Many people have experienced the frustration of having to change their outfit at the last moment or, even worse, having to throw it out, after accidentally marking it with deodorant. This guide on how to remove deodorant stains will provide you with several strategies you can use to get rid of those ugly smudges.

• Sometimes, regardless of how carefully you get dressed, you may still end up with an unattractive and glaringly obvious deodorant mark on your favorite shirt or little black dress. Depending on the severity of the stain and the material of the clothing, you will likely be able to remove the stain eventually, if not immediately, using one of the methods listed below.

• If you are-dead set on wearing the outfit you have stained, and the deodorant mark isn't too large or severe, try some of the following options:

1. If you have them handy, use a Gal Pal Garment Deodorant Remover pad (or get some for next time)
2. As long as the garment is not made from an overly delicate material, rub the stained area vigorously but briefly with another part of the garment or a cotton sock. If you're lucky, the stain will disappear
3. Using a damp, lint-free cloth or towel, blot or rub the stained area. This method, however, can be deceiving—the stain may originally appear to have gone away, but may reappear once the garment dries, so recheck the stained area after it's dry to ensure that the stain has actually been removed

(Creative Commons photo by Logan Ingalls)

• If the none of the above strategies work or if the stain you are trying to remove is exceptionally large or severe, you're going to have to change into something else and wash the stained garment. Be sure to check the clothing label before trying the solutions below—if the garment cannot be washed in a washing machine, do not put it in the washing machine. If the stained item is made of a delicate material or is especially valuable, consider having a dry cleaner remove the stain rather than risk ruining the clothing.

1. Avoid ironing the stained item, washing it in hot water, or drying it at high heat until you are certain the stain is removed, since heat can act to further set the stain
2. Use a stain remover or some liquid detergent to pre-treat the stain, then wash it as usual
3. Pour some white vinegar on the stain, then rinse it with warm water and wash it as usual
4. Treat the stain with vodka or rubbing alcohol, then rinse it with warm water and wash it as usual

• You may have thought you ruined your favorite shirt or dress by staining it with an ugly smudge of deodorant, but chances are that you will be able to remove the stain using one of the above methods.

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• Introduction
• Immediate Solutions
• For More Severe Stains
• Conclusion