How to Get Rid of Stubborn Sweat Stains (Naturally)

Even the toughest sweat stains can be handled with clean and natural home products.

Whether you’re a weekend athlete, parent to three, or generally just prone to perspire, sweat happens—but when laundry day comes around yet again, sweat stains shouldn’t slow you down. You might think you need a harsh detergent (those ones in bulky plastic jugs) to get them out, but with a few common ingredients (ones you probably already have at home), powerful natural detergent, and a plan, stuck-in sweat stains will be a thing of the past.

Why Does Sweat Stain?

Sweat alone doesn’t stain—it’s essentially just water and salt. It’s when sweat gets on your clothes, mixes with the sebum, bacteria, and dirt on your skin that it becomes an oily, more stain-prone solution. Add deodorant residue into the mix and you’ve got the perfect formula for a very tricky stain. The good news? Whether you’re trying to get sweat stains out of well-worn hats or your favorite shirt, there’s an easy fix that’s better for you—and the planet.

How to Tackle the Toughest Sweat Stains

Step 1:

First things first, start a soak. It’s simple—mix equal parts distilled white vinegar and water in a sink or bucket, drop in your sweaty clothes, and let them sit for at least 30 minutes. Fun fact: white vinegar acts as a natural fabric softener and odor neutralizer too—perfect for particularly sweaty workout clothes.

Step 2:

For any stubborn leftover stains, a little baking soda and water should do the trick. Mix a tablespoon or so of baking soda with just enough water to create a paste, and apply directly to the sweat stain—gently rubbing with a gentle medium like an old cloth or soft-bristled toothbrush. Much like white vinegar, baking soda is another natural fabric softener and odor eliminator in addition to a stain remover. Win, win, win.

Step 3:

Once you’ve pre-treated your sweaty garments, give them a full refresh with our laundry detergent tablets. Gentle on the planet (they’re plastic-free!), but tough on stains, our detergent tablets work best in cold water. Just drop one tablet directly into the washing machine drum, start the cycle, and walk away. For larger or especially dirty loads, you can use two tablets.

Step 4:

Once the spin cycle is complete, it’s time to dry. If time, patience, and space allows, we’re very pro-air dry, especially with moisture-wicking athletic attire. However, life gets busy and the dryer is there for a reason—if you’re going to dry your clothes, throw a wool dryer ball in to help soften, absorb moisture, reduce static clean, and dry more efficiently. When the dryer buzzer goes off, you should be left with sweat stain-free clothes, all the more ready to get sweaty again.