How to Remove Sweat Stains from Clothes

While it is a natural bodily function, it can often leave unwanted yellowish, dark, discolored stains and odor on your clothes, pillowcases, and sheets. But life is too short to worry about sweat stains. 

However, the sweat stain removal process for clothes is no longer among the most difficult laundry challenges. 

The key here is using a high-quality and effective stain remover, such as Vanish, which eradicates stubborn stains, removes strong odors, eliminates 99.9% of germs, and keeps your clothes looking bright and at their best.

Keep reading till the end to learn how to remove sweat stains from clothes with a few simple steps, and you can save your wardrobe. 

Sweat itself is colorless and is a product of a reaction between the water released from your sweat glands and the oils, dirt, and bacteria on your skin. 

When these sweat patches dry, the salt, proteins, and oils can leave a residue. Remember, everybody sweats! Still, there are a few ways to prevent sweat from staining clothes: 

• Wear loose clothing

• Shave your underarm hair

• Properly apply antiperspirant

• Don't apply too much deodorant

• Wear sweat-blocking undergarments

Remember to act fast and gently to avoid the stain falling deeper into the fabric’s fibers. 

Use Vanish Oxi Action Crystal White Powder to remove sweat stains and lingering odors and eliminate germs from white clothes; for colored clothes, use Vanish Oxi Action Powder. 

There are three methods for utilizing Vanish products to eliminate stains: Pre-treat, Soaking, and adding directly to the Wash. 

Although pre-treatment and soaking are typically reserved for tough stains, the in-wash method is the simplest and can be combined with pre-treat or soaking.

INSTRUCTIONS

Option 1: Pre Treat

1. Add ¼ scoop (15g) of Vanish Oxi Action Powder in the water (MAX 40°C)

2. Stir for 30 seconds.

3. Apply the mixture directly onto the stain, rub it gently, and let it sit for 10 mins (do not allow Vanish to dry on the fabric. 

4. Wash as usual. 

Option 2: Soak

1. Add 1 scoop (60g) of Vanish Oxi Action Powder in 4L of water.

2. Stir for 30 seconds.

3. Soak colored clothes in the solution for 1h max, and for whites, it's 4h max.

4. Wash as usual. 

Option 3: Wash

Add Vanish Oxi Action Powder to your machine on top of your laundry detergent. Below are the recommended stain remover dosages:

• ½  scoop (30g) for normal stains.

• 1 scoop (60g) for tough & dried stains.

Sweat stains don’t necessarily need to be treated fresh, but it's best to tackle them as soon as you notice them. 

However, in case of dried sweat stains, you can easily remove them from clothes (colored or white) by using Vanish Multi Use Liquid Stain Removal. 

Here’s how to add this stain-removal gel to all your washes! 

INSTRUCTIONS

Pre-Treat

1. Apply Vanish Multi Use Liquid Stain Removal directly to the stain. 

2. Leave for 10 minutes max.

3. Rub the stain as required, and then follow the washing machine instructions.

Soak

1. Add 10ml of Vanish Multi Use Liquid Stain Removal to 1 litre of water (40°C max).

2. Leave the item for 1h max (colored) and 4h max (whites) 

3. After soaking, wash as usual or rinse thoroughly.

Wash

1. For tough, dried-in stains, add 100ml of Vanish Multi Use Liquid Stain Removal to your normal wash.

2. Wash as usual. 

Consider these additional tips if you’re dealing with sweat stains:

• Do not try to remove sweat stains using bleach because chlorine can react with sweat, making the stain worse by creating a yellowish tint mark on the fabric. 

• Do not put your sweat-stained garments directly in the washing machine. Pre-treat the stain using Vanish stain remover, making the stain removal easier. 

• Do not dry stained garments. If the fabric contains the stain after washing, repeat the cleaning process with Vanish until it disappears. Drying the stained garment will allow the stain to set in further between the spaces of the clothes' fiber.

Can vinegar remove sweat stains from clothes?

Undiluted white vinegar can remove sweat stains from clothes, especially the underarm stains. This method is most effective if you let the garment soak for 10 to 15 minutes before washing. However, using vinegar too much or too often can cause it to break down the fabric’s fibers and accidental bleaching of unstable dyes. 

Are sweat stains permanent?

Sweat stains can become permanent if they go untreated or the affected items are washed in hot water and put in the dryer, allowing the stain to further set in between the spaces of the fiber. Therefore, treat the affected item with Vanish immediately to prevent permanent staining. 

How do you remove sweat odors from clothes?

Pre-treat, soak, and wash your clothes with Vanish to remove any type of unpleasant smells from them. Furthermore, besides Vanish, vinegar is also a good natural deodorant for removing the acidic odor of sweat.