How to Clean Antiperspirant From a Cotton T-Shirt

Although antiperspirant prevents sweat from showing on your clothes, it can leave behind noticeable stains on cotton t-shirts. Deodorant leaves behind stains that are most evident on darker colors. Neglecting the stains can result in a permanent discoloration on your favorite shirt. Instead of discarding it, salvage your t-shirt by treating the antiperspirant stain before you launder it. After you remove the deodorant stain, prevent it from returning to keep your t-shirts clean and attractive.

1/2 cup table salt
1/4 cup hot water
Bowl
Cotton ball
White vinegar
Ammonia
Washcloth
Commercial pre-wash stain-removal solution

Instructions

- 1
  Mix 1/2 cup of table salt with 1/4 cup of hot water in a bowl. Dampen a cotton ball in the salt water and blot it over the antiperspirant stain until you remove it completely.
- 2
  Dissolve any remaining deodorant stains by blotting them with white vinegar. Launder the t-shirt in the hottest water possible. Remove the t-shirt from the washer and examine it for the antiperspirant stain. Do not put the shirt in the dryer because it can cause a lingering deodorant stain to become permanent.
- 3
  Apply ammonia to tough deodorant stains with a washcloth. Blot the stain instead of rubbing on it because you can cause the stain to spread. Rinse the ammonia from the t-shirt.
- 4
  Treat the deodorant stain with a commercial pre-wash stain-removal solution. Read the directions on the pre-treatment carefully to prevent damage to the shirt.
- 5
  Wash the shirt with the hottest water setting possible. Hang the t-shirt to dry and carefully examine it after it dries to ensure that the antiperspirant stain is completely gone.

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