# Tips for getting armpit stains out of white t-shirts?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tips-for-getting-armpit-stains-out-of-white-t-shirts/658235>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [May 13, 2013, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tips-for-getting-armpit-stains-out-of-white-t-shirts/658235 "2013-05-13T15:12:32Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c77e96/32.png) [@Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Speaker_for_the_Dead)\
**Post date:** [May 13, 2013, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tips-for-getting-armpit-stains-out-of-white-t-shirts/658235/1 "2013-05-13T15:12:32Z")

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I have a collection of nice, still-intact white tees whose only flaw is black/green stains in the armpit from my sweat + a blue Old Spice™ deodorant. Straight bleach and Shout haven’t worked to remove the stains. Since the shirts still are otherwise fine, does anyone have suggestions for removing these stains?

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**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\
**Post date:** [May 13, 2013, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tips-for-getting-armpit-stains-out-of-white-t-shirts/658235/2 "2013-05-13T15:14:58Z")

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Baking soda. Leave it to soak overnight.

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**Author:** ![Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c77e96/32.png) [@Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Speaker_for_the_Dead)\
**Post date:** [May 13, 2013, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tips-for-getting-armpit-stains-out-of-white-t-shirts/658235/3 "2013-05-13T15:45:39Z")

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As a paste with water?

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**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\
**Post date:** [May 13, 2013, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tips-for-getting-armpit-stains-out-of-white-t-shirts/658235/4 "2013-05-13T15:54:35Z")

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You can do that if soaking doesn’t work but try just leaving the shirts submerged in water plus a few cups.

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**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\
**Post date:** [May 13, 2013, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tips-for-getting-armpit-stains-out-of-white-t-shirts/658235/5 "2013-05-13T16:05:58Z")

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Learn to blot your pits after you apply deodorant and it will reduce this problem. I use the floor towel.

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**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\
**Post date:** [May 13, 2013, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tips-for-getting-armpit-stains-out-of-white-t-shirts/658235/6 "2013-05-13T16:16:12Z")

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Soaking is a good idea, but if you use a liquid detergent, you can also apply some directly to the affected areas before the soak. It should help lift some of the stains.