How to Remove Caked On Deodorant from Shirts

June 19, 2020 4 min read

how to remove caked on deodorant from shirts

Sweating is nothing new. In fact, we need to sweat to cool ourselves down. Most of us use deodorants or antiperspirants to combat sweat and the odor that comes with it. However, a side effect of deodorant is that it can transfer from the underarms onto our clothes. After multiple uses and without proper treatment, shirts and other garments can suffer an unpleasant build-up of deodorant. But don’t throw away that shirt just yet! This article will highlight various techniques on how to remove caked on deodorant from shirts that you can try at home.

What causes deodorant build up on shirts?

More often than not, the deodorant users themselves are the main culprits of unsightly sweat stains. It’s far too easy to apply deodorant and immediately put on clothes while it’s still wet, or to applying too much product that ultimately accumulates on your poor shirt. Daily routines become muscle memory and before we know it, we’re mindlessly going through the motions paying little attention to the results.

If not washed properly, these stains can become hard, dried patches. So first, take a few moments to think before application. Does your product need a few minutes to dry? Are you applying too much?

If the damage has already been done, don’t fret! Continue reading for our guide on how to remove caked on deodorant from shirts.

How to Get Rid of Deodorant Build Up

Aspirin

What You'll Need:

  • Aspirin pills
  • Warm water

Apart from offering headache relief, aspirin can also help you to get rid of deodorant build up. Simply crush up two aspirin tablets and dissolve them in half a cup of warm water. (This will be enough to treat one shirt.) Then apply the mixture to the required area and let it soak for a minimum of 30 minutes. After soaking, you may wash the shirt as usual.

Baking Soda, Hydrogen Peroxide and Water

What You’ll Need:

  • Baking soda
  • Hydrogen peroxide
  • Water

This method for removing deodorant from a shirt is simple to remember as it uses a 1:1:1 ratio of ingredients. Mix one part water, one part hydrogen peroxide and one part baking soda until a thick paste forms. Next, thoroughly rub the mixture onto affected areas of your shirt and leave for at least 15 minutes. To finish, use a clean toothbrush (or hard-bristled brush) to scrub the area before washing as usual.

remove caked on deodorant
Lemons

What You’ll Need:

  • Lemon
  • Salt
  • Water

Up next is a natural way for how to get deodorant build up out of a shirt. You’ll need water, a little salt, and the natural stain-removing juice of one lemon. The great thing about this mix is that you’re likely to already have the ingredients in your kitchen. Squirt the lemon juice directly onto the stained area and sprinkle on some salt before rubbing the fabric together to activate the ingredients. Allow the solution to soak for 30 minutes before washing as usual.

Meat Tenderizer

What You'll Need:

  • Meat tenderizer
  • Water

Meat tenderizer may seem like an unlikely solution for how to get caked on deodorant out of shirts, but it certainly does the job! Just as tenderizer powder breaks down the proteins in meat, it will break down the proteins in annoying stains to help eliminate them. Dampen the problem area with a little water and pour on a liberal amount of meat tenderizer powder. Give it a thorough rub. Let it sit for an hour before you wash and wear as usual.

Oxiclean

What You'll Need:

  • Oxiclean
  • Water

You may wonder how to get rid of deodorant on clothes with a premade product. One good option is the oxygenated stain removal agent, Oxiclean. To use, fill up a tub with water and pour in the amount of Oxiclean powder instructed on the packaging. Then, submerge your affected shirt(s) in the tub and let it work its magic for a few hours. You can then wash the clothing on a standard cycle wash cycle before checking out the results

Vinegar

What You'll Need:

  1. White vinegar
  2. Water

Plain white vinegar is a great household cleaning product. It’s stain removing qualities also solve the dilemma of how to get rid of deodorant on clothes. For this method, fill up your washing machine with water and pour some white vinegar into the drum. Add in the shirts and let them soak for around 30 minutes. Following this, you can run a standard wash before wearing your fresh shirt. If you don’t have access to a washing machine, you can also soak the shirts in a tub of the solution for 30 minutes before washing as you normally would.

how to get deodorant build up out of a shirt

How to Get Gel Deodorant Out of Clothes

Aspirin with Vinegar

What You'll Need:

  • Aspirin
  • White vinegar
  • Hot water

Although gel deodorants are less likely to leave stains on clothes due to their transparent formula, it’s still a possibility. For those seeking tips on how to get gel deodorant out of clothes, the good news is that’s an easy task. To use this method, crush two aspirin and dissolve them into half a cup of hot water. Pour the solution on to affected areas and leave for 2-3 hours. Next, pour one cup of white vinegar into your washing machine. Add the clothes that were sitting in the solution and run a regular wash before wearing.

Now that you’ve learned how to remove caked on deodorant from shirts, you can approach your soiled laundry with confidence.

Take Control of Sweat Stains

To prevent caked on deodorant in the first place, wear an Ejis sweat proof undershirt (buy from our shop or on Amazon) to protect your shirts. Our sweat proof undershirts are specifically designed to protect your dress shirts with a silent waterproof layer. They are also infused with real silver to fight odor-causing bacteria.

(Note: Some of these sweat stain removers may not be suitable for bright or dark-colored clothing. When in doubt, test a small area in an inconspicuous place. Do not use vinegar of Ejis sweat proof undershirts.)

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