How to Remove White Deodorant Marks

White deodorant marks are not yellow sweat stains

It pays to separate two very different problems that often get confused. White marks are fresh product: chalky streaks on dark garments (typically when you pull a jumper over your head) or a white, waxy crust on the inside of the underarms. It is wax, oil and – in antiperspirants – aluminium salts from the deodorant itself, and because it sits on top of the fibres, it usually comes off fairly easily. Yellow sweat stains, by contrast, are the result of aluminium from the antiperspirant reacting with sweat over time and oxidising. That is a firmer, more stubborn stain treated differently – we cover it in its own guide.

How to lift off fresh white streaks

Fresh white streaks on the outside rarely need water at all – they can be 'rubbed' off with friction from the right material. Try this before you wash:

1. Do not wet the mark first. Gently rub the white streak with a piece of the same fabric, a clean nylon stocking or a dry sponge – the friction lifts the waxy deposit.
2. If it is slow going, use a barely damp cloth or a damp foam sponge and light friction.
3. Shake or brush off loosened product as you go, so you don't rub it back in.
4. If a little remains, dab on some grease-cutting dish soap, let it work briefly, and rinse – before washing the garment as normal.

White, waxy build-up on the inside of the garment

The white or yellowish crust on the inside of shirts and tops is accumulated antiperspirant – wax, oil and aluminium salts built up over several wears. Here it helps to dissolve both the grease and the salts before washing.

• Grease-cutting dish soap, dabbed on and lightly worked in, dissolves the waxy layer.
• A soak in white vinegar (vinegar is acidic) helps break down the mineral aluminium salts – let the affected part sit in diluted vinegar for a while before washing.
• A soft brush can gently loosen the crust once it has softened.
• Then wash with an enzyme detergent as warm as the care label allows, and air-dry. Never use heat before the mark is gone – it can set the oily film and turn it yellowish.

Prevent the white marks

A little habit saves you a lot of rubbing later.

• Let the deodorant dry completely before you get dressed – most white streaks happen on wet product.
• Use thin layers rather than one thick one – less product means less deposit.
• Wash garments that sit against the underarm regularly, so the antiperspirant doesn't build up into a crust.
• In a hurry, wipe the underarm with a dry cloth before dressing rather than pulling the garment over wet deodorant.

Marks won't budge? Send it to us

If the white build-up has been left a long time, started to turn yellowish, or the marks are in a delicate or dark garment you don't want to risk, you can send it to us. We assess the fibre and the stain, choose a safe and professional method and clean it according to the garment and its care label. We help customers all over Norway – you order online, and you see the price before you order.

Frequently asked questions