Is there any way to get out those yellow armpit stains? Putting 4 household remedies to the test
18.11.2022
Why am I soaking my T-shirt in denture cleaner at the moment? According to the internet, that’s how to get rid of unsightly underarm stains. Baking powder and gall soap are also supposed to be helpful. I’ve decided to see for myself.
My last shopping list might appear a bit absurd: acetic acid, gall soap, baking powder, denture cleaner. But they’re not for a witches’ brew. Rather, these four ingredients are my mercenaries in the fierce war against yellowish discolouration from deodorant and sweat residue.
Baking ingredients
Quantity discount
CHF2.05 per piece for 4 units CHF36.25/1kg
Dr. Oetker Baking powder
80 g
Dental care accessories
−64%
CHF7.10 was CHF19.90
Livsane Denture cleaning tablets Tabl
Denture accessories
In winter, my shirts – whether short or long-sleeved – are usually hidden under a thick sweater along with their discoloured underarm parts. But I still turn up my nose every time I pull one of these problem pieces out of the closet. They really don’t look hygienically sound. Maybe they’re not?
How does yellow discolouration occur?
Before we get to the solution, a few words about the problem itself. Yellow staining isn’t a result of grubbiness or negligence on your part. It’s caused by the mixing of aluminium salts (be gone with you, evil!) from your deodorant with sweat, sebum and your shirt fibres. Unfortunately, cotton is particularly susceptible to this chemical process. It absorbs a lot of moisture and takes a long time to dry out again. This chain of reactions leads to the undesirable discolourations, which are, by the way, intensified by some detergents. How inconvenient.
3 tips to prevent staining
- Use deodorant that doesn’t contain any form of aluminium
- Let your deodorant dry completely before putting your shirt on
- Treat any problem areas before each wash
How do I get rid of the discolouration?
The real question. Which, according to the internet, isn’t lacking answers. I decided upon the four above-mentioned remedies – denture cleaner, baking powder, gall soap and acetic acid are my candidates of choice. I’m pitting them against each other to see which comes out on top. Ring 1: gall soap in the left corner armpit versus denture cleaner in the right corner armpit. Ring 2: baking powder on the left battles it out with acetic acid on the right for the honours of best home remedy. After applying each and giving them enough time to set, I throw my shirts in a 40° wash.
Gall soap
I wet the left side of my T-shirt with warm water and rub the stained area with gall soap. After 30 minutes, I soap it up again.
Denture cleaner
Following online instructions, I dutifully dissolve two denture cleaner tabs in 500 ml of warm water and soak the right side of my T-shirt in it for a good hour.
Baking powder
Yet again, I stick to the instructions I’ve found online. I mix the baking powder with a little water to make a mushy, bubbly mixture and apply it to the left armpit of my long-sleeved shirt. It’s supposed to take effect overnight, so I don’t rinse it off until the next morning.
Acetic acid
I’m to mix 100 ml acetic acid with 500 ml water. Done. Overnight, the mixture begins to work on the discoloured right armpit.
The verdict
Thanks for pretty much nothing, internet. Much like fellow editor Stephanie when she carried out a test against static, I’ve been disappointed by most of the supposed home remedy hacks I found.
My long-sleeved shirt, which I treated with acetic acid, looks almost the same as before, but it now has a subtle note of vinegar to it. Back into the wash. I’m hoping the smell will succumb to the next cycle or two. As far as the other remedies go, I would use the baking powder hack again – and this time on both armpits.
As for the T-shirt, I can actually see a substantial improvement in the left armpit – the gall soap side. But it seems the denture cleaner only cleans what it’s supposed to – dentures. In any case, it’s no good against deodorant discolouration.
In the future, I’ll try to avoid staining in the first place by using aluminium-free deodorant and applying it properly. If I notice even the slightest discolouration, I’ll immediately pull out the gall soap. Even if I have to do so before every wash. And maybe I’ll thereby manage to prevent further discolouration. My T-shirt and long-sleeved shirt are nevertheless condemned to being worn under sweaters until further notice. Oh, and if anyone here is in need of some denture cleaner – I’ve got a few tabs I won’t be needing.
Laura Scholz
Senior Editor
Laura.Scholz@digitecgalaxus.chAlways in the mood for good hits, great trips and clinking drinks.
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