Underarm stain on white silk shirt - YouLookFab Forum

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Underarm stain on white silk shirt

Janet

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Veteran

Well, I had an awful moment the other day in what was otherwise a fab outfit -- I realized late in the day that my silk Vince shirt has developed underarm stains. Ack! I don't normally have much of a problem with this. This shirt has been dry cleaned up until now, and I'm not sure whether that might have contributed to the problem, or what. I realize that I've worn this shirt for a few "presentation" occasions, when I probably perspired more than usual (I get a bit of stage fright), so maybe that's why this shirt seems to have gotten stained, while others have not.

I did a forum search on this, and poked around on the web a bit, but there is so much conflicting advice. So I thought I'd ask very specifically if anyone has had success treating underarm stains on white silk that is normally dry cleaned. This was not a cheap top, and I've worn it quite a bit, but not enough to justify giving an expensive rag to the Goodwill.

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23 replies

Latest reply was from jackiec

Angie

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Fashion Stylist

I've no experience with this, but I have read this tip:

Save your white shirts from yellow sweat stains using aspirin. Crush two pills, add a few drops of water and apply the paste on the stained areas. Let the solution rest for a few minutes. Wash your clothing as you usually do.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Interesting, Angie! That sounds like one of the less drastic, caustic methods I've heard. And I actually have aspirin in the house. Worth a try!

Angie

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Fashion Stylist

Great. Keep me posted. xo

Anonymous

Hey, what a great remedy. I'll be popping back to see if it works.

Ana

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Veteran

I've read about a product called Deo Geo. It's supposed to remove underarm stains on white tops. Not sure about silk, but it might be worth a look. For what it's worth, I've laundered silk shirts in a lingerie bag on the delicate cycle and air dried, and in some cases they've come out cleaner than when I've gotten them dry cleaned. Have you tried just running the blouse through the wash?

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Ana, I wondered about that too -- maybe a bit of stain treatment and a go through the wash (delicate cycle) in a laundry bag. I may have to try a few things...

Gigi

Veteran

I don't know if OxyClean will work on silk, but perhaps you could make a paste of it and put it on the stains and let it sit and then launder on delicate?

pil

Veteran

My son had good luck with some pretty major under arm stains using baking soda, hydrogen peroxide and Dawn. This was on a cotton shirt though.

http://www.onegoodthingbyjille.....tains.html

citygirldc

(website)

Veteran

I guess that's why I never buy white silky tops. The stains bother me.

deb

Veteran

I always wash my silk tops on the delicate cycle and throw them in the dryer on very low. They come out great with no wrinkles.

Karina

I'd love to hear what works for you, this is much more of a problem for me since I moved to a hot climate. It would be great to extend the life of my whites.

Ornella

(website)

Veteran

That's an interesting tip Angie. I'll try it with one white cotton button up, and will post the results.

JenA

Veteran

I'm not sure about silk, but my husband's fastidious French brother, would rub dove soap on the collar and underarms of his dress shirts before he'd wash them.

shiny

Veteran

Another trick you might try is hanging the garment out to dry in direct sunlight. Direct sunlight has a bleaching effect. I've had success with white linen and cotton -- not sure about silk, but definitely worth a shot.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Well, I've tried the aspirin thing, and also baking soda, and washed with vinegar. Smells nicer but stains are still there. It's not dry yet, so it's hard to tell if they've faded. No strong sun here today, unfortunately.

I may try this next:

http://analyticalhousewife.blo.....n.html?m=1

It sounds like she knows her stuff. We'll see! I'll keep you posted...

dustt

Veteran

You know I love an interesting laundry solution!! - hoping to hear one that works!!! - keep us posted

Gigi

Veteran

This is probably too caustic for silk, but in case anyone else is reading who is desperate for a solution for a sturdier shirt, I found something called PitStop, which is made specifically for removing yellow underarm stains. Here is a review from About.com (I've never used it myself; also, fyi, About.com says it is quite toxic):

http://laundry.about.com/od/st.....tain-Remov

I also found this page, which was interesting:

http://www.artofmanliness.com/.....it-stains/

This fellow had a shirt with bad stains on it, and he tried several different products. He decided that the winner was Oxiclean.

Good luck!

shiny

Veteran

On subject of prevention, I am pretty much convinced that antiperspirant and deodorant *causes* yellowing, rather than prevents it. That, plus too-frequent dry cleaning... how many times have you sent a top to be dry cleaned because it's got white deodorant stains on it?

sarah

Veteran

I'm just commiserating - I sweat profusely whenever I lecture or give a talk (not good for a prof). I've recently taken to using certain dri 2 nights before I give a presentation. It is saving my silk shirts (although i've read that it stains, so it's important to use it at night and shower in the morning), but it itches like crazy, which doesn't give me a good feeling. Anyway, something you might want to try for the future. I'm sorry about your shirt. You might try a different dry cleaner?

krishnidoux

Veteran

Careful with the suggested treatment using ammonia and peroxide... I don't know if a blouse, no matter how silky, no matter how trendy, is worth damaging your lungs for...

Jules

Veteran

Yeah, I thought it was fairly common knowledge to avoid mixing peroxide and ammonia. Not something I would attempt even with precautions.

Annie

I have combined one part Dawn dishwashing liquid (the original blue bottle) with two parts hydrogen peroxide and some baking soda with good results on cotton white button-down shirts. Pre-treat the stain with the mixture, leave it on for 15-20 minutes, then gently hand wash in cold water. Good luck!

jackiec

Veteran

No advice but all the tips are good to know for the future. I do know, however, that whenever I wear my one silk blouse, I seem to sweat for no reason. I don't ordinarily even wear antiperspirant anymore, but will throw some on if I have that blouse on. Good luck!