How To Remove Hard Deodorant Buildup From Shirts?

Why does clothing sometimes harden under the arms?

You may have noticed that some garments, especially those made of cotton, wool, or linen, tend to harden under the arms. This problem manifests as a sensation of stiffness, rigidity, or even roughness in the armpit area of the garments you frequently wear.

They may also change color in this area, becoming more yellowish if they are white or lighter if they are dark-colored.

This hardening can be caused by several factors:

1. Regular use of deodorants, especially those containing aluminum salts. Residues of the antiperspirant accumulate in the fabric fibers and cause them to harden.
2. Excessive sweating from the armpits. Our sweat contains several chemical compounds. They also accumulate in the fabric fibers and can contribute to hardening your t-shirts and shirts.
3. The quality of the fabric used in making the garment. Lower-quality fibers are more prone to this problem.

So, these are the three factors (deodorant used, sweating, and fabric) that need to be addressed if we want to limit the risk of our future garments also becoming hard under the armpits…

How to prevent a garment from hardening under the arms?

Here are the things you can try to avoid your clothes hardening under the arms.

Choose deodorants without aluminum salts.

Because these salts can contribute to the accumulation of residues in the fabric fibers.

This means, however, that you will probably sweat more; if your sweating is excessive, you may need to revert back.

Rinse the armpit area of your clothes well before washing:

before washing your clothes, make sure to rinse the armpit area well to remove deodorant and sweat residues.

Wash clothes after each use:

avoid wearing the same clothes multiple times without washing them, especially if they have been exposed to significant sweating.

Frequent washing helps to remove substances that may cause hardening.

Follow washing instructions: follow the washing instructions on the label of your clothes.

Use recommended water temperatures and avoid harsh products that could damage the fibers.

Choose synthetic fabrics or blends:

synthetic fabrics or blends may be less prone to hardening than natural fabrics such as cotton or wool.

You need to do your own tests to see which fabrics hold up better compared to your habits.

Use washable (see on Amazon) or disposable (see on Amazon) underarm protectors or sweat vests (see on Amazon): sweat shields, disposable or washable sweat pads

Opt for clothing specially designed to conceal stains and absorb sweat.

These clothes are usually designed to minimize the discomfort associated with excessive sweating.

What to do to restore flexibility to a garment hardened under the arms?

I’ve talked about how to prevent clothes from hardening. But how do you recover clothes that have still hardened?

I’ll try to give you some pointers here!

How to remove deodorant crusts from clothing?

A deodorant crust is the result of the buildup of deodorant residues. These residues can dry out and harden over time, creating a crust-like texture on the fabric of your clothes, especially in the armpit area.

Here’s what you can try to get rid of them:

🧼 Use an old clean toothbrush to gently brush away the deodorant residues dry.

🍶 Gently apply white vinegar to the deodorant stains and let it sit for a while before washing.

🔍 Wash the garment using a quality detergent with a stain pre-treatment.

How to restore more flexibility to the fabric?

To restore flexibility to a garment hardened under the arms, you can try this:

💧 Soak it in lukewarm water: immerse the hardened area of the garment in lukewarm water for about 30 minutes. This can help soften the fabric fibers. (Try it once for each type of clothing, and give up if you see it doesn’t work!)

🍋 Add white vinegar: add a small amount of white vinegar to the lukewarm water. Vinegar can act as a natural softener and help remove residues. (Same here, try it out, personally, it’s not enough!)

👐 Gently rub: after soaking, gently rub the area with your fingers to loosen the fibers. Be delicate to avoid damaging the fabric.

🚿 Then wash the garment according to washing instructions. Use a mild detergent and avoid harsh products.

🌸 Add fabric softener to your wash cycle. This can help soften the fabric fibers.

☀️ Air dry: opt for air drying rather than machine drying, as excessive heat can further harden the fibers.

I think this only works with good quality clothes, and for a certain period only.

I have never found a foolproof trick to recover a stained or hardened garment under the armpits: feel free to share your experience on this subject in the comments, it could be helpful to others🙂!

How to Prevent Hard Deodorant Buildup?

Deodorant stains form when we sweat. It’s the substances from the deodorant mixed with sweat that leave marks on clothes.

So, if we sweat less under the arms, we consequently leave fewer marks on clothes!

I regularly conduct surveys among subscribers to my newsletter (800+ subscribers in 2024: hyperhidrosis’sufferer). Here is the most recommended antiperspirant:

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You may also like:

• 7 Tips to Avoid Pit Stains
• How to Know if You Have a Sweating Problem?
• Asymmetrical Armpit Sweating

 📚 SOURCES

Expérience + personnelle et échanges avec les lecteurs et lectrices assidus de l’Observatoire de l’hyperhidrose 🙂 !