How to remove yellow cardboard sweat stains?

Mastering cardboard sweat stains

Why do they appear? Where does this cardboard effect and yellowish color come from? How can you avoid them or remove them? We'll give you all the secrets of stain removal experts to put an end to these stains that ruin your clothes!

Where do they come from?

Sports fans and thrift store enthusiasts alike are familiar with those yellow sweat stains on T-shirts, shirts, caps, and even mattresses and pillowcases. But do you know why they appear under your armpits and why they turn yellow?

These yellow stains are caused by a chemical reaction between sweat and aluminum . How does this happen under your arms? It's the fault of your deodorant (smart guy!), which probably contains aluminum. It turns yellow when it comes into contact with the proteins, salts, and oils in your sweat.

Are you particularly experiencing problems with yellow sweat stains on your shirts? This is normal; some of these garments contain proteins, which can exacerbate the chemical reaction.

You're probably also wondering how to explain this cardboard effect on your armpits on your t-shirts, polo shirts, shirts, and many others. If sweat leaves marks under your arms, it's because of elements like salt, uric acid, or lactic acid that it contains, in addition to water. The sweat stain hardens on your fabrics and leaves this "cardboard" effect that you have so much trouble removing. Men encounter this problem more often because their sweat generally has a more acidic pH, which accentuates this cardboard effect on their clothes. It's also possible that this inconvenience comes from your deodorant again.

How to end it?

This is the big question you're asking yourself. We promised to answer it, and here we are!

Prevention is better than cleaning, as my father says!

He's right: before sharing miracle solutions for removing these yellow stains from your white, orange, blue and all other colored laundry, or from all your textiles, we'll give you some advice on how to simply make them disappear from your daily life.

As you can see, the culprit behind this stain is deodorant . Since you're very perceptive, you've probably figured out that the best solution is to change your product. Simply opt for an aluminum-free deodorant. Not only will it be better for your laundry, it'll also be better for your health.

Choose loose-fitting clothing; your sweat and deodorant will have less contact with the fabric. You can also wait until the deodorant is dry before putting on your best shirt.

What mistakes should you avoid?

First, be wary of certain ideas that could only make the stain worse, in both senses of the word!

The mistake to absolutely avoid when removing a stain is hot water . You probably use it wrongly, thinking that it's the right temperature for cleaning your clothes. Yes, hot water helps dissolve dirt better, but when it comes to stains, it only embeds them in the fabric. Enough to make your task permanently complicated! If this mistake is common, it's mainly due to the many articles that repeat it. All textile professionals will tell you, hot water is the enemy of stain removal, except for a few rare exceptions. Now you've been warned.

Forget bleach. First and foremost because it's harmful, but more importantly because this product is far from being a stain remover, but rather a bleaching agent that could discolor your white or any other colored clothes, and damage even the most delicate fabrics. And even though it's often used to whiten fabrics, it would only accentuate the yellow stain.

It is also strongly recommended not to give up when faced with a stain: you never give up on a stained garment! We always have a solution to help you, just ask us for advice right here.

Also avoid the bad habit of leaving the stained garment aside. Firstly, because it's a shame to deprive yourself of wearing this beautiful garment simply because it's stained, but above all because the longer you wait, the more difficult the dried-on stain will be to clean. So go grab those clothes lying around at the bottom of your closet and let us guide you. Now, we'll explain how to easily remove a yellow perspiration stain, even an old and stubborn one.

How to remove yellow cardboard stains?

Stain removers or grandmother's recipes ? We offer both, it's up to you to decide!

You prefer stain removers for their guaranteed effectiveness and targeted action. But which one should you choose?

We've decided to offer you only solutions that respect your laundry, your health, and the planet. So we won't promote the harmful chemical stain removers you can find in supermarkets. They're certainly very effective, but they can cause unpleasant odors, irritations, allergies, and more. The list is too long to mention everything.

On the other hand, there is a stain remover that can be guaranteed to be healthy, ecological and above all very effective: it is the Jaune'Off stain remover . Quite simply because it was developed by textile experts for whom taking care of laundry is just as important as preserving your health and our environment. And if it is so effective at cleaning yellow perspiration stains, it is because it was designed precisely for this. It is also capable of removing the cardboard effect under your armpits. This is its strong point compared to all the grandmother's tricks because only a product developed by professionals can do it. Jaune'Off is initially intended for professionals in the trade (dry cleaners, laundries, hotels, etc.). Its success is so important that the creators of the product have decided to also make it available to individuals .

You're still leaning towards Grandma's tips , here they are! But be careful, not all of them are as prodigious as you think, so we'll give you our tips to find the most sensible solution.

Acid solutions

We recommend using lemon juice . It's very effective at removing most stains and has a whitening effect, perfect for removing those yellow stains. And it's very simple: squeeze a fresh lemon and soak the stained area. Then wait a few hours before putting it in the washing machine.

Another popular cleaning ingredient is white vinegar, which is probably the most economical. It works very well on yellow stains, especially on thick fabrics like wool. Dilute in water, then simply soak the garment and put it in the washing machine.

Be careful with these two products on very fine fabrics , however, they will ruin your clothes that contain acetate like most of your blouses or linings.

The soda family

You can also try baking soda. Make a paste with a little water and let it sit for a few hours, which will be enough to remove the stain.

While it's a great stain remover and fabric softener, baking soda isn't a bleaching agent. So, we recommend sodium percarbonate if you want to bleach your laundry. It's also a great deodorizer, ideal for your sportswear, which often suffers from sweat stains. By soaking your stained laundry for several hours in a basin of water with two tablespoons of percarbonate, the yellow stain should disappear after a machine wash. It's also suitable for bedding, perfect for removing sweat stains from your mattresses, duvets, or pillows. To do this, use the same mixture, which you can apply with a washcloth to the stained area. Be careful, though, this product is more powerful than the baking soda you're more familiar with. It's not edible, and we recommend using it sparingly and always wearing gloves.

In the same family, we offer you washing soda crystals . Same result, same instructions, same precautions as for percarbonate. We suggest them if you are looking for an effective solution but favor the gentle and harmless products that we presented to you previously. They could particularly damage your woolens : choose vinegar instead.

Be especially careful of the bleaching effect of this family, it can be treacherous for your brightly colored fabrics . So abandon the idea of bicarbonate, percarbonate and soda crystals to clean your brightly colored or dark clothes.

The Internet's trap solutions

To remove sweat stains from dark fabrics, some sites recommend sorrel salt , also known as oxalic acid. It is very similar to washing soda, meaning it provides effective results, but it is not without risk .

It's particularly corrosive and should never be used without gloves and goggles. So, on the contrary, we recommend that you don't use it. This is for your own well-being, but more importantly, because these sites don't mention its powerful whitening power. It's great for lightening your whites, but definitely not for use on dark clothing !

For the toughest stains, some recommend using hydrogen peroxide or ammonia , as these strong products are very effective. The downside is that they are toxic, corrosive, irritating... in short, dangerous for your health. And they can also be dangerous for your textiles.

Hydrogen peroxide has powerful bleaching power in large doses, while ammonia must be diluted to avoid damaging delicate fabrics. On top of that, their use is made particularly unpleasant by their strong odor and all the precautions involved. With all the healthy solutions we've given you, we really don't recommend these two.

We rely on our grandmothers' experience to recommend these products, but as you've read, these recipes aren't to be followed blindly. While you may appreciate them for their simple and natural side, we're far from being able to say that they're all effective and beneficial for your textiles. Especially for cleaning delicate fabrics and brightly colored or dark clothes. The solution for confidently removing your stains, regardless of the fabric, remains a product designed for this purpose by professionals. And contrary to what you might think, this solution can also be ecological and healthy. Naturally sourced, biodegradable, allergen-free, odorless, and free of endocrine disruptors. Yes, it exists, since we created it. And in addition to working every time without leaving marks under your arms, you can be sure that this solution will smell good and preserve your laundry without damaging it.

How to do it right?

This is the question that both individuals and textile professionals ask themselves because it's true that the right product isn't always enough; you still need to know how to use it correctly. That's good news, because at Djossye , we cater to both individuals and professionals. And since we always get to the bottom of things, we're sharing Omar's secrets with you exclusively. With the professional advice of this dry cleaning expert, no stain will resist you!

How to use it for impeccable results

Start by turning the sleeve inside out and applying the stain remover to the stain. Add a few drops of cold water and pat it on. Then, remember to rub the stain on both sides of the garment; you'll definitely get better results! You can then pat and rub on both sides. Leave it on for 15 minutes and put the garment in the washing machine; it will come out looking like new!

His warning to detach effortlessly

No need to kill yourself with the stain, just rub for a few moments and let it work . Time will finish the job for you!

His secret that makes the difference

Remove excess stain with the side of a spoon or a bone spatula, perfect for professional stain removal!

Now that you know everything about these perspiration stains, you have the power to take care of your laundry , so we're counting on you!