Ever noticed how conspicuous underarm deodorants are on white shirts? The shirt is usually left with a yellow unsightly stain. While black shirts may not show signs of staining, the stains are usually present as well. It is, therefore, important to make sure you have removed deodorant stains from all your shirts when washing them. Left unchecked, these stains can trap bacteria, cause odor, discoloration and stiffness of the fabric.
How Do the Deodorant Stains Form?
Deodorants are made to work on the smell that comes about as a result of sweating and perspiring. Some deodorants have a very strong scent so that they end up being more irritating than the sweat itself.
The antiperspirant content in the deodorant is what is responsible for stopping the sweat glands from performing their function. The sweat glands are meant to produce sweat, which in turn cools down your body as the sweat evaporates.
The ingredients that make your sweat glands not to produce sweat are the same ones that are responsible for staining your fabric. Aluminum salts (aluminum chlorohydrate, aluminum chloride and aluminum zirconium) are put in deodorants to reduce sweat production. These salts combine with sweat to form a gel that blocks the ducts that lead to the sweat glands. This prevents sweat from coming to the surface for a while.
When there is excess humidity or when you work out, the antiperspirant will wear off, and your body will start sweating again. The minerals in your sweat will mix with the chemicals in the antiperspirant, and the mixture will stick on the fibers of your fabric. This mixture results in the stains you see on your blouse, shirts or even undergarments.
