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how do you get those brown/yellow armpit stains off your shirts?

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Originally posted by: skace
Originally posted by: NightDarker
Buy new shirts.
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And next time wear deodorant.
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I think deodorant makes the problem worse, actually. i have this theory that it mixes with the urea in your sweat, bleach and detergent, and leads to the crusty layer that forms.


I hear lemon juice works better than bleach, though. Anyone ever try this out?
 
I remember some old lady telling me to dissolve aspirin in water and soaking the armpit in that solution. I've never tried it though.
 
Always wear an undershirt. After a while the undershirts will get the yellow/crusty thing going on - toss them and get new ones. This preserves the investment in quality shirts for a LONG time - I've got some Polo shirts I've had for almost a decade now that still look perfect (minus a few replaced buttons due to the cleaners breaking them)
 
Originally posted by: zinfamous
I think deodorant makes the problem worse, actually. i have this theory that it mixes with the urea in your sweat, bleach and detergent, and leads to the crusty layer that forms.
Click to expand...

Yea, I did some basic searches after making that comment and it turns out no one really knows why this happens, at least not that I could find. Read about people changing their diets, switching from antiperspirant to deodorant and back again to going with nothing at all or switching brands. Weird. My shirts stay white and I use Old Spice Sport, that's all I know (The white foam dissolving one).
 
I don't have a solution to get current stains out, but make sure you use some form of stain remover before you wash them (i.e. spray some Shout or Spray n Wash on the underarms). I have some white t-shirts going on 3 years old which are as white as new.
 
My understanding has always been that it is the aluminum in anti-perspirant that causes this, and thus that deodorant should not. I always wear an undershirt for the most part, so my actual shirts don't have this issue, but some of my undershirts look pretty gross.
 
I've never had this problem, but if what Don Vito said is true, then that may be why as I only wear deodorant and not anti-perspirant.

KT
 
Originally posted by: skace
Originally posted by: zinfamous
I think deodorant makes the problem worse, actually. i have this theory that it mixes with the urea in your sweat, bleach and detergent, and leads to the crusty layer that forms.
Click to expand...

Yea, I did some basic searches after making that comment and it turns out no one really knows why this happens, at least not that I could find. Read about people changing their diets, switching from antiperspirant to deodorant and back again to going with nothing at all or switching brands. Weird. My shirts stay white and I use Old Spice Sport, that's all I know (The white foam dissolving one).
Click to expand...

so it seems the consensus is the antiperspirant. That makes sense. I think I've mostly used Right Guard sport/extreme/cool--whatever is on sale--gel. I believe it is antip + deodorant, over the last 15 or so years. It's usually a good deal in 2 packs at Target 🙂

and my white undershirts last ~1/2 year before the ick takes over. the few shirts that I've worn without undershirts show the same problem, though they are darker.
 
Originally posted by: zinfamous
Originally posted by: skace
Originally posted by: zinfamous
I think deodorant makes the problem worse, actually. i have this theory that it mixes with the urea in your sweat, bleach and detergent, and leads to the crusty layer that forms.
Click to expand...

Yea, I did some basic searches after making that comment and it turns out no one really knows why this happens, at least not that I could find. Read about people changing their diets, switching from antiperspirant to deodorant and back again to going with nothing at all or switching brands. Weird. My shirts stay white and I use Old Spice Sport, that's all I know (The white foam dissolving one).
Click to expand...

so it seems the consensus is the antiperspirant. That makes sense. I think I've mostly used Right Guard sport/extreme/cool--whatever is on sale--gel. I believe it is antip + deodorant, over the last 15 or so years. It's usually a good deal in 2 packs at Target 🙂

and my white undershirts last ~1/2 year before the ick takes over. the few shirts that I've worn without undershirts show the same problem, though they are darker.
Click to expand...

Hmm, maybe it's a mix of the antiperspirant, body/sweat chemistry, and the type of detergent or dry cleaning materials you use...?

This generally doesn't happen to my shirts, but I've noticed it on a few. I tend to wear deodorant without antiperspirant, but the water here seems to have an insane amount of sulfur, so maybe that has something to do with it.
 
I've read after much googling that some of the yellowing was due to organic build ip. These sites suggest using enzymic detergents to dissolve the crap out.
 
Don't wear white shirts, choose darker colors. Problem solved. 😛

Or don't be so nervous during meetings, and you wont sweat your armpits out. Stance of dominance 24/7.
 
Time to switch deodorant and get away from ones that have zinc in em.

Buy new undershirts and switch deodorant.


I use Old Spice Endurance - no zinc = no problem.


 

use non bleach base cleaner.

soak shirt in water and non bleach detergent, or use hydrogen peroxide on white.
 
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