Summer heat means one thing for your clothes: sweat. Here in Tallahassee, you can break a sweat in July simply walking from the house to the car. Between summer weddings, 4th of July parties, and family BBQs, there’s a good chance you’ve got sweat stains on some of your favorite garments.
If you’ve noticed yellowing under the arms of your favorite white shirt, or lingering odors that won’t wash out, you’re dealing with one of the most common summer wardrobe problems. Here’s what is actually happening to your clothes, and how to stop the damage before it becomes permanent.
Why Sweat Damages Clothes in the First Place
Sweat is mostly made up of water, but it’s the combination of body oils, sweat, and anti-perspirant residue that creates problems. When this mixture sits on fabric, it can cause several problems:
- Discolored fibers - The yellow or gray tint that shows up worst on light colored fabrics.
- Breakdown of fibers - Over time, the fibers weaken in areas such as underarms and collars.
- Trap odor-causing bacteria - even washing won’t always take the stink out.
- Reaction from anti-perspirant - Creates stains that are much harder to remove than sweat alone.
The tricky thing about it is that some stains don’t show up right away. By the time you notice them, the fabric may already be weakening.
Why a Regular Wash Doesn’t Always Fix It
Standard detergents are designed to handle everyday dirt, but the combination of oil, salts, antiperspirants, and sweat can be too much for them. Sometimes a shirt can come out of the wash looking clean, but once it dries, a stain or smell can become more noticeable. Heat from the dryer can set these stains in permanently, making them much harder to remove.
What Actually Helps
If you want to avoid those nasty stains in your shirts, there are a few steps you can take to keep them at bay:
- Don’t let sweat sit. The longer your deodorant and sweat stay on a garment, the more time they have to bind with fibers. If you know a garment has taken on heavy sweat, treat it as soon as possible with a stain removal product.
- Skip the dryer until you’re sure the stain is gone. If you see any noticeable discoloration, don’t apply heat. That will set the stain. Heat can lock in stains that are otherwise treatable.
- Know which fabrics need extra care. Silk, linen, and other delicate summer fabrics don’t respond well to at-home stain treatments. These fabrics fare better with professional cleaning.
- Let a pro handle set-in stains. Professional cleaners use special solvents and techniques that break down the combination of sweat, oil, and residue in those stains. This is especially important for items you wear often.
Trust Shamrock With Your Summer Sweat Stains
Sweat is unavoidable in summer. Sweat stains and lingering odors, on the other hand, don’t have to be. Treating sweat-soaked garments promptly, avoiding high heat, and taking delicate fabrics to a professional dry cleaner can make all the difference. These steps can be the difference between a summer wardrobe that lives to see another summer and one that doesn’t make it to August.
If you’re seeing stains that won’t budge or funky smells that keep coming back, bring your garments in for professional cleaning. Shamrock has the equipment and the know-how to remove the stains and keep your clothes looking and smelling fresh. Don’t wait until sweat stains and odors have a chance to set in. The sooner you bring them in, the easier it is to fully reverse.
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