When it comes to fashion mishaps, few things are worse than getting a stain on your favorite t-shirt. Even the tiniest stain can stick out like a sore thumb, and large, yellow armpit stains are a good way to ensure that your favorite top becomes destined for the trash can. While there isn’t much you can do to completely eliminate the possibility of stains, there are still a few things you can do to protect your favorite duds from disaster. Keep reading to discover how to prevent stains on blank t-shirts.
Avoiding Armpit Stains
Let’s start with one of the most common stains to plague plain white t-shirts—the dreaded armpit stain. These dingy yellow stains are embarrassing, and—well—they’re the pits! The good news? They can be prevented.
First things first: Those stains are not caused by just your sweat. Instead, they occur due to the combination of your sweat and the aluminum used in your antiperspirant. You can skip wearing deodorant to avoid stains, but you may end up having to deal with embarrassing odor instead. To stay smelling fresh and looking good, look for an antiperspirant that’s formulated to prevent yellow stains.
Another option is to use deodorant that does not contain antiperspirant but, instead, a bit of Gold Bond powder. The Gold Bond keeps you dry without the stain-causing aluminum.
If you are already dealing with armpit stains, don’t reach for the bleach. It will make the stain appear more yellow. Instead, opt for OxiClean or a product like Raise Armpit Stain Remover, which is formulated specifically for dealing with this problem. Treat and wash shirts immediately after wearing them to prevent the stains from setting in.
Preventing Food Stains
The most effective way to avoid food stains on your favorite clothing is to avoid eating while you’re wearing them. Of course, that isn’t a very realistic solution. Instead, take a cue from the little ones in your family when you’re eating messy foods and make yourself a “bib” out of a napkin or paper towel. You may feel a bit silly, but tucking one inside the collar of your shirt can help you keep drips and drops away from your clothing.
If you are a parent, there are also several tricks for helping your kids’ clothes stay as mess-free as possible. From placing a cupcake wrapper at the base of a popsicle to catch drips to investing in a kid-sized apron for when your little one decides to help in the kitchen, there are several ways to keep food stains away from your kids’ blank t-shirts.
Try a Hydrophobic Coating
Want to use science to keep your clothing clean? Try a hydrophobic clothing spray, such as LiquidOff. These products are specially formulated using ingredients that repel water. When applied to t-shirts and other articles of washable clothing, it lasts through 20 or more washes before wearing off.
Hydrophobic sprays keep drinks, sauces, grease, and more away from clothing, and they are a great way to prevent some of the most common food stains.
What to Do When You Get a Stain on Your Favorite Blank T-Shirt
Despite your best efforts, stains happen. When they do, knowing what to do can help you avoid losing your favorite shirt. First of all, don’t allow the stain to set. When a stain sets, it forms a chemical bond with the fabric and becomes impossible to remove in most cases. To prevent this from happening, immediately treat all stains with water or the appropriate solvent. Avoid direct heat (including hot water), and do not use pressure when applying water or solvents.
Blank cotton t-shirts are durable, and they can handle just about any type of solvent. Chlorine bleach is unnecessarily harsh, though, so avoid it if possible. For coffee, tea, and grass stains, try a bit of white vinegar or lemon juice. Enzyme cleaners work well for sweat and blood stains, and both laundry and dish detergent are well-suited to removing grease stains.
There are numerous stain removal products on the market, and many of them work well for removing certain types of stains. Before using one of these products, however, check the ingredients and instructions to make sure it is safe to use on your shirt. Products containing chlorine bleach should never be used on colored t-shirts.
Life is messy, and stains are sometimes unavoidable. By following the tips above and knowing how to properly treat stains, though, you can keep them from ruining your favorite blank t-shirts.
