Wave Goodbye to White Marks

a man and a woman stretching, excessive backsweat

WHAT CAUSES WHITE MARKS ON YOUR CLOTHES?

They come from the ingredients used in your anti-perspirant deodorant. The aluminium salts used in anti-perspirants can leave chalky deodorant stains on your skin, which then transfer to your clothes and leave white marks. Many people wonder, what causes white marks on your clothes – and this is the simple explanation.

WHAT'S THE BEST WAY TO GET RID OF THEM?

Here’s the best method we know:

Scrub the stain on both sides of the fabric, using a regular bar of soap and a clean toothbrush.
Brush the soap in, as vigorously as the fabric will allow, to get to the heart of the stain.
Rinse off the soap with water and leave the fabric to air dry.
If the staining is particularly bad, repeat the steps until the mark is gone.

OTHER THINGS YOU CAN TRY

Bicarbonate of soda

Mix baking soda with a small amount of water to make a 'slurry'. Apply this to the stained garment with a toothbrush and follow the same method as above. Try the mixture on a small area of your garment first, to test its colour-fastness.

Vinegar soak

Soak the stained part of the garment in a container of white vinegar. After an hour, brush it with a toothbrush. Again, try on a small patch of fabric first to test for colour fastness. Afterwards, wash the garment in a washing machine, to get rid of any vinegar smell.

HOW TO AVOID GETTING WHITE MARKS ON YOUR CLOTHES

The best way is to try and avoid getting them in the first place. And here are our top tips for doing that:

Let your anti-perspirant deodorant dry before you dress
That way, it’s not going to transfer as easily to your clothes.

Don’t overdo it
Applying too much anti-perspirant deodorant can lead to excess residue getting on your clothes.

Try an anti-perspirant deodorant that’s made for the job
Shield’s Invisible Black & White range has been specially developed to reduce marks on your clothes. Not just white marks on dark clothing, but also the yellow sweat stains you can get on white clothes. And on top of all that, it gives you a full 48 hours' sweat protection.

FAQ About White Marks?

Do all deodorants cause white marks on clothes?

Not all deodorants cause stains. Some formulas, like invisible or clear sprays, are designed to reduce white marks from deodorant.

Can deodorant stains permanently damage clothes?

If untreated, deodorant stains can build up and cause yellowing or stiffness in fabric, but most fresh marks can be removed easily.

Are natural deodorants less likely to leave white marks?

Many natural deodorants don’t use aluminium salts, so they’re less likely to leave white marks, but residue can still occur depending on ingredients.