How To Get Sweat Stains Out Of Sheets

Heather Robbins
by Heather Robbins

Sweat stains are frustrating, and they can even be embarrassing if you’re doing laundry and someone spots your yellow-stained sheets. While this is entirely natural, you’ll still want to get the stains out of your sheets as soon as possible, but how?

To remove sweat stains from your bedsheets, fill your washer with clean water and add Borax and dish detergent. Run the washer until the soaps are completely dissolved. Add your stained sheets to the washer and let them sit for about 1 to 3 hours. Then, start your washer and add an extra rinse on the end. Repeat as necessary.

This article will talk about different ways to get your sweat stains out of the bedsheets. While they’re unsightly, they will lift! Just follow the instructions, and you’ll be good to go.

Can You Remove Sweat Stains From Your Bedsheets?

Sweat stains on your bedsheets are unsightly and embarrassing. However, it happens to nearly all of us. The bright side of the situation is that sweat stains can be removed from your sheets pretty easily.

You can always add a cup of Borax to a load of sheets when you wash them to help remove the stains. While this helps get light, simple sweat stains out, it may not work on the tougher stains. Therefore, you will need to add the dish soap to the mix for some more stain-fighting power.

The sweat marks are tough to spot if your blankets are a light brown or darker sort of color. Most mattress pads, on the other hand, are white, which can really make the stains stand out.

Fortunately for you, dish soap and Borax worked wonders. Make sure you have all three of these, as they work in conjunction with one another. Then, you can get started!

How Do You Remove Sweat Stains From Your Sheets?

Sweat stains are more annoying than anything, but they are still unpleasant. However, there are things you can do to get the unsightly stains out of your sheets.

Step 1: Add the Soaps

In the washing machine, add around 1 cup of Borax and 2 tbsp dish soap. Depending on the type of dish soap you’re using, you may need to use a bit more or less. But you will want to ensure you have the Borax; Borax is fantastic for sweat stains!

We strongly advise against using a vegetable-based detergent like Dr. Bronners in this situation. The best cleaning products are Dawn or Palmolive.

Step 2: Dissolve the Soaps

Allow the machine to run for a few minutes to ensure that almost all of the dish detergent and Borax has been fully dissolved in the water. This is a crucial step, and you want to ensure that the dish soap completely dissolves in the water and reaches all of the sheets.

Then turn off your machine and wait about an hour for the load to settle. Don’t be concerned if it takes a little longer. You can let it sit while you do what you need to do around the house.

Step 3: Soak Your Sheets

Start your sheets on the highest laundry setting possible to remove the stains from your linens or blankets.

Place the linens or blankets in the washing machine. Ensure they have enough room in the machine to agitate.

Ideally, you don’t want to put your comforter in with your sheets; you should wash these separately to allow some room.

Step 4: Restart Your Machine

Now, you need to wash the bedding to eliminate the sweat stains after soaking them for an hour or so. Start the machine after 1 hour and then let it run straight through. When you do this, make sure you set your washer for an additional rinse at the end.

Setting the additional rinse will aid in removing the sweat stain and any detergents or residues from your linens. Honestly, for all bedding loads, regardless if you’re looking to get rid of stains or not, it’s best to have the additional rinse anyway to make sure the sheets are thoroughly cleaned.

Step 5: Repeat The Steps

Take the bedsheets out after the machine has finished to check for stains. If the stains are still there, you can repeat steps 1 through 4 as many times as you need.

Make sure you’re using enough hot water and dish soap. If there are only a few small spots left, you may wish to presoak the sweat stain by squirting a little dish soap on it. After that, set it aside for five min before rewashing.

Important Note

The first time you use this method, you may have to repeat it twice to remove the years of marks from your belongings.

Usually, one session is sufficient to remove all stains. After removing the stains, you may want to launder it once more with ordinary detergent.

Can You Prevent Your Sheets From Getting Sweat Stains?

If you have sweat stains on your linens on a frequent basis, adding a small spritz of liquid detergent to your batch each time you wash them can help avoid getting worse.

This will assist in keeping sweat stains and body oils at bay. It’s simple and only takes a few minutes to complete. It’s an efficient and straightforward approach to eradicating unsightly stains.

We’ve found that a mixture of Borax and dish soap works well for removing sweat stains off pillows as well.

Do Sweat Stains Come Out of Your Sheets?

Using oxygen bleaching, Borax, or white vinegar, immerse your blankets in warm water. Allow them to soak for the night. Your sheets should be washed.

After drying out the bedding from the soaking solution, wash them in your washer on the heated water settings with the recommended amount of ordinary detergent.

Follow the steps above, and the sweat stains will most definitely come out of your sheets. However, remember, it may take a few times to really see the difference. Don’t be discouraged if they don’t disappear after the first one or two times.

Why Does Sweat Stain Yellow?

Sweat is made up of water, nitrogen, urea, salt, and sugars, and is colorless and odorless on its own.

Sweat can turn yellow when it comes into contact with substances like active antiperspirant components, liquid soap, or bacteria, resulting in tenacious yellow stains.

There isn’t much that can be done to keep sweat from staining yellow. However, as long as you wash your bedding frequently, the stains shouldn’t be set as deep.

Does Baking Soda Remove Sweat Stains?

Sweat stains and smells on garments can be removed using a baking soda paste. Before laundering, rub the solution onto the soiled region of the garment.

Allow the paste to sit for about one 2 hours if the discoloration is particularly stubborn. Simply brush some baking soda into the sink or garbage can before washing as usual.

You can use a toothbrush to do this instead of a scrubbing brush. This is more gentle on the fabric and won’t risk tearing or fading.

Does Dawn Dish Soap Remove Sweat Stains?

Dawn dish soap is an excellent stain remover that is strong enough to remove oil but sufficient for young newborn ducks, making it delicate enough for your sheets.

This type of soap is especially useful for sweat stains that are greasy and grimy. All you have to do is squirt the dish soap through onto the stain and leave it to soak for 30 minutes before washing.

If you want less mess, you can also squirt the soap onto a paintbrush and paint it onto the stain to keep it in a more contained area.

Can You Use Dawn® Powerwash for Stains?

If Dawn regular dish soap is okay to use on stains, then one can assume that the Powerwash is okay to use as well. But is this true? Yes!

All you have to do is apply Dawn Powerwash directly to every cotton or polycotton fabric to cover the entire stained area and rub it in.

Allow 5-10 minutes for the product to seep into the stain before washing. Do not wash again after reapplying Dawn® to the same location.

Can You Mix Peroxide With Dawn Dish Soap?

One of the most effective stain removers is hydrogen peroxide and liquid soap. They’re both great at removing stains alone and are even better when you mix them! This is the magic cure for getting rid of a variety of stains, including:

  • Ketchup
  • Mustard
  • Blood
  • Urine
  • Dirt
  • Grass
  • Red Wine
  • Sweat Stains

Mix both the peroxide and dish soap, and apply it to the stain. Make sure you completely cover it and let it sit for about 30 minutes before rinsing.

If you have white sheets, you may want to purchase the clear Dawn instead of the blue to avoid further staining your sheets.

Heather Robbins
Heather Robbins

Heather is a passionate writer who loves anything DIY. Growing up, she learned everything from home repairs to design, and wants to share her tips with you. When she's not writing, she's usually hiking or searching for her next DIY project.

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