How to Remove Sweat Stains from Sheets

If you just took your sheets out of the wash and discovered that the unwelcome sweat stains you were hoping to remove have decided to stick around, don’t worry! Sweat stains usually don’t come out with just regular detergent, but they’re not invincible. We’ll show you how to get sweat stains out of your sheets (you actually have a few different options) so they look crisp and new again.

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Soaking the Sheets

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1
Fill a basin or sink with hot water. You can use a bucket, bathtub, clean kitchen sink, or any other container big enough for your sheets. Make sure that there is enough water to completely cover the sheets.^{[1]XTrustworthy SourceCleveland ClinicEducational website from one of the world's leading hospitalsGo to source}
- The important thing is to treat the stain before you wash it.^{[2]XExpert SourceSafir Ali
  Professional Dry CleanerExpert Interview. 15 September 2020.}
2
Add a scoop of oxygen bleach or borax to the water. Read the instructions on the side of the box for exact measurements. With a gloved hand, stir the water around to make sure that it mixes.^{[3]XTrustworthy SourceCleveland ClinicEducational website from one of the world's leading hospitalsGo to source}
- You can also use 1 cup (240 ml) of white vinegar for every set of sheets that you wash. While not as powerful as borax or oxygen bleach, it is better if you want to remove any smells from your sheets.
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You can soak as many sheets as you have room for in your basin. Some smaller buckets and containers may only fit 1 sheet. Use your hands to press the sheets down under the water.^{[4]XResearch source}
4
Agitate the sheets with your hands occasionally. Do this 3-4 times throughout the entire soaking process. Stir, press down, and squeeze the sheets to help clean them. Wear rubber gloves to protect your hands from the hot water. You might get a little wet if the water spills over the side.^{[5]XResearch source}
- Agitate the sheets at least once when you first soak them and once at the end. Depending on how long you are leaving them to soak, you can agitate them 1-3 times more at regular intervals.
If the stains are particularly bad, leave the sheets for longer. If the time is up and the sheets still appear discolored, you may want to soak them for a while longer. You can leave them to soak for as long as they need to.^{[6]XResearch source}
Make sure that you get rid of as much excess water as you can. The sheet should be damp but not dripping wet.^{[7]XResearch source}
7
Wash the sheets in a washing machine.^{[8]XExpert SourceSafir Ali
Professional Dry CleanerExpert Interview. 15 September 2020.} Use your normal laundry detergent. Set the machine to the same settings that you normally wash your sheets in. For washing instructions, check the label sewn into the hem of your sheets.^{[9]XResearch source}
- If your sheets are white or a cream color, you can wash them with bleach.^{[10]XExpert SourceSafir Ali
  Professional Dry CleanerExpert Interview. 15 September 2020.}
A dryer will quickly dry the sheets for you, but they may help set any remaining stains, making them harder to remove in the future. A hanging line will take longer, but it may be a better option for white sheets, which will naturally bleach and brighten under the sun. You can hang colored sheets to dry, but they may lighten in color slightly.^{[11]XResearch source}

Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Oxygen Bleach or Borax

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Most sheets will fill up a machine easily on their own. Furthermore, it may be easier to get rid of stains if you just focus on your sheets.^{[12]XResearch source}
2
Add borax or oxygen bleach with your normal laundry detergent. Read the instructions on the side of the box to see how much you should add to the machine based on the size of your load. You can buy borax and oxygen bleach (such as Oxi Clean) at a grocery store.^{[13]XResearch source}
- Do not use chlorine bleach (such as Clorox) on your sheets. Chlorine bleach can react with sweat and other bodily fluids, causing your stains to become more discolored.
If the stains are new, choose a cold water setting. Hot water could set the stains. If the stains are older, choose the hottest setting that your sheets can handle. Since the older stains are already set, the hot water will help wash them more thoroughly. The laundry tag on the hem of the sheets should tell you how hot the water can be for your sheets.^{[14]XResearch source}
Depending on your machine, this might be called a “normal,” “regular,” “whites,” or “cotton cycle.” If you have a pre-wash setting on your machine, turn it on to soak the sheets before the cycle begins. This will help get rid of the stains.^{[15]XResearch source}
5
Put the sheets in the dryer if the stains are gone. Only put the sheets in the dryer if the stains have been completely removed. If you still have sweat stains, run the sheets through the laundry machine again. The heat from the dryer can make any remaining stains more stubborn.^{[16]XTrustworthy SourceCenters for Disease Control and PreventionMain public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human ServicesGo to source}
- You can also hang the sheets to dry on a clothesline to prevent any remaining stains from setting.

Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Baking Soda and Vinegar

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Take off all of the sheets that have been stained with sweat. You can wash these in the washing machine using baking soda and vinegar. Do not wash your sheets with other clothing or linens.^{[17]XResearch source}
2
Add your normal laundry detergent with 1/2 cup (90 g) of baking soda. Read the side of your detergent to see how much detergent you need to add. After pouring the detergent in, add the baking soda.^{[18]XResearch source}
- This amount of baking soda should be just right for most loads of sheets. Because of the way that baking soda can foam and react, avoid adding more than 1/2 cup to any load.
3
Use cold water for fresh stains and hot water for old stains. Use the dial on your laundry machine to set the water temperature to the right level. If you are using hot water, check the label on your sheets to learn the hottest temperature your sheets can handle.^{[19]XResearch source}
- For newer stains, cold water will prevent them from setting in the fabric. Older stains are already set in the fabric. Thus, hot water will be more effective at getting them out.
Set the dial or buttons on your machine for the normal cycle. If your sheets have special care instructions (which can be found on the tag on the hem), be sure to follow those instructions instead.
5
Add 1/2 cup (120 ml) of white vinegar when the rinse cycle begins. Most machines will tell you when the rinse cycle begins by pointing a dial towards “rinse” or by turning on a light under “rinse.” The vinegar smell will wash out by the end of the cycle.^{[20]XResearch source}
- If you have a top-loading machine, open the door and pour the vinegar in.
- If you have a front-loading machine, open the dispenser on the top and add the vinegar.
- Some machines may lock the doors or dispensers while the machine is on. In this case, add the vinegar at the beginning of the cycle or choose another method.
- This amount of vinegar will cover most loads of sheets, although you may double the vinegar for very large loads with multiple sets of sheets.
6
Check the color of the sheets before putting them in the dryer. The sheets should have returned to their normal color. Once they are the right color, you can put them in the dryer. If they are still stained, run them through the wash again.^{[21]XResearch source}
- If you have white sheets, try hanging the sheets out to dry in the sun. The sun will naturally bleach your sheets, helping you remove any last traces of sweat. You can also hang colored sheets, but they may lighten slightly in the sun.

Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Bluing White Sheets

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Popular brands include Bluette, Reckitt’s Blue, and Mrs. Stewart’s Liquid Bluing, but you can find a variety of bluing agents both in a store and online. These agents will make your sheets whiter by canceling out the yellow stains.^{[22]XResearch source}
Since concentrations can vary between brands, always read the instructions before adding the bluing agent. Mix the water and the bluing agent in a clean bowl or measuring cup.^{[23]XResearch source}
Set the machine to a cold water setting. Do not add the bluing agent yet. Wash the sheets as you usually do. For washing instructions, check the label on the hem of your sheets.^{[24]XResearch source}
4
Add in the bluing agent when the cycle reaches the rinse cycle. If you have a top-loading washing machine, open up the top and pour the bluing agent in. If you have a front-loading washing machine, add it to the dispenser at the top of your machine.^{[25]XResearch source}
- If your machine locks the dispenser or door while the machine is in use, you may need to add the bluing agent before you start the wash.
5
Dry the sheets in a dryer or on a clothesline. A dryer will quickly dry the sheets, but it can cause any remaining stains to set. A hanging line, on the other hand, will naturally bleach and whiten the sheets, although it will take much longer for the sheets to dry.^{[26]XResearch source}
- Bluing agents can occasionally cause blue streaks on your sheets. If this happens, do not dry the sheets. Soak them in 1 quart (950 ml) of cold water and ½ cup (118 ml) of household ammonia for 24 hours before washing them normally in the washing machine.^{[27]XResearch source}

Expert Q&A

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Question
How do you remove old sweat stains?
Safir Ali
Laundry Specialist
Safir Ali is the Co-Founder and CEO of Hamper Dry Cleaning and Laundry, a startup in Houston, Texas reinventing the laundry industry. With over six years of experience launching and operating Hamper, Safir specializes in innovative ways to simplify dry cleaning using the experience from his family's business. Safir holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Management from Texas A&M University. Hamper offers 24/7 on-demand dry cleaning and laundry through delivery and kiosk services. Hamper has been featured on the Houston Rockets, Station Houston, the Houston Business Journal, BBVA, Yahoo Finance, and Innovation Map.
Safir Ali
Laundry Specialist
Expert Answer
If the stains are on a white garment, wash them with bleach. Otherwise, try to treat the stain before washing with a stain removing solution like Shout. Spray that on the stain, rub the garment against itself to loosen the stain up, then wash the garment in the washing machine.
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Warnings

Chlorine bleach can worsen sweat stains. Do not use chlorine bleach on any sheets that have been stained with sweat or other bodily fluids.
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