Sweat stains are a real nuisance for clothes and are sometimes permanent. Vinegar and iron will allow you to remove these perspiration stains gently.
Removing a sweat stain from leather
To remove a perspiration stain from colored leather fabric:
– Soak a cloth in 28 percent diluted ammonia.
– Dab the cloth on the stain.
To clean a perspiration stain on white leather:
– Soak a cloth in hydrogen peroxide.
– Dab the cloth on the stain.
On suede
– If the stain is fresh: rinse it with a sponge of warm water.
– If the stain is dry: rub it with a cloth dipped in lemon juice.
– If the suede has lost its shine, apply a cloth containing diluted vinegar.
On nubuck
A recent stain will disappear with warm water.
If the stain is old, clean it with a cloth dampened with lemon.
Note: lemon can discolor nubuck. To remedy this, rub a cloth dampened with vinegar.
Cleaning a sweat stain on fabric or clothing
You can clean a perspiration stain with natural products like lemon or vinegar. Be sure to check the fabric’s composition on the label before you start cleaning.
On a synthetic fabric
– Place a cloth dampened with white vinegar on the stain.
– For scabs formed by deodorant:
◦ Place a tissue on the area.
◦ Heat them with a hot iron.
Other effective detergents: lemon ammonia.
Tip: if you intervene immediately, lukewarm water is enough.
On cotton
– In all cases, rub without delay with a hot water sponge.
– If the textile is white:
◦ Rub the stain with a cloth containing oxalic acid.
◦ Dip the fabric in water.
◦ Dab the stain with a cloth soaked in hydrogen peroxide.
– If the textile is colored, dab the stain with a cloth soaked in ammonia water.
Other effective detergents: vinegar lemon.
On jeans
Rub the stain with a cotton swab soaked in hydrogen peroxide.
Another effective detergent is the juice of a lemon.
Good to know: hydrogen peroxide may discolor the jeans. In this case, wash them with new jeans.
On linen
– If the linen is light:
◦ Rub the stain with a damp sponge and oxalic acid.
◦ Wash with cold water.
◦ Finish by dabbing with a cloth soaked in hydrogen peroxide.
– If the linen is colored, place the stain on white vinegar on a cloth.
– In case of discoloration, place the garment for a few minutes in a basin of water with a few centiliters of white vinegar added.
– If the deodorant has crusted, apply an absorbent cloth and approach a hot iron.
Other effective detergents: ammonia lemon.
On silk
Remember that immediate cleaning with hot water is the most uncomplicated treatment.
– Rub the stain with a cloth soaked in lemon juice.
– If the silk loses its color, rub it with a cotton ball of vinegar water.
On satin
The most effective way to remove a sweat stain off satin is to use a lemon.
On velvet
– Rub the stain with a cloth soaked in warm water.
– If traces remain, apply lemon juice on a paper handkerchief.
On wool
Note: warm water is a good solution for fresh stains.
– Dilute vinegar alcohol in water.
– Dab the stain.
On hair, goatskin, sheepskin, or natural fur
Rub the stain with water and spirit vinegar.
On synthetic fur
You can clean sweat stains on synthetic fur with a cotton ball moistened with diluted ammonia.
Detergents to remove a sweat stain
– Ammonia: $1.50/liter
– Hydrogen peroxide: $6/litre
– White vinegar: $1/litre
– Organic lemon juice: $3/50 ml
– Oxalic acid (sorrel salt): $12/750 g
Note: prices are given as an indication.
