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Summer barbecues and pool parties bring the inevitable menace: sweat stains. As sweat clings to your clothes, it eventually forms a splotchy stain. Combined with other summer essentials like sunscreen, it creates a Franken-stain that’s resistant to typical stain-fighters. Sweat stains can be especially tricky when you’re working with clothing like bathing suits and athletic wear, where it can seem like that crusty, sweaty stiffness is here to stay.
There’s no need to dread your summer laundry when Charlie’s Soap has your back. Here’s everything you need to know about removing sweat stains for a fresh clean all summer long.
Catch Sweat Stains ASAP
The sooner you catch sweat stains, the better. If left without treatment, oils from the sweat will begin to set into the fabric fibers, especially polyester and blended fabrics. While set stains aren’t impossible to remove, it’s best to hit them with a powerful pretreatment as soon as you notice them.
Pretreat the Sweat-Stained Area
The temptation is real; as soon as you see those gross yellow stains develop on your favorite white swimsuit, you feel your hand creeping toward that old chlorine bleach. However, harsh cleaners like regular bleach could do more harm than good. When exposed to stains, chlorine bleach reacts with the residual proteins and minerals in the sweat and ends up darkening the affected area. TLDR: Chlorine bleach can actually make sweat stains worse. We’ll have to add that to our list of chlorine bleach red flags.
Charlie’s Soap Biodegradable Stain Remover is the perfect solution. Our expertly formulated pretreatment spray is free of harsh solvents, harmful surfactants, and other damaging chemical additives. Instead, it’s chock-full of green cleaning power. It’s safer for you, the planet, and, yep—sweatiest clothes. It won’t fade colors or damage materials, which means it’s perfect for all athletic and swimwear.
Just spray our stain remover anywhere you have sweat and sunscreen stains. Allow the cleaner to sit for at least 30 minutes to let Charlie’s Soap work its magic. As it sits, you may begin to see discoloration spread from the stain, which means that our pre-spray has already started to separate the stain from the fabric.
Treating Tough Sweat Stains
Are you dealing with large, heavy-duty sweat stains? A presoak with Charlie’s Soap oxygen bleach and laundry detergent combined is the way to go. Unlike chlorine bleach, our oxygen bleach is safe for fabrics of every kind. Here’s how to tackle tough sweat stains:
- Pre-Soak is Key: Fill a sink, tub, or bucket with cool water. Add two scoops of Charlie’s Soap oxygen bleach and powder detergent (more than you would typically use for a regular wash). Mix thoroughly until the bleach dissolves.
Remember, Charlie’s oxygen bleach is color-safe, but you should always follow the garment care recommendations.
- Soak, Soak, Soak: Let your sweat-stained clothes soak in the pre-soak mixture for at least 30 minutes. This allows the cleaning power of Charlie’s Soap to penetrate the stains and loosen their grip on the fabric.
- Wash as Usual: After soaking, wash your clothes, and Charlie’s laundry detergent will continue to work its magic, removing the loosened sweat stains and leaving your clothes fresh and clean.
3. Wash in a Powerful Detergent
Once the garment has been pre-treated, you’re ready to toss it in the washer with a powerful detergent from Charlie’s Soap to finish lifting the stain. Our detergents bind to residual stain, grease, and grime and then wash away in the rinse cycle, leaving you with truly clean clothes. To clean regular-wear garments, wash them according to garment care instructions in cool water.
Washing Athletic Clothes and Swimwear
Specialty fabrics like those used in athletic clothes and swimwear often require special treatment. For typical athletic and swimwear garments, you’ll want to nix the washer and go straight for hand washing.
The good news? You can still use Charlie’s Soap detergents. Add a full dose of Charlie’s liquid or powder detergents to a sink of cool water and gently wash the garments using your hands, focusing on stained areas. Once the stains have lifted, rinse the garments thoroughly, wring out excess water, and lay them flat to dry. Voila! Sweat stains are a thing of the past, and you’re ready for your next summer outing.
Laundry Solutions for Every Stain
From sweat discoloration to chocolate residue to pet stains and everything in between, Charlie’s Soap has natural cleaning solutions for every mess. With hypoallergenic formulas tough enough to take on the big stains, we’re committed to helping you achieve a clean, for life. If you’re looking for the solution to every laundry and cleaning conundrum, look no further. Explore more from Charlie’s Soap.
