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What Causes Sweat Stains and How To Remove Them

If you lead a pretty active life, there are times when you’re going to get a sweat on. A good  anti-perspirantOpens in a new window will help combat that, but over time, sweat can take its toll on your clothes.

Here’s how to avoid sweat stains, and the best ways to stop them happening in the first place.

guy in hat with slogan "it won't let you down", send sweat stains packing

WHY DO SWEAT STAINS HAPPEN?

Let’s be clear, sweat itself is colourless. But when sweat patches get onto your clothes and dry, the salt, proteins and oils in your sweat can leave a residue. This normally disappears with machine washing.

But here’s where your problems can start. You might not do a wash for a few days, the sweat patches on your clothes are allowed to dry. And there could be a build-up of your anti-perspirant or deodorant product mixed in as well.

Over time, the aluminium in the product and the salt in your sweat combine to form those familiar (but unwelcome) yellow sweat stains. And they're harder to remove with normal machine washing.


WHAT CAUSES THE WHITE MARKS ON CLOTHES?

If you’ve got white stains or marks on your clothes, these probably come from your deodorant or anti-perspirant. Some transfer easily onto your clothes and leave marks, especially if you’re dressing in a hurry and the product hasn’t had time to dry properly.

UNSEEN PROTECTION, UNMATCHED CONFIDENCE

But some don’t, like Sure's Invisible Range. These deodorants and antiperspirantsOpens in a new window are specially formulated to help prevent white marks on your clothes, giving you all-round sweat protection, for you and your clothes. Get to know a bit more about the Invisible protection you get from this range:

GO INVISIBLE FOR DRY PROTECTION

With Sure's Invisible Ice Nonstop Protection Antiperspirant Deodorant SprayOpens in a new window, it’s not just you who’ll feel dry and protected all day – your clothes will stay just as protected. With its bursts of invigorating freshness, you’ll stay cool and collected as you move through your day, and the spray application makes it easy to use on-the-go.

ROLL INTO ALL-DAY CONFIDENCE

Whether you're heading to work, hitting the gym, or enjoying a night out, step into all-day confidence with Sure's Invisible Antiperspirant Deodorant Roll-OnOpens in a new window. You won’t have to think twice about what to wear as you’ll be kept fresh and dry from morning to night. With the roll-on application, delivering long-lasting protection to your underarms is smooth and easy, and you’re in total control of the coverage.

SAY BYE TO STAINS AND EMBRACE CONFIDENCE

Unsightly sweat stains. They’re a common wardrobe woe. But in Sure's Invisible Black & White Nonstop Protection Antiperspirant Deodorant SprayOpens in a new window you’ve found your reliable solution. Specifically designed to help prevent white marks on black clothing and yellow stains on white clothing, the even and refreshing coverage you get from the spray application sets you up to make moves with nothing but confidence.

DIVE INTO FRESHNESS

Combining effective antiperspirant action with a clean, aquatic fragrance, Sure's Invisible Aqua Antiperspirant Deodorant StickOpens in a new window will have you moving through your day on a wave of cool confidence. The stick format makes it easier than ever to ensure thorough coverage and give yourself that Invisible protection against sweat stains.

men at football practice

What are the best ways to get rid of sweat stains?

These are our top tips:

Use a biological washing powder

This will help to break down both the sweat patches and the product in the fabric.

Never iron a sweat stain or sweat patch

The heat will cause it to ‘set’, making it even harder to shift.

Soak the stain before washing

If the stain is really bad or it’s ‘set’, soak the area in a mixture of two parts white vinegar and one part water before washing – this will help break down the stain.

Don’t try this with delicate fabrics though.

Delicates need specialist care

With delicate fabrics like silk and lace, you may need professional cleaning to get rid of sweat stains.

The aluminium in the product and the salt in your sweat combine to form those familiar (but unwelcome) yellow sweat stains.


HOW TO PREVENT SWEAT STAINS

Wear loose-fitting, natural fabrics.

Natural fibres like cotton, linen and wool let the sweat evaporate from your body more easily.

Let your anti-perspirant deodorant dry before you dress.

Don’t be in too much of a hurry to whip on that favourite shirt.

Alternatively, use a ‘dry on application’ product like an aerosol.

Don’t overdo it.

Using too much anti-perspirant deodorant every day can lead to a build-up and cause yellow sweat stains.

Try a stronger anti-perspirant. This can help prevent overapplying.

If you’re super active or you sweat a lot, consider switching to Sure Maximum ProtectionOpens in a new window, for those seeking unrivalled performance in combating sweat and odour.

With Sure under your arms, you’ll keep sweat stains at bay and move through your day worry-free and feel fresh, confident and always ready for more. Find our full range hereOpens in a new window.

72H SWEAT AND ODOUR PROTECTION