How to Remove Sweat Stains from Sheets

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If you just took your sheets out of the wash and discovered that the unwelcome sweat stains you were hoping to remove have decided to stick around, don’t worry! Sweat stains usually don’t come out with just regular detergent, but they’re not invincible. We’ll show you how to get sweat stains out of your sheets (you actually have a few different options) so they look crisp and new again.

Method 1
Method 1 of 4:

Soaking the Sheets

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  1. You can use a bucket, bathtub, clean kitchen sink, or any other container big enough for your sheets. Make sure that there is enough water to completely cover the sheets. [1]
  2. Read the instructions on the side of the box for exact measurements. With a gloved hand, stir the water around to make sure that it mixes. [3]
    • You can also use 1 cup (240 ml) of white vinegar for every set of sheets that you wash. While not as powerful as borax or oxygen bleach, it is better if you want to remove any smells from your sheets.
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  3. You can soak as many sheets as you have room for in your basin. Some smaller buckets and containers may only fit 1 sheet. Use your hands to press the sheets down under the water. [4]
  4. Do this 3-4 times throughout the entire soaking process. Stir, press down, and squeeze the sheets to help clean them. Wear rubber gloves to protect your hands from the hot water. You might get a little wet if the water spills over the side. [5]
    • Agitate the sheets at least once when you first soak them and once at the end. Depending on how long you are leaving them to soak, you can agitate them 1-3 times more at regular intervals.
  5. If the stains are particularly bad, leave the sheets for longer. If the time is up and the sheets still appear discolored, you may want to soak them for a while longer. You can leave them to soak for as long as they need to. [6]
  6. Make sure that you get rid of as much excess water as you can. The sheet should be damp but not dripping wet. [7]
  7. [8] Use your normal laundry detergent. Set the machine to the same settings that you normally wash your sheets in. For washing instructions, check the label sewn into the hem of your sheets. [9]
  8. A dryer will quickly dry the sheets for you, but they may help set any remaining stains, making them harder to remove in the future. A hanging line will take longer, but it may be a better option for white sheets, which will naturally bleach and brighten under the sun. You can hang colored sheets to dry, but they may lighten in color slightly. [11]
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Method 2
Method 2 of 4:

Oxygen Bleach or Borax

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  1. Most sheets will fill up a machine easily on their own. Furthermore, it may be easier to get rid of stains if you just focus on your sheets. [12]
  2. Read the instructions on the side of the box to see how much you should add to the machine based on the size of your load. You can buy borax and oxygen bleach (such as Oxi Clean) at a grocery store. [13]
    • Do not use chlorine bleach (such as Clorox) on your sheets. Chlorine bleach can react with sweat and other bodily fluids, causing your stains to become more discolored.
  3. If the stains are new, choose a cold water setting. Hot water could set the stains. If the stains are older, choose the hottest setting that your sheets can handle. Since the older stains are already set, the hot water will help wash them more thoroughly. The laundry tag on the hem of the sheets should tell you how hot the water can be for your sheets. [14]
  4. Depending on your machine, this might be called a “normal,” “regular,” “whites,” or “cotton cycle.” If you have a pre-wash setting on your machine, turn it on to soak the sheets before the cycle begins. This will help get rid of the stains. [15]
  5. Only put the sheets in the dryer if the stains have been completely removed. If you still have sweat stains, run the sheets through the laundry machine again. The heat from the dryer can make any remaining stains more stubborn. [16]
    • You can also hang the sheets to dry on a clothesline to prevent any remaining stains from setting.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 4:

Baking Soda and Vinegar

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  1. Take off all of the sheets that have been stained with sweat. You can wash these in the washing machine using baking soda and vinegar. Do not wash your sheets with other clothing or linens. [17]
  2. Read the side of your detergent to see how much detergent you need to add. After pouring the detergent in, add the baking soda. [18]
    • This amount of baking soda should be just right for most loads of sheets. Because of the way that baking soda can foam and react, avoid adding more than 1/2 cup to any load.
  3. Use the dial on your laundry machine to set the water temperature to the right level. If you are using hot water, check the label on your sheets to learn the hottest temperature your sheets can handle. [19]
    • For newer stains, cold water will prevent them from setting in the fabric. Older stains are already set in the fabric. Thus, hot water will be more effective at getting them out.
  4. Set the dial or buttons on your machine for the normal cycle. If your sheets have special care instructions (which can be found on the tag on the hem), be sure to follow those instructions instead.
  5. Most machines will tell you when the rinse cycle begins by pointing a dial towards “rinse” or by turning on a light under “rinse.” The vinegar smell will wash out by the end of the cycle. [20]
    • If you have a top-loading machine, open the door and pour the vinegar in.
    • If you have a front-loading machine, open the dispenser on the top and add the vinegar.
    • Some machines may lock the doors or dispensers while the machine is on. In this case, add the vinegar at the beginning of the cycle or choose another method.
    • This amount of vinegar will cover most loads of sheets, although you may double the vinegar for very large loads with multiple sets of sheets.
  6. The sheets should have returned to their normal color. Once they are the right color, you can put them in the dryer. If they are still stained, run them through the wash again. [21]
    • If you have white sheets, try hanging the sheets out to dry in the sun. The sun will naturally bleach your sheets, helping you remove any last traces of sweat. You can also hang colored sheets, but they may lighten slightly in the sun.
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Method 4
Method 4 of 4:

Bluing White Sheets

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  1. Popular brands include Bluette, Reckitt’s Blue, and Mrs. Stewart’s Liquid Bluing, but you can find a variety of bluing agents both in a store and online. These agents will make your sheets whiter by canceling out the yellow stains. [22]
  2. Since concentrations can vary between brands, always read the instructions before adding the bluing agent. Mix the water and the bluing agent in a clean bowl or measuring cup. [23]
  3. Set the machine to a cold water setting. Do not add the bluing agent yet. Wash the sheets as you usually do. For washing instructions, check the label on the hem of your sheets. [24]
  4. If you have a top-loading washing machine, open up the top and pour the bluing agent in. If you have a front-loading washing machine, add it to the dispenser at the top of your machine. [25]
    • If your machine locks the dispenser or door while the machine is in use, you may need to add the bluing agent before you start the wash.
  5. A dryer will quickly dry the sheets, but it can cause any remaining stains to set. A hanging line, on the other hand, will naturally bleach and whiten the sheets, although it will take much longer for the sheets to dry. [26]
    • Bluing agents can occasionally cause blue streaks on your sheets. If this happens, do not dry the sheets. Soak them in 1 quart (950 ml) of cold water and ½ cup (118 ml) of household ammonia for 24 hours before washing them normally in the washing machine. [27]
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    How do you remove old sweat stains?
    Safir Ali
    Laundry Specialist
    Safir Ali is the Co-Founder and CEO of Hamper Dry Cleaning and Laundry, a startup in Houston, Texas reinventing the laundry industry. With over six years of experience launching and operating Hamper, Safir specializes in innovative ways to simplify dry cleaning using the experience from his family's business. Safir holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Management from Texas A&M University. Hamper offers 24/7 on-demand dry cleaning and laundry through delivery and kiosk services. Hamper has been featured on the Houston Rockets, Station Houston, the Houston Business Journal, BBVA, Yahoo Finance, and Innovation Map.
    Safir Ali
    Laundry Specialist
    Expert Answer
    If the stains are on a white garment, wash them with bleach. Otherwise, try to treat the stain before washing with a stain removing solution like Shout. Spray that on the stain, rub the garment against itself to loosen the stain up, then wash the garment in the washing machine.
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      Warnings

      • Chlorine bleach can worsen sweat stains. Do not use chlorine bleach on any sheets that have been stained with sweat or other bodily fluids.
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      Things You'll Need

      Soaking the Sheets

      • Basin
      • Borax, oxygen bleach, or white vinegar
      • Rubber gloves
      • Laundry detergent
      • Clothesline (optional)

      Oxygen Bleach or Borax

      • Oxygen bleach or borax
      • Laundry detergent
      • Clothesline (optional)

      Baking Soda and Vinegar

      • Laundry detergent
      • Baking soda
      • White vinegar
      • Clothesline (optional)

      Bluing White Sheets

      • Bluing agent
      • Mixing bowl
      • Laundry detergent
      • Clothesline (optional)

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      References

      1. ↑ https://health.clevelandclinic.org/how-often-should-you-wash-your-bed-sheets
      2. ↑ Safir Ali. Professional Dry Cleaner. Expert Interview. 15 September 2020.
      3. ↑ https://health.clevelandclinic.org/how-often-should-you-wash-your-bed-sheets
      4. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wV9hmUZZGd0
      5. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8UO4zQ5IVM
      6. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8UO4zQ5IVM
      7. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3oRvA95upSs&t=12s
      8. ↑ Safir Ali. Professional Dry Cleaner. Expert Interview. 15 September 2020.
      9. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3oRvA95upSs&t=12s
      1. ↑ Safir Ali. Professional Dry Cleaner. Expert Interview. 15 September 2020.
      2. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bEWHvHpnUvI
      3. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z50_LKMLi1M
      4. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQzAUSY8kHM
      5. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQzAUSY8kHM
      6. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZ_xsJSzp1Y
      7. ↑ https://www.cdc.gov/infection-control/hcp/environmental-control/laundry-bedding.html?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/infectioncontrol/guidelines/environmental/background/laundry.html
      8. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rrtigj3puOg
      9. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rrtigj3puOg
      10. ↑ https://www.cleaninginstitute.org/cleaning-tips/clothes/stain-removal-guide
      11. ↑ https://msdh.ms.gov/msdhsite/handlers/printcontent.cfm?ContentID=21043&ThisPageURL=http%3A%2F%2Fmsdh%2Ems%2Egov%2Fmsdhsite%2Findex%2Ecfm%2Findex%2Ecfm&EntryCode=21043&GroupID=44
      12. ↑ https://www.cleaninginstitute.org/cleaning-tips/clothes/laundry-basics/do-i-need-wash
      13. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SzKDibxVCys
      14. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R87SIgGC20k
      15. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R87SIgGC20k
      16. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxrM65okKJk
      17. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMaJF_WcSEs
      18. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxrM65okKJk

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      To remove sweat stains from your sheets, machine wash them with laundry detergent and a scoop of oxygen bleach or borax. If the stain is fresh, use cold water, but if it’s old, use hot water. You can also use baking soda and vinegar to get rid of sweat stains on sheets. First, machine wash the sheets with laundry detergent and ½ cup of baking soda. Then, when the rinse cycle begins, add 1/2 cup of white vinegar. Don't put your sheets in the dryer until the stains are completely gone. Otherwise, the heat from the dryer will cause them to set. If they’re still stained after 1 cycle, put them back in for another wash. For more tips, including how to soak your sheets in a sink or bathtub to remove stains, read on!

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        Jun 30, 2021

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