How to Remove Sweat Stains from Clothing

TJM asked, “How do I clean the dark sweat line at the top of my 100% polyester uniform collar?”

Always test a cleaning solution on a hidden area to avoid damaging the garment.

You Might Need:

• White vinegar
• Sponge
• Bucket
• Table salt
• Dish liquid
• Meat tenderizer
• Ammonia
• Old toothbrush
• Borax
• Lemon juice
• Hydrogen peroxide

Options to Remove the Stain:

1. On a washable item, as soon as you take it off, sponge the stain with white vinegar. This will prevent the stain from setting. You can also add 1 cup of white vinegar to a bucket of warm water and soak the item for a couple of hours. Wash the item as recommended.¹
2. Another pre-treatment solution is to stir ¼ cup table salt into 1 quart hot water. Sponge the stain with the mix and then rinse. Wash as recommended.²
3. Rub dish liquid into the stain and place the item in a bucket or sink filled with warm water, allowing it to soak for a half-hour. Make sure that the dish liquid you use does not contain bleach. Wash in the hottest water the label recommends.¹
4. Make a paste of meat tenderizer and water. Apply the paste to the stain. Allow it to sit for a few minutes, then wash as recommended. Sounds strange, but just as meat tenderizer can soften meat, it can also soften the protein within the sweat, which makes the stain easier to remove.¹
5. Combine ammonia and water in equal amounts. Apply the mixture to the stain and use a toothbrush to scrub the area. Wash as recommended.³
6. Combine borax with white vinegar to make a paste. Spread it over the stain. Allow it to sit for an hour. Rinse in the hottest water the label allows, then wash as recommended.³
7. Another handy hint is to rub the stain with a mixture of half lemon juice and half water. Rinse and wash as recommended.⁴
8. If you have already washed the item, you can use hydrogen peroxide to bleach the stain. Test it in an out-of-the-way place, as it can discolor fabric. If the test results in no damage, you can soak the stain for up to a half-hour and then wash as recommended.¹

• If the underarm area of a garment becomes routinely stained, you can purchase underarm shields.⁵ In a pinch, you can use sanitary napkins instead.³
• Use caution when wearing colored tops under jackets or shirts. The colored dye can stain the underarms or collar area as you sweat.⁵
• Heat sets sweat stains so don’t iron or dry garments until the stain has been removed.⁵
• If you can, wear a white undershirt to absorb the sweat. A cotton undershirt will provide more absorbency for the sweat than a synthetic material.⁵
• Always ventilate the area well when using ammonia, and wear gloves. For more ammonia safety information, see Wikipedia.

1. Green Housekeeping by Ellen Sandbeck
2. The Country Almanac of Housekeeping Techniques That Save You Money by Richard Freudenberger and the Editors of BackHome Magazine
3. Amazing Kitchen Cures by Joey Green
4. The Miracles of Lemons by Dr. Penny Stanway
5. Don Aslett’s Stainbuster’s Bible