Tricks To Get Sweat Stains Out of Anything

Updated: Mar. 01, 2023

Stop worrying about embarrassing sweat stains when you learn how to remove sweat stains from anything

If you have to discreetly dry your hand before shaking someone else’s hand, keep your arms down for fear of displaying an obvious pit stain and/or avoid purchasing clothes prone to causing you to sweat, then you, my friend, are a sweater. There are many of us out there and we all have a similar household laundry challenge—removing sweat stains from our clothing. To prevent further damage and evidence that you’ve sweat through a dress shirt, blouse, or white tee, follow these three foolproof and lesser-known tips on how to get sweat stains out of anything.

Ease the hassles of doing laundry with these 17 tips and tricks.

How to Get Sweat Stains Out of Anything: The Stain Paste*

The first step in removing stains from clothing (dress shirt or T-shirt, dark or light colors) is to soak the garment in equal parts cold water and distilled white vinegar. If you have a light stain, then no other steps will be needed—just wash as usual!

If, however, your white tees still have some stubborn sweat stains, then it’s time to mix up some stain paste: 1 tablespoon hydrogen peroxide, 1 tablespoon salt, and 1/2 cup baking soda. Apply the paste directly to the sweat stain with a toothbrush, let it sit for at least and hour, and then wash as usual.

*This paste should only be used on white clothing. For all your colors, replace the hydrogen peroxide with cold water and then follow the same steps.

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How to Get Sweat Stains Out of Anything: The Soapy Solution

We all know Dawn dish soap has magic superpowers, so it’s no surprise that it’s a key ingredient in a highly effective sweat removing solution. If you need to remove sweat stains, especially those yellow ones (that, just so you know, are caused not just by your sweat but its reaction with the aluminum in your deodorant), then give this a try: Mix 1 part Dawn dish soap with 2 parts hydrogen peroxide, soak the stained area and firmly scrub the solution into the stain. Let it sit for about an hour and then wash as usual. If the stain is especially difficult to remove, add some baking soda to this mixture or add some dish soap to the stain paste above. Make your own home-made laundry detergent that actually works.

How to Get Sweat Stains Out of Anything: The Last Resort

We gave you our two favorite stain removal methods but you can also try these options if those don’t work.

  1. Rub lemon juice on the stain and then letting it sit in the sun for a few hours.
  2. Sprinkle some unflavored meat tenderizer on a water-dampened stain and then wash as usual. But the truth is … sometimes you might need the marketed product.
  3. According to user-tested reviewers like Brett at the Art of Manliness, OxiClean is how “six years of yellow pit stains were blasted away.” It’s worth a try! Buy OxiClean on now on Amazon.

Being a sweaty human is the pits so hopefully you can find the best solution for you. As you make your stain-remover decision, don’t forget these other important tips:

  • Don’t use any homemade remedies on silk and dry clean-only clothing.
  • Avoid bleach! It does more harm than good.
  • Try to catch the stain before it dries and sets in by running it under cold water.

Next, learn how to get deodorant stains out of shirts.

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