You pull a favorite shirt from the closet and spot it: those telltale yellowish stains around the underarms. It happens to dress shirts and gym tees and everything in between, but sweat stains make clean clothes look worn out and dingy. People often reach for bleach as the only solution, when it actually worsens the problem by reacting with sweat compounds and setting the stains further.
Fortunately, there are bleach-free ways to get sweat stains out of shirts, and they work on both white fabrics and colored garments. Zout® Laundry Stain Remover is specially formulated to treat protein-based stains like sweat, and when paired with the right follow-up steps, it can help revive shirts that seem beyond saving.
Why Sweat Stains Turn Yellow (And Why Bleach Doesn’t Help)
Sweat by itself is mostly water and salts, but when it mixes with aluminum-based ingredients in deodorants, it creates yellow stains that cling to fabric. Aside from looking unpleasant, over time these stains can stiffen fibers, trap odor, and break down the fabric in that area.
Bleach seems like an obvious fix for white shirts, but it doesn’t treat the cause of the discoloration. In fact, chlorine bleach can oxidize the proteins and aluminum compounds in sweat, making yellow stains appear even darker. That’s why when it comes to getting rid of sweat stains in shirts, Zout is the best spray for stains.
Step 1: Pretreat with Zout to Break Down Sweat Residue
Zout contains a triple-enzyme formula that’s effective on a variety of stains. For sweat and deodorant marks, the protease enzyme breaks down the proteins that bind to fabric and cause yellowing.
Here’s how to apply Zout to underarm stains:
- Turn the shirt inside out to better access sweat-stained fabric fibers.
- Spray Zout directly onto the underarm area, saturating the discolored fabric.
- Allow the formula to sit for 5 minutes or more, depending on the stain’s severity.
If you’re wondering how to remove sweat stains from white shirts, this step works on both colored and white clothing and won’t damage fabrics when used as directed.
Step 2: Wash in Cold or Warm Water
After letting Zout sit, wash the shirt as you normally would. Most shirts tolerate cold or warm water, which is ideal for enzyme cleaners. Avoid hot water during the first wash, especially for delicate fabrics, as high temperatures can lock in any remaining residue.
To get rid of sweat stains on white shirts, keep in mind that they should be washed separately from colored garments to prevent color transfer.
Step 3: Refresh and Maintain Whites
If yellowing is caused by hard water or red clay, use OUT® White Brite which is specially formulated to remove discoloration and restore dingy fabrics. For regular care, pretreat with Zout before each wash to help keep both white and colored clothes looking bright and fresh.
A Bleach-Free Way to Eliminate Sweat Stains
If you’ve been wondering how to remove sweat stains from clothes without damaging them, an enzyme-based stain remover like Zout is your answer. It’s safe on colors, strong on protein-based underarm stains, and easy to integrate into your regular laundry routine. Plus, it’s the easiest bleach-free way to get sweat stains out of white shirts.
Whether you’re treating dress shirts, gym tops, or t-shirts, Zout® Laundry Stain Remover, paired with White Brite when needed, can help save your wardrobe from embarrassing yellow marks. To learn more or find Zout near you, visit the Zout product page.
I’m not sure where to add but since we are talking about yellowing I would like to add in commentary that if the stains are from hard water or red clay they should use OUT White Brite.
