Whether it's on your skin or in your clothes, sweat is an unpleasant consequence of physical activity. The perspiration that collects in your clothing can also stain your clothes, yellowing them over time. The more time the sweat is allowed to set in the clothing prior to washing, the more difficult it will be to remove. But don't throw away those clothes at the first sign on yellowing. Instead, use a product to rid your material of perspiration.
Step 1
Run your clothing through a cold-water wash cycle using a strong detergent.
Step 2
Hang or lay the clothing outside to treat the stain with direct sunlight. Keep the stain damp while the sunlight lightens it, so frequently mist it with a spray bottle if it's hot out.
Step 3
Create a mixture of half water and half hydrogen peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide breaks down the proteins in the perspiration and can lighten the stain. The downside is that too much hydrogen peroxide on colored fabrics can lighten the material the same way bleach does. You can increase the potency of the mixture by using more hydrogen peroxide and less water if you prefer.
Step 4
Treat fabrics---particularly colored ones---with vinegar and water. Mix 1 tbsp. of white vinegar with 4 oz. of water and soak the stain in this solution for 20 to 30 minutes. Put the clothing through a regular wash cycle after soaking and launder on cool.
Step 5
Crush three white aspirin with a mortar and pestle or a hammer. Mix the aspirin with 1 tbsp. cream of tartar and 8 oz. warm water. Scrub the cream into the stain using a toothbrush and leave for 20 minutes, then rinse in warm water. Place the fabric in the laundry machine rinse cycle with cool water.
Tips and Warnings
- Some stains may need multiple treatments be fully removed.
- Don't use chlorine or bleach on yellow perspiration marks---the chemicals react with the proteins in your perspiration and only darken the stain.
Things You'll Need
- Strong detergent
- Spray bottle
- Hydrogen peroxide
- White vinegar
- Cream of tartar
- White aspirin
- Toothbrush
- Mortar and pestle or hammer
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