It’s also most likely a criminal violation of state and federal environmental laws and also would possibly subject you and whoever owns the property to crushing civil liability for any clean-up costs that may be incurred.
Here are some replies a few friends/contacts provided:
QUESTION: My husband teaches Martial Arts and he comes home with uniforms that have a yucky yellow stain in the underarm that really smells bad. Does anyone know how I can get rid of the stain and the smell. I’ve tried the usual Shout, Spray ‘n’ Wash, and Amway Brand. These worked in the beginning, but they don’t anymore. Thanks.
ANSWERS:
J: I heard that a paste made of Baking Soda and water applied to the stain will rid the stain and probably the smell. Just place it over the stain and let it set, then through it into the washer. It shouldn’t hurt the garment to try it!
M: You should try Febreeze. I found that it works well at getting the smell out. Also try a baking soda and water mixture left on the stain over night.
C: I have heard this is caused by a slow build up. The dirt never really gets washed out. Try soaking overnight in borax. Wash in hot water is possible, and rinse in white vinegar water.
W: I cannot recommend a product called Oxyclean enough! I buy it at WalMart for less than $5. It is an incredible and very economical since it doesn’t take very much to be effective. I am certain that it would solve your problem.
K: Dampen and apply a laundry detergent or laundry booster with enzymes in it to help remove the stain. Allow to sit for at least a half hour, then put Hydrogen Peroxide on it if there is any stain left (also helps with the odor). Now put vinegar on the stain to help with any remaining odor and launder.
K: The stains come, and it’s good to try and prevent them. This is one reason that many men wear white t-shirts under their dress shirts. Most of the staining is from the anti-perspirant used, a manufacturer told me. Switching to a deodorant-only product can help. I have sometimes made a paste of bleach and powdered laundry detergent, and with a toothbrush scrubbed the paste into the stained area, on both sides of the fabric.
T: Assuming the uniforms are white, I would put in your usual laundry detergent and stain removal items in the washer and add a little liquid dishwashing soap. When the agitation starts put in the clothes and let it go until everything is covered. Then turn off the machine and let it set overnight. Start them again in the morning and let it cycle through and then dry. This works on most every stain I’ve found so far (even yard sale finds that have been washed and dried).
K: I don’t know if this will work or not but recently heard about this method. Take a couple of regular aspirin and dissolve in a cup of tap water. Push stained area into the solution and soak, then wash as usual. Hope it helps!
J: I use ERA liquid detergent for all of my stains, the only thing it won’t remove completely is ground-in dirt. Squirt it on, leave for awhile (even overnight) and wash. If that isn’t enough, then try this (how I wash cloth diapers): soak overnight in your washer in COLD water with 1/2 cup of baking soda, and 1/2 cup detergent. Finish the wash cycle in the morning, then wash again in hot water, with Tide with Bleach, it’s not as hard on your clothes as regular bleach. Then, if it needs it, rinse again with 1/2 cup white vinegar added to the water.
And this last idea…
Sodium Percarbonate - (Laundry Booster/Whitener) This stuff is incredible! Ask anyone who works outside in the heat about yellow underarm stains on their white clothing - impossible to get out!!!
Well, we put this to the test and it works!! Use 1 - 2 oz. per gallon of “hot” water and soak garment overnight (we used only 1 oz. and it worked perfectly). By morning, it’s like a brand new shirt! It’s environmentally safe, too (breaks down into oxygen, water, and sodium carbonate (soda ash) in your wash water.
For normal wash loads use 1 oz., for moderate soil, use 2 oz. and for very heavily soiled clothes, use 3 oz. per wash load. Please do not use on silk or wool. And test for color fastness (we used it on linen and it did bleach out the color). Other uses include all types of cleaning projects: floors, yucky shower stalls, refrigerators, deodorizing, you name it. Use the same basic solution: 1 - 2 oz. per gallon of hot water. “Hot” water is anywhere from 100 to 150 degrees By the way…this is that same “Oxy” stuff you see advertised on TV for double the price!!!.