Pit Stains? What are they & how to get rid of them

Pit stains - we've all been there (...right?). Whether you can see them or not, they're there. Unfortunately for most, they're visible. But even when they're not, we know a hard workout or stressful situation causes sweat - so how do we get rid of pit stains and WHY do we get them? 

Whether you woke up early to exercise, or you're headed to the gym after work, one of the worst feelings is changing into your workout clothes only to realize that shirt you grabbed (you know from years ago) has age old pit stains in them. Here's hoping today's not an "arm day"!

What causes pit stains?

Pit stains are caused by a variety of things and it's not just because sweat can be yellow. In fact, most of us don't have yellow sweat! Pit stains are often caused by factors we introduce to the shirt, mixed with our sweat: like the aluminum and chemicals in our detergent and deodorant. The more we wear a shirt without actually washing out the bacteria, chemicals and aluminum we introduced to it, the more the stain compounds and the harder it is to get out. 

If you've already taken the time to switch to a natural deodorant, maybe it's time to take a look at your detergent? 

How to get rid of pit stains

We shouldn't have to turn to the kitchen to remedy pit stains - vinegar should stay in the kitchen. After all, isn't that what laundry detergent is for? To clean all types of stains? Well, not all laundry detergents are created equal.

Traditional laundry detergents were formulated at a time when cotton accounted for the vast majority of the fabrics used in clothing. Today, cotton accounts for less than 60% of the fibers used in our clothes and synthetics make up more than 60% of our clothes. So while traditional detergents were formulated to clean cotton, they weren't formulated or tested on today's modern fabrics: HEX was. 

HEX is different than traditional laundry detergents in cleaning and protecting your clothes from pit stains. Not only are traditional laundry detergents not effective at washing out pit stains, most of them leave behind residue that can make the pit stains worse! Traditional laundry detergents don't penetrate the fibers to actually clean - HEX does. Most laundry detergents are only cleaning the surface of a stain, meaning it's not actually breaking down the stain at it's source.

As it dries, the HEX Molecule creates an invisible, odorless shield to protect fabrics against odors, stain re-absorption and other damage — like pilling, elasticity loss and reduced sweat-wickability.  If it's a REALLY stubborn stain, try massaging the detergent or stain remover into the garment by rubbing it together or using something like a toothbrush to really break down the stain. 

So while you may find DIY remedies like baking soda and vinegar out there on the web, give HEX Performance a try first. It will save you the headache and the rotten smell that comes along with most at home remedies.