While deodorant stops any unwanted smells from ruining your clothes, it can sometimes leave behind marks and stains on them, especially over long periods of time. There’s nothing worse than reaching for your favourite top, only to find it’s gone a funny colour under the arms. 

Most deodorants contain aluminium salts, which actually prevent us from sweating, but it’s also these salts that can lead to unwanted stains on our clothes, especially lighter items. Although sweat is naturally colourless, it can appear yellow on clothing when it interacts with aluminium. But instead of simply chucking out pieces of clothes that might have picked up some stains, there are a few ways you can easily remedy this, and remove stains left behind by deodorant that's built up with a few household staples. Experts at the natural deodorant brand Make Waves have revealed a few cost-effective hacks to remove deodorant stains that can work on both new and old marks, saving you from chucking any clothes out. 

An essential ingredient in many kitchens, and often used to clean household items, from kettles, to sinks and ovens, lemons can also be used to help remove built up deodorant stains. 

Deodorant stains can be particularly noticeable on light, and white, items of clothing, and if you’ve got some built up stains, lemon juice is a cost-effective way to get rid of them. 

The experts explained that “the acidity in the lemon breaks down the stains and naturally brightens the fabric” helping make white clothes appear brigther and removing any yellow stains that might have built up under the arms. 

Simply combine lemon juice with water in a spray bottle to create a cleaning solution for as little as 30p, and spray it onto any built-up or stubborn deodorant stains before washing your clothes. 

If you don't have a lemon to hand, there are some easy methods you can try with an affordable cleaning essential. Often used to help dissolve grease and grime built up around the home, baking soda is also an effective solution for stains, soaking up moisture and neutralising acidic substances that cause them. 

Before washing, mix a 3:1 ratio of baking soda and water together to create a paste and apply this under the arms of your clothes to lift any yellow stains.