Protein family: cold water first
How to get yellow armpit stains out
Sweat proteins plus antiperspirant aluminium plus body oil, baked by the dryer.
Do this first
Soak underarms in white vinegar and water 30 minutes
Fresh stain
- Soak underarms in white vinegar and water 30 minutes
- Peroxide and dish soap paste or enzyme detergent
- Wash warm
Dried or old
- Overnight oxygen soak, repeat
- See Set-in sweat
- Fabric care
- Never chlorine bleach: it turns sweat yellower.
- Time
- 30 min to overnight
- How to tell
- Look: yellow, sometimes stiff underarms; Feel: stiff; Smell: stale
Where this fix comes from
We check every fix against these published guides. We do not run a test lab of our own.
Before you start
- Test on a hidden seam first.
- Never mix cleaners.
- Keep it out of the dryer until the stain is gone.