Sweat often stains light-colored clothes, especially bras. Ordinary chlorine bleach can't remove these stains because sweat contains traces of minerals. Before disposing of soiled bras, try washing them with hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, dish soap, lemon juice, or bleach which is safe for colored clothes to remove stubborn sweat stains.
Step
Method 1 of 5: Using Hydrogen Peroxide
Step 1. Find a bucket or tub to wash your bra
Fill a bucket or tub with cold water and laundry detergent. Add a little hydrogen peroxide with a concentration of 3% to the bucket and stir the water.
- This method is effective for removing large stains as you will need to completely submerge the bra. This cleaning is ideal for sports bras that get wet with sweat during exercise.
- Hydrogen peroxide with a concentration of 3% can be used on any bra, be it white, plain, or patterned. This product will not lift or fade the color of the bra. However, do not use hydrogen peroxide with a concentration of 35% because it can whiten or fade the color of the bra.
Step 2. Insert the dirty bra
Shake the bra in a bucket or tub. You will need to use a spoon or long stick to stir the soaking water. Make sure the entire bra is completely submerged. You can leave the bra in this mixture for about an hour.
Step 3. Remove the bra from the sink or bucket
Rinse the bra with cold water. Do not squeeze the bra, but simply press the surface to release the water. Try rolling your bra in a towel to remove any remaining moisture.
Step 4. Dry the bra in the sun
Sunlight is a good whitening medium so it can lift the remaining stains that are still attached to the bra. Using a tumble dryer to dry bras can damage the fabric, including the rubber and wires in the bra, causing them to change shape.
Method 2 of 5: Using Baking Soda
Step 1. Mix water and baking soda
Make a thick paste of water and baking soda, then apply it on the part of the bra that is affected by the yellowish stain. Make sure you apply the paste to each of the stained areas.
- Baking soda can be used to clean any bra, including white, plain, or patterned bras. Because of its mild abrasiveness, baking soda is suitable for textured fabrics.
- Baking soda also helps to remove odors from clothes, so this method is a good one to follow if your bra is not only dirty, but also smells bad.
Step 2. Dry the bra in the sun for a few hours
This way, the baking soda can lift the stain. Sunlight also increases the effectiveness of the soda paste.
Step 3. Peel off the paste from the bra
Be careful when lifting or peeling off the paste so you don't damage the fabric. By removing the paste before cleaning the bra, the remaining paste will not accumulate in the washing machine or sink.
Step 4. Wash the bra as usual
Washing helps remove paste residue and leaves bras smelling fresh. Do not squeeze the bra, but simply press the surface to release the water. Try rolling your bra in a clean towel to remove excess water and moisture.
Step 5. Dry the bra in the sun
Sunlight is a good whitening medium so it can lift the remaining stains that are still attached to the bra. Using a tumble dryer to dry bras can damage the fabric, including the rubber and wires in the bra, causing them to change shape.
Method 3 of 5: Using Lemon Juice
Step 1. Squeeze one fresh lemon and collect the juice in a bowl
Add equal amount of cold water. Stir the two ingredients until evenly distributed.
Lemon juice should only be used to clean white bras. This mixture can actually fade or stain colored fabrics, so don't follow this method for cleaning bras with plain patterns or colors
Step 2. Apply lemon juice on the sweat stain
Make sure you cover every part of the bra that is stained. You can use an unused toothbrush to spread the lemon juice on the cloth.
Step 3. Let the lemon juice sit on the stain for an hour
This way, the sari can be absorbed into the fabric and lift the stain.
Step 4. Wash the bra as usual
Do not squeeze the bra, but simply press the surface to release the water. Try rolling your bra in a clean towel to remove excess water and moisture.
Step 5. Dry the bra in the sun
Sunlight is a good whitening medium so it can lift the remaining stains that are still attached to the bra. Using a tumble dryer to dry bras can damage the fabric, including the rubber and wires in the bra, causing them to change shape.
Method 4 of 5: Using Dishwashing Soap
Step 1. Pour some dish soap on the stain
You can use any dish soap available in the kitchen, such as Sunlight, Mama Lemon, Pizzi, and the like.
Use this method to clean white bras only. The bleach in soap can lift the color from colored fabrics, so don't follow this method for cleaning patterned or plain colored bras
Step 2. Apply the soap on the stain
Coat the stain thoroughly. Make sure you hit the corners of the stain. You can also use an unused toothbrush to spread the soap onto the fabric.
Step 3. Wash the bra in cold water
You can add a small amount of mild laundry detergent to remove any remaining dish soap. Wash the bra again to make sure the remaining dish soap and detergent is removed. Do not squeeze the bra, but simply press the surface to release the water. Try rolling your bra in a clean towel to remove excess water and moisture.
Step 4. Dry the bra in the sun
Sunlight is a good whitening medium so it can lift the remaining stains that are still attached to the bra. Using a tumble dryer to dry bras can damage the fabric, including the rubber and wires in the bra, causing them to change shape.
Method 5 of 5: Using Safe Bleach for Colored Clothes
Step 1. Pour dye-safe bleach on the stain
Make sure you coat every part and corner of the stain with bleach, from the inside and outside of the bra. Apply bleach to the cloth or use a toothbrush to scrub the stain. Wash your hands after you're done.
This whitening product can be used on any bra, including white, plain, or patterned bras. The active ingredient is hydrogen peroxide, which won't lift paint off fabrics like chlorine bleach
Step 2. Let the bleach sit for a few minutes
This way, the bleach can destroy the stain and lift it off the fabric. You can let the bleach sit for up to an hour if the stain is severe enough.
Step 3. Wash the bra as usual
Laundry detergent helps remove residual bleach and stains. Do not squeeze the bra, but simply press the surface to release the water. Try rolling your bra in a clean towel to remove excess water and moisture.
Step 4. Dry the bra in the sun
Sunlight is a good whitening medium so it can lift the remaining stains that are still attached to the bra. Using a tumble dryer to dry bras can damage the fabric, including the rubber and wires in the bra, causing them to change shape.
Tips
- Always remember to wash your bras in cold water.
- If the deodorant you're using leaves a yellowish stain, it's a chemical reaction between your body and your clothes. Try a few different types of deodorant, including products that don't contain aluminum.
