How to remove sweat stains
Updated · By the Luniva team
Quick answer
Use Luniva Enzyme Powered (the pink one). Spray it directly onto the stain, leave it for 1–3 minutes, then wash as normal following the garment care label.
White streaks or a greasy build-up from deodorant? That's a job for Pro Formula: see the deodorant guide.
Step by step
- 1
Saturate the underarm area
Spray Luniva over the whole pit area until visibly wet. Don't rub.
- 2
Wait 1–3 minutes
Protease active enzymes break down the sweat-aluminium bond. For old yellowing, leave 1–3 minutes.
- 3
Wash as normal
Run a normal cycle. Inspect before tumble-drying – heat re-sets any residue.
Yellow underarm stains are not really sweat – they're the residue of sweat protein reacting with aluminium in antiperspirant, baked in by body heat and the dryer. Luniva's protease active enzymes break down the protein bond in 1–3 minutes, lifting fresh sweat patches and old yellow stains without bleach.
Why sweat stains turn yellow and stay yellow
Eccrine sweat is mostly water and salt – it doesn't stain on its own. Antiperspirant aluminium chlorohydrate binds with the protein in sweat to form a yellow complex that bonds tightly to cotton. Bleach makes it worse; only an active enzyme protease will reliably break it down.
Fabric guide
Best on washable everyday fabrics
Cotton, linen, denim, polyester and cotton blends: clothes, kidswear, bedding, towels and washable covers.
Test first on delicates
Patch-test an inconspicuous area on silk, wool, viscose, leather-trimmed items or anything labelled dry-clean only.
Don't let it dry
Spray, leave 1–3 minutes, then wash. Don't let the treated area dry out before washing.
Check before drying
Inspect the area after washing and repeat if any shadow remains. Dryer heat can set a leftover mark.
Sweat & underarm marks: questions
It's the sweat protein reacting with aluminium in antiperspirant. Luniva's protease active enzymes break the bond – spray, wait 1–3 minutes, wash as normal, following the garment care label.
Yes. Sweat odour is caused by bacteria feeding on protein residue in the fabric. Removing the residue removes the smell. Spray problem areas, leave 1–3 minutes, wash as normal, following the garment care label.
No – Luniva is active enzyme-based and bleach-free, safe on dyed polyester and cotton blends.
Yes. Spot-test the underwire and lace first. If safe, spray lightly, wait 1–3 minutes, hand-wash in cool water.
If the stain wasn't fully digested, residual protein re-oxidises as the garment dries. Repeat the Luniva treatment with a 1–3 minute dwell time and air-dry in sunlight.
Based on controlled laboratory testing. Performance may vary by stain type, fabric, age of the stain and wash conditions. Always follow the garment care label and test an inconspicuous area first.