# How to get armpit stains out?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-armpit-stains-out/64462>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [May 5, 2001, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-armpit-stains-out/64462 "2001-05-05T19:43:41Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 7\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\
**Post date:** [May 5, 2001, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-armpit-stains-out/64462/1 "2001-05-05T19:43:41Z")

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I hear pit stains are impossible. Is this true? Is it the deodorant, the sweat, or a chemical combo that makes the stain? Are some deodorants better than others for pit stain prevention?

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**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\
**Post date:** [May 5, 2001, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-armpit-stains-out/64462/2 "2001-05-05T20:48:14Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Bearflag70 \*  
> \*\*I hear pit stains are impossible. Is this true? Is it the deodorant, the sweat, or a chemical combo that makes the stain? Are some deodorants better than others for pit stain prevention? \*\*

Is this true?

Yes. Short of a molecular disruption blast pit stains are permanent.

Yes. The opaque white deodorants (all brands) will leave deposits like crazy. Glear gel ypes are just as (if not more) effective and a much less staining. I gave the opaque ones up 4 years ago and all staining problems abated.

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**Author:** ![Yeah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/dbc845/32.png) [@Yeah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yeah)\
**Post date:** [May 6, 2001, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-armpit-stains-out/64462/3 "2001-05-06T02:42:44Z")

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I never noticed any problem with armpit stains until I moved to a new community. I didn’t change detergents or deodorants. Then I moved back to where I had lived before and the armpit stains are disappearing. I think its the water.

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**Author:** ![Chas.E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e99b99/32.png) [@Chas.E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chas.E)\
**Post date:** [May 6, 2001, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-armpit-stains-out/64462/4 "2001-05-06T04:20:24Z")

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You can try bleach. Or you can try “blueing.” Blueing is a blue liquid, it used to be pretty common but now is kinda rare. If you can’t get the stains out with bleach or blueing, the only other way is to remove it with a scissors.

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**Author:** ![gadgetgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c5a1d2/32.png) [@gadgetgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gadgetgirl)\
**Post date:** [May 6, 2001, 11:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-armpit-stains-out/64462/5 "2001-05-06T11:15:14Z")

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Switch to fragance free (not the low fragrance type) deodorant. The fragrance can react with your sweat causing the nasty stains. Worked for me.

And Heloise suggests that to get rid of the stain that “if the garment is washable, then generally you can dab straight household vinegar on the underarm area, let set for a few moments, then launder”. And that “according to the International Fabricare Institute, it appears that the problem is caused from a BUILD-UP of perspiration, deodorant or anti- perspirant, and it not being laundered out.”  
hmmm, maybe I should use hotter water.

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**Author:** ![Chas.E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e99b99/32.png) [@Chas.E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chas.E)\
**Post date:** [May 6, 2001, 11:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-armpit-stains-out/64462/6 "2001-05-06T11:17:17Z")

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also, you should wash your shirts promptly, before the stains set.

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**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\
**Post date:** [May 6, 2001, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-armpit-stains-out/64462/7 "2001-05-06T15:39:34Z")

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Sure, try a looksee at: [howtocleananything.com](http://howtocleananything.com)