How to Remove Sweat Stains from Workwear

Making a living with your hands is hard work. You come home rank, covered in sweat, dirt, and grime. While you can wash out the smell and most of the rest, a little can be left behind in the form of pesky sweat stains.

Here’s what happens: sweat proteins and dirt combine with aluminum and other ingredients in deodorant resulting in the yellow stains on your clothes. Don't let those pesky yellow marks sabotage your look or your workwear by using the following household items and methods to remove your sweat stains:

1. Removing Sweat Stains with White Vinegar

White vinegar can be used in cooking, to clean water spots, and to clean stains out of clothing. It gets the job done by breaking stains down and lifting them out of clothes. Here's what to do:

Steps:

1. Mix 2 Tbsp. of white vinegar with 1 cup of water.
2. Apply the mixture to the stain, rub it in gently with your fingers.
3. Let the mixture sit for 30 minutes.
4. Wash your garment using cold water.

5. Let air dry (using a heated dryer cycle can cause the stain to set).

You can also soak the garment in white vinegar if they are particularly difficult sweat stains. Here's how:

1. Mix one part vinegar with two parts water in a container big enough to submerge your clothing.
2. Submerge the garment in the mixture.
3. Let it soak for 20 minutes.
4. Use the same air-dry method as before.

2. Removing Sweat Stains with Hydrogen Peroxide and Baking Soda

You can create a paste with hydrogen peroxide and baking soda to bring out the stains. You can also combine this method with the white vinegar soaking method above for added stain-fighting power. Here’s how to use the hydrogen peroxide and baking soda:

Steps:

1. Mix equal parts baking soda, water, and hydrogen peroxide into a paste in a cup.
2. Rub the paste into the stain using an old toothbrush.
3. Let the item sit for 30 minutes.
4. Wash the garment in cold water.
5. Let air dry.

3. Removing Sweat Stains with Hydrogen Peroxide and Dish Soap

If all you have is hydrogen peroxide and dish soap, give this combo a try. Much like white vinegar, these two liquids combine to help break the stain down so it can be fully removed in the wash. Follow these steps to get it done:

Steps:

1. Mix 3 Tbsp. dish soap with 6 Tbsp. hydrogen peroxide in a cup.
2. Rub the solution into the stain using an old toothbrush.

3. Let the garment sit for around an hour.
4. Wash the clothing in cold water.
5. Let air dry.

4. Removing Sweat Stains with Lemons

Lemons have a similar effect as white vinegar on sweat stains. The acidity of their juice breaks the sweat stain down, so it can be washed away fully. Here’s how to make a lemon squeeze work for you:

Steps:

1. Cut up a few lemons and squeeze a ½ cup’s worth of juice into a cup.
       a) pre-squeeze lemon juice is fine too
2. Mix up equal parts lemon juice and water in the cup.
3. Rub the mixture into the stain.
4. Let it set for 30 minutes.
5. Wash the garment in cold water.
6. Let air dry.

5. Removing Sweat Stains with Aspirin

The same medicine that is great at relieving headaches is also great at breaking down sweat stains on clothes. After getting rid of your end-of-the-day aches, leave the bottle out and follow these steps to break down your sweat stains:

Steps:

1. Crush four aspirin pills with a mortar and pestle or a method like putting the pills in a bag and pulverizing them with a hammer or meat tenderizer.
2. Mix the crushed pills in warm water until they dissolve.
3. Transfer the water to a spray bottle and shake.
4. Spray the stain until it's saturated.
5. Let sit for 30 minutes to an hour, depending on the severity of the stain.
6. Crush three more aspirin and add just enough water to make a thick paste.
7. Rub the paste over the saturated stain.
8. Leave the paste on for 5 minutes
9. Wash the garment in cold water.
10. Let air dry.

Whatever you do, avoid using bleach to fight sweat stains. You might think it’s the perfect tool to get rid of your sweat stains, but using bleach can actually make things worse.

Like antiperspirant, bleach reacts to sweat proteins and can make the sweat stain more yellow. It's better to find the household items mentioned above and put them to work fighting your sweat stains. However, what if you could avoid the stain altogether?

Prevent Stains with Oil-Repellent Clothing

Red Kap's workwear with OilBlok Technology is designed to block even the toughest garage fluids from penetrating fabric while wicking sweat to stop sweat stains from forming. If you’re looking for workwear that will stay looking professional all day long and be ready to go to work the next morning, this is the workwear for you.

Are you part of a team, or do you manage one? With this workwear, you and your coworkers can work hard and stay comfortable no matter the job at hand. Look into outfitting for your team so you can stay ahead of the competition.