How to Get Sweat Stains out of Bras

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Sweat can often leave stains on light-colored clothing, particularly bras. Regular chlorine bleach will not remove the stains, as sweat contains traces of minerals. [1] Before throwing your stained bras out, try cleaning them with hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, dish detergent, lemon juice, or color-safe bleach to remove the stains.

Method 1
Method 1 of 5:

Using Hydrogen Peroxide

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  1. Fill the bucket or basin with cold water and laundry detergent. Add a bit of 3% hydrogen peroxide to the bucket and mix thoroughly.
    • This method works well if you have larger stains, as you will soak the entire bra. It would be ideal for sports bras which can get soaked in sweat while exercising.
    • 3% hydrogen peroxide can be used on any bra: white, solid colored, or patterned. It should not leach color from the fabric. Do not use 35% hydrogen peroxide, as this can bleach your bras. [2]
  2. Gently swirl the bras around the bucket or basin. You may want to use a long spoon or stick to mix up the solution. Make sure each bra gets thoroughly saturated. You can let your bras sit in this solution for an hour or so.
  3. Rinse them under cool water. Do not wring out the bra, but gently press the water out of it. Try gently rolling the bra in a towel to remove the excess moisture. [3]
  4. The sun is an excellent bleaching agent, so this will help remove any lingering stains. [4] Using a dryer to dry your bras can damage the fabric, including the elastic and underwire, and leave your bras misshapen.
Method 2
Method 2 of 5:

Using Baking Soda

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  1. Create a thick paste and apply onto yellowed areas. Be sure to get the paste on every part of the stain.
    • Baking soda can be used to clean any bra: white, solid colored, or patterned. It is a mild abrasive so would be great for textured fabric.
    • Baking soda also helps remove odors from clothing, so this may be the best method if your bras are retaining an unpleasant scent along with the stains. [5]
  2. This gives the baking soda time to remove the stain. Sunlight will also help the solution work.
  3. Be gentle, as you don't want to ruin the fabric. Removing the paste before laundering will keep your washing machine or sink from getting gunked up.
  4. Laundering will remove the rest of the paste and leave your bra smelling fresh. Do not wring out the bra, but gently press the water out of it. Try gently rolling the bra in a clean towel to remove the excess water. [6]
  5. The sun is an excellent bleaching agent, so this will help remove any lingering stains. [7] Using a dryer to dry your bras can damage the fabric, including the elastic and underwire, and leave your bras misshapen. [8]
Method 3
Method 3 of 5:

Using Lemon Juice

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  1. Add an equal amount of cold water. Mix the solution thoroughly.
    • Lemon juice should only be used to clean white bras. It can further stain colored fabrics so do not use this method for patterned or solid colored bras.
  2. Be sure to saturate every part of the stain. You can use an old toothbrush to rub the lemon juice into the fabric.
  3. This gives the lemon juice time to soak into the fabric and remove the stain. [9]
  4. Do not wring out the bra, but gently press the water out of it. Try gently rolling up your bra in a clean towel to remove the excess water. [10]
  5. The sun is an excellent bleaching agent, so this will help remove any lingering stains. [11] Using a dryer to dry your bras can damage the fabric, including the elastic and underwire, and leave your bras misshapen. [12]
Method 4
Method 4 of 5:

Using Dish Detergent

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  1. Any dish soap you have in your kitchen will work: Dawn, Joy, Palmolive, etc.
    • Use this method on white bras only. The bleach in the soap will remove color from dyed material, so don't use this for patterned or solid colored bras.
  2. Saturate the stain completely. Be sure to get the edges of the stain as well. You can even use an old toothbrush to rub the soap into the fabric.
  3. You can add a mild laundry detergent to help remove the soap. You may want to wash the bra again to ensure all the soap and detergent will be removed. [13] Do not wring out the bra, but gently press the water out of it. Try gently rolling up the bra in a clean towel to remove excess water. [14]
  4. The sun is an excellent bleaching agent, so this will help remove any lingering stains. [15] Using a dryer to dry your bras can damage the fabric, including the elastic and underwire, and leave your bras misshapen. [16]
Method 5
Method 5 of 5:

Using Color-Safe Bleach

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  1. [17] Be sure to get all stained edges and areas, inside and out. Rub the bleach into the fabric, or use a toothbrush to scrub the area. Wash your hands when you are done.
    • Color-safe bleach can be used on any bra: white, solid colored, or patterned. The active ingredient is hydrogen peroxide, which does not leach dye from fabric like chlorine bleach.
  2. This will give the bleach time to break down the stain and remove it from the fabric. You can leave the bleach on for up to an hour if the stains are severe. [18]
  3. [19] The detergent will help remove the bleach as well as the stains. Do not wring out the bra, but gently press the water out of it. Try gently rolling the bra in a clean towel to remove the excess water. [20]
  4. The sun is an excellent bleaching agent, so this will help remove any lingering stains. [21] Using a dryer to dry your bras can damage the fabric, including the elastic and underwire, and leave your bras misshapen. [22]

Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    How can I make my bra white again?
    Safir Ali
    Professional Dry Cleaner
    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
    Professional Dry Cleaner
    Expert Answer
    Wash your bras with bleach to help restore their original color.
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      • If a deodorant is leaving yellow marks, it is because there is a chemical reaction either with your body or with the clothing. You may want to try a different kind of deodorant, such as one without aluminum. [23]
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      References

      1. ↑ http://www.housecleaningcentral.com/en/cleaning-tips/stain-removal/sweat-perspiration-deodorant.html
      2. ↑ http://www.stain-removal-101.com/hydrogen-peroxide-for-laundry.html
      3. ↑ http://www.cosmopolitan.com/lifestyle/how-to/a44293/how-to-wash-bras/
      4. ↑ http://www.housecleaningcentral.com/en/cleaning-tips/stain-removal/sweat-perspiration-deodorant.html
      5. ↑ http://www.housecleaningcentral.com/en/cleaning-tips/stain-removal/sweat-perspiration-deodorant.html
      6. ↑ http://www.cosmopolitan.com/lifestyle/how-to/a44293/how-to-wash-bras/
      7. ↑ http://www.housecleaningcentral.com/en/cleaning-tips/stain-removal/sweat-perspiration-deodorant.html
      8. ↑ http://www.housecleaningcentral.com/en/cleaning-tips/stain-removal/sweat-perspiration-deodorant.html
      9. ↑ http://www.housecleaningcentral.com/en/cleaning-tips/stain-removal/sweat-perspiration-deodorant.html
      1. ↑ http://www.cosmopolitan.com/lifestyle/how-to/a44293/how-to-wash-bras/
      2. ↑ http://www.housecleaningcentral.com/en/cleaning-tips/stain-removal/sweat-perspiration-deodorant.html
      3. ↑ http://www.housecleaningcentral.com/en/cleaning-tips/stain-removal/sweat-perspiration-deodorant.html
      4. ↑ https://clark.com/family-lifestyle/remove-yellow-armpit-sweat-stains/
      5. ↑ http://www.cosmopolitan.com/lifestyle/how-to/a44293/how-to-wash-bras/
      6. ↑ http://www.housecleaningcentral.com/en/cleaning-tips/stain-removal/sweat-perspiration-deodorant.html
      7. ↑ http://www.housecleaningcentral.com/en/cleaning-tips/stain-removal/sweat-perspiration-deodorant.html
      8. ↑ Safir Ali. Professional Dry Cleaner. Expert Interview. 15 September 2020.
      9. ↑ http://www.housecleaningcentral.com/en/cleaning-tips/stain-removal/sweat-perspiration-deodorant.html
      10. ↑ Safir Ali. Professional Dry Cleaner. Expert Interview. 15 September 2020.
      11. ↑ http://www.cosmopolitan.com/lifestyle/how-to/a44293/how-to-wash-bras/
      12. ↑ http://www.housecleaningcentral.com/en/cleaning-tips/stain-removal/sweat-perspiration-deodorant.html
      13. ↑ http://www.housecleaningcentral.com/en/cleaning-tips/stain-removal/sweat-perspiration-deodorant.html
      14. ↑ http://www.housecleaningcentral.com/en/cleaning-tips/stain-removal/sweat-perspiration-deodorant.html

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      If you need to get sweat stains out of a bra, don’t reach for the bleach. Instead, try hydrogen peroxide, which is better at tackling organic stains. Fill a bucket or basin with cold water and add a splash of 3% hydrogen peroxide, then put your bra in the bucket. Gently swirl it around in the water to help loosen set-in dirt and stains, then let it soak for about 1 hour. Take the bra out of the hydrogen peroxide solution and rinse it with cold water, then gently squeeze the excess water out. Take care not to wring or twist your bra. Hang your bra up or lay it out flat in a sunny spot to dry. The sunlight will also help remove any lingering stains. If you don’t have hydrogen peroxide, you can also try gently spot-cleaning the stains with a baking soda paste, mild dish soap, color-safe (non-chlorine) bleach, or a mixture of equal parts water and lemon juice. Only use lemon juice on white bras, since it could stain bras of other colors.

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