Don't Let Yellow Sweat Stains Set On Your Favorite Whites — Timing Is Everything

We've all experienced the embarrassing yellow armpit stains at one point or another in our lives. It can be frustrating to pull your favorite white shirt out of the closet only to find dingy yellow stains under the arms. So if you're looking for a way to protect your favorite whites, you'll want to understand one very important thing: timing. How quickly you address any potential staining can make all the difference in your success at removing it.

It's tempting to just toss your sweaty shirt in the laundry basket with all your other dirty clothes at the end of the day. But how long will it sit there before the next laundry day? If you really want to avoid those pesky stains, it will require that you treat them right away. This isn't one of those laundry hacks that are a waste of time. Tossing your shirt in the hamper gives the sweat time to dry, which allows the stain to set. And if that shirt has sat around for too long, the stain becomes increasingly more difficult to remove and might even become permanent.

From the moment you notice sweaty pits or stains beginning to form, you should head for the laundry. The first thing you want to do is to pre-soak the shirt for about 30 minutes. Even if you don't have enough time in the moment to get to the stain remover and subsequent washing, getting the shirt into a soak will help prevent the stain from setting. Soaking the shirt can also help loosen up the compounds that make up the stain in the first place – proteins from your sweat and aluminum that is found in many antiperspirants and deodorants.

Once you've been able to pre-soak the garment, you can apply your favorite stain remover or use one of these household ingredients to banish sweat stains for good. Always read the directions on any stain remover or pretreatment you use so you know how long it needs to rest on the garment before washing. After the stain remover has done its job, you can run the garment through the regular wash cycle.

Be sure to assess the stain before tossing it into the dryer. If the stain doesn't come out after the wash cycle, don't put it in the dryer, as exposure to the heat can cause the stain to set even more and possibly end up permanently staining your clothes. Instead, simply repeat the process until the yellowing is gone. And once you've mastered armpit stain removal, check out these other laundry hacks that will leave your clothes smelling fresh.