clothes. They're kind of like panty liners for your pits! They make ones that can be stitched one the sleeves so they are reusable and they also make disposable ones that you can toss after a single use. Unless your shirt is very sheer,these aren't visible. I buy mine on Amazon but you can find them in fabric stores in the notions aisle. (While you're at the fabric store pick up a little box of mixed black and white safety pins. No shiny silver to tell on you that a zipper quit!)
    Wendy

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    1. hi wendy. i have a package of dress shields i use for fancy stuff! love that i'm not the only one! x

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  15. AJJ... late in coming back by so hope you see this!
    I use it in the morning of course. and sometimes if I feel I might need it I use it in the evening ... to go out maybe.
    part of me still doesn't trust it I guess! but it hasn't failed me yet! even in 'anxious' times which we all know... is the worst!
    for travelling or when i'm out I use those little alcohol pads that diabetics use to check their glucose levels.
    they're easy to carry in your purse in sealed packets.
    as to the cologne I spray the general area. not as up-close as you would a spray on deodorant I guess! not sure it matters. unless it might sting? mine doesn't! XO♥

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    1. that's such a great idea tammy! perfect for travelling and why didn't i think of that for work. we have them there, why not use them that way! thanks for sharing sweetie. xo

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