How To Prevent Yellow Sweat Stains On Your Clothes

Have you ever gotten dressed and realized your favorite white tee isn't quite so white anymore? That there are actually some pretty blatant yellow stains on the armpit areas of your shirt? Yeah, it's kind of the worst. But what causes pit stains anyway? Did you just never notice that your sweat is actually yellow? To find out what gives, I emailed with Rachel Winard, founder of Soapwalla.

Turns out, your sweat isn't really to blame, but your deodorant is. Typical antiperspirants contain aluminum compounds that help prevent you from becoming as sweaty as you might normally. And according to Winard, "Yellowing of shirts is generally caused by an interaction between the aluminum compounds in your antiperspirant and the protein that comprises your sweat." If you're concerned that too many of your tops are getting ruined by the aluminum in your deo, one of the easiest ways to avoid staining your favorite tees, says Winard, is by switching to an all-natural deodorant that doesn't contain any aluminum compounds. If you're worried about making the switch, here's how to keep smelling fresh while adjusting to a natural deodorant. And don't forget these four tips to help you keep cool and avoid any additional sweat stains:

1. Drink Plenty of Water

To help your body stay hydrated and feeling balanced, Winard recommends drinking plenty of water throughout the day. Having trouble with your water intake? Try keeping a bottle nearby to sip from even when you're feeling lazy. Or if the taste becomes boring, try infusing your H2O with some fruit.

2. Exfoliate Regularly

Try: Lush Buffy Body Butter, $13, Lush

Your skin will be better able to breathe if your pores aren't clogged. Winard suggests gently exfoliating your underarms a couple of times per week to keep everything smooth and balanced.

3. Massage In Your Deodorant

Try: Soapwalla Deodorant Cream, $14, Soapwalla

If your deodorant is on your clothes, it won't be doing much in the way of keeping you smelling fresh or controlling sweat. So it's working as well as it should, Winard says to "Gently massage in your deodorant so that it's fully absorbed before you apply clothing."

4. Stick To Natural Fabrics

Winard also recommends sticking to clothing made of natural materials such as cotton and linen. This is because these types of fabrics are more breathable and won't cling to sweat as much as synthetic materials. The result? Less sweat-soaked clothes and a cooler, fresher you.