Underarm odor remaining on a shirt may reactivate each time you wear the shirt. Sometimes, underarm odor is so strong and pervasive that regular laundry detergent does little for it. To remove the odor from the shirt's fibers, you must soak it in a good odor neutralizer--one that will deodorize many kinds of odors, biological and otherwise. This odor neutralizer is not new, fancy or expensive but, if you use it correctly, it works.
Instructions
1. Place the shirt flat on a towel (the towel protects the surface underneath). If the shirt is cotton, pour undiluted white vinegar directly on the underarm area. If the shirt is any other fabric, dilute the vinegar (1 part vinegar to 1 part water).
2. Let the shirt remain on the towel while the vinegar works to break down the odor. You should leave it for 15 to 30 minutes to allow the vinegar to fully deodorize the shirt.
3. Wash the shirt with regular detergent, in the warmest temperature possible for the fabric.
4. Remove the shirt from the washing machine. If there are no visible armpit stains, dry in a hot dryer. If the shirt has perspiration stains treat it with a stain stick (make sure it is suitable for colored fabrics, unless the shirt is white) and wash it again and hang to dry, or use the dryer.
5. Check the arm pit area for residual odor. You can do this by sprinkling a little warm water on the fabric and taking a whiff. The perspiration odor should be gone--if it is not, repeat the process above.
Tips Warnings
For white cotton t-shirts, a long soak (30 minutes) in bleach and water is usually effective, as an alternative to vinegar.
The longer a shirt with this odor goes untreated, the more difficult it will be to permanently remove the odor.
