A quick spritz of anti-perspirant can help you feel fresh all day, but if not left to dry properly, it can also leave annoying perspiration stains or white marks on your clothes.

Below are some popular tips to prevent anti-perspirant stains from ruining your outfit.

Why do anti-perspirants stain clothes?

Anti-perspirants contain aluminium salts, which are the active ingredients that plug sweat ducts to help reduce the amount of sweat you produce.

When these active ingredients react with your sweat, they can leave a yellow or white residue on your clothing. Using too much anti-perspirant can also leave white marks on clothing.

How do I prevent anti-perspirant stains?

You can embrace the day without the annoyance of white marks and anti-perspirant stains by trying the following:

  • waiting until your underarm skin is fully dry before applying the anti-perspirant
  • only applying a couple of swipes or a couple of seconds’ spray to each armpit
  • waiting until the anti-perspirant is completely dry before getting dressed

It’s not always easy to be this organised, but popping your tops straight in washing machine after wearing them will help prevent stains from setting in.

How do I remove anti-perspirant stains from clothes?

You can save your favourite tops from stains by using the following method which is suitable for removing stains from white and coloured fabrics.

We’d recommend testing some of the solution on a discreet area of coloured tops first to be sure it won’t discolour them.

  • Apply white vinegar directly onto the stain and allow it to soak in for a few minutes.
  • Gently scrub the stain with a clean toothbrush.
  • Add more vinegar and leave the garment overnight.
  • Wash the garment in the washing machine as normal the next day.
  • This should remove the anti-perspirant stain. If it doesn’t, just repeat the above steps until the stain is gone.

Delicate fabrics need a gentler stain removal method—you can find out how to remove stains from fabrics such as silk below.

How do I remove anti-perspirant stains from silk?

Silk is a beautiful fabric that feels wonderful against the skin but, sadly, it’s not resistant to anti-perspirant stains. One of the most popular tips for removing underarm stains from silk is to try the following:

  • Mix equal parts white-wine vinegar and cold water in a bowl.
  • Use a cloth to dab the solution onto the stain.
  • As silk is a delicate fabric you’ll need to be gentle with the material and blot the stain with the cloth, rather than rub it.
  • Rinse the fabric to remove the vinegar solution.
  • Pop the garment in the washing machine on its usual cycle.

The above steps should be enough to remove mild stains.

Always make sure you test a small discreet area of your top with the solutions first, to make sure they don’t discolour or damage the fabric.

How to remove white anti-perspirant stains from clothing

Finding chalky white marks on dark clothes can ruin a look but white marks are easy to get rid of—all you need is a pair of nylon tights! When you spot a white mark, simply rub the nylon tights on the white mark to remove the chalky substance.

If you’re out and about and don’t have any spare tights to hand (or you’re wearing them!) dabbing a wet wipe over the mark should help remove it.