The buildup on my white undershirts gradually disappeared when I started doing long, 140F washes in a front-loader. But such a high temperature may not be necessary -- now I wear colored undershirts that I wash at just 120F, and they aren't showing any deodorant buildup.

Oh! Ugh! Pornography!!

The cause is likely a combination of factors having to do with your son's body chemistry compared with your husbands plus your son's use or non-use of under-arm deodorant. Regardless, the solution (almost every time) is higher wash-temps.

I'm talking 140F to 160F. Do you know what "hot" is on your machine?

Just to clarify, I meant a long wash at 120F...wash cycle alone one hour, total cycle time close to two hours.

happylady1957, what type of detergent are you using?

Like many have said...higher wash temps and longer cycles. For this issue, I use very warm (120F) or Hot (140F) in the Miele.

I swear by GERMAN detergents. I love Persil and Ariel. Since using warmer wash temps and GERMAN powder detergents...there is never any deo buildup. My clothes are always soft, fresh and super clean!

Thanks for the replies! My washer is a 24 year old Maytag that seems to work well. Actually, I am in fear of needing a new one, due to the terrible reviews of the "fancy" washers I see - I wouldn't know where to turn!

I've used Tide powder, but DS uses Purex HE at school. Perhaps I can see what happens over the Summer here at home. I'm tempted by the German laundry stuff, but short of mail-ordering it, I have no access!

It's the white wax in stick-type deodorants & anti-perspirants that causes this.

Have your son try roll-on or gel-type deodorant instead.

You could try soaking the shirts in HOT water with either Arm & Hammer washing soda or powdered Cascade dishwasher detergent.

If you really want to save a favorite shirt, you can scrub the spots off with a stiff brush after soaking.

Wear gloves if you do this, washing soda and Cascade are very alkaline and you don't want to end up with a bad case of "dishpan hands."

Alkaline = dissolves fats & waxes.

Gets out the gunk, but can really dry out your skin. Be careful. It does work, though.

Thanks for the input, Cryptandrus! It's certainly worth a soak in the Cascade. I quizzed him about the type of deoderant, and he said he uses a gel?

I've seen this and detergent and washing methods make the difference. I wouldn't rush out and buy a new machine for it.

Are you saying son & husband use the same deodorant? I'm suspect of Purex. It just isn't a very good detergent for more than light dirt. Have your son try what works for you and see what happens.

Next thing is your son is probably using a stick deodorant and laying it on way too thick. Should dry a deodorant that works with a normal application. That would help. I had some gunk on my t-shirts years back when I tried using Speed Stick. It didn't work for me. Now I use primarily Old Spice High Endurance and no problems either way. I also used Arm & Hammer spray (their stick didn't work well for me) but there too, a light application is better.

There could be another issue. School machines are likely not well maintained and probably don't agitate like they should so it's more important to get a better detergent. I'm a firm believer in the effectiveness of enzymes in a detergent, even to the point of adding some Cascade to the laundry as a booster. I used to do this regularly but now using the Tide Free, I just don't need it anymore.

Another thought, he could try some Borax in there. It'll help soften the water if it's hard and is a good booster too.

While yes, he should use a hot cycle if he isn't already, but being at a school, I'm skeptical that the temperature will truly be hot. So you're down to other methods. Not even sure if he'll have the option of a long wash either. So he could soak it in a sink of hot water and even boil some water (couple pots through the coffeemaker will help warm things up if he has one) and soak them in the sink with some enzyme products. Scrub them a little by hand. The issue is to break up the crust in there. Once it is broken up and he uses a better detergent, I'm guessing the problem will go away. But I'd still suggest he try some different deodorants too.

Miele's online stain removal guide says:

- Don't break out in sweat trying to remove deodorant stains. Treat them with five percent citric acid before laundering.

- Hard work often leaves unpleasant yellow stains on clothes. Treat these items to a warm bath in vinegar and water. Lauder as usual.

So in one work: acid. However, I have to say that I've tried both vinegar and a special deodorant stain remover, which was basically also some sort of acid, and the built-up on some of my items hasn't shifted. :-( Neither has continued washing in 140°F water removed that hard, waxy built-up. I think, ultimately, it's best if your son stops using antiperspirant - if he uses that. I think it leaves some sort of water-repelling film on the clothes, which becomes next to impossible to remove. Otherwise, he might try these "invisible dry" products, which don't leave residue behind.

HTH, Alex

Hope this adds something helpful: From a University Extension Specialist: Getting stains out of clothing:
She mentions deoderant.

She says to ' apply liquid detergent on stain, then wash in warm water . But aluminum or Zinc salts in deoderants may be impossible to remove.'

For perspiration: She says " apply liquid detergent, then soak in warm water with soak function for 15 to 30 minutes. Then launder in hot water safe for fabrics '

http://web.extension.illinois.edu/regions/SIfamily/more/stain_removal.swf

Happylady,

See, here's the thing: the new FL washers are like progressive lenses. There's tons of (largely) uninformed conventional "wisdom" about how they are too complex and too hard to get used to. Now, you know that with proper choice (and maybe with good help with the fitting/decision making) and an open mind most people can enjoys the considerable benefits of the latest technology!

OK, greetings from someone you gave very good advice to on another forum re progressives. Be calm about your propective need for a new machine. When it's time this is the place to come for help sorting out the options.

FWIW, I've been happily using FL for decades and I would never go back to TLS. Sort of like I'd never go back to bifocals .....

You've gotten good suggestions about removing the stains. Hope they work for you.

Thanks, folks, for all of your help! What a great bunch you are.

Liriodendron (interesting name), you are quite correct to sense my unease with the front loaders, and you can bet I'll be here for help when the time comes.

Wishing all a safe and happy holiday weekend!

There is one more possible answer - get rid of the deodorant. Now, I don't mean get stinky. Even college boys don't want to stink. This may be a stretch for college kids, but adults might want to try a deodorant alternative. I am deathly allergic to any deodorant that actually works and haven't used them in years. I use Hibiclens in the shower. After washing the smelly area with soap and water, rinse, then apply a small amount of Hibiclens to your hands and get it sudsy. Rub it into the underarm area and let it sit there for a minute while you wash your hair, shave, etc. Doesn't take long. Then, rinse off and you are good to go. It lasts about a day and inhibits baterial growth. It is safe as far as I know - they have used it in medical places for years. It supposedly works on MRSA too, so that is a plus for some people. Don't buy the small bottles - you can get a larger bottle for just a bit more than the small bottles and it lasts forever. Target has it, as well as other stores with a pharmacy. It is also available online.

As someone that does formulary for bath and body care products, I can tell you that most stick deodorants are made up of a fatty waxy acid, or a wax and a combination of oils. The build up traps in salts and other things over time in the fabrics. This is especially true if your son over applies the product.

To break this down in the fibers of clothing just simply use ammonia on the stains. Just spray in the armpits some ammonia and saturate the stain, and roll up these shirts and put in a plastic bag overnight and let the ammonia break down the fatty waxy acids in the formulary. Then just launder in the morning, and the stains will be gone.

I promise, this works!

I got the buildup with roll-on antiperspirant, not stick.

My husband had the same problem. He was using a gel deoderant/antiperspirant. I believe it was Gillette brand but was definitely a gel. He switched deoderants to one of the stick deoderants and we got him some new T shirts too so we could determine if it was caused by the machine or the deoderant. We've had no problems with the underarms in the new T shirts and it's been about six months since he switched. Sounds like some people think gels cause it and others think sticks. Maybe it's a combination of one or the other kind of deoderant + personal chemistry. So just switch types and then see what happens.

Found that gillette antiperspirant gel caused buildup on undershirts. Switched to a deodorant stick and no more bulid up. Not sure if the gel was the problem, or whatever ingredient is in antiperspirant (which is not in regular deodorant)

My dh and dd have the same problem and they use roll ons. I never heard anything about wax causing the stain. There is a new anti/deo out and bought them each one.
http://www.colgate.com/app/Speedstick/US/EN/Products.cvsp

My husband used to use Sure stick deoderant and his undershirts would literally rot out under the arms. I thought he had really nasty B.O. :) but when I switched him to an environmentally friendly antipersperant, what a difference! No yellow stains, no rotted material. We save money, too, because he doesn't need new undershirts as often.

I was in my local Dollar General the other day and there was a Hanes display with packages of white t-shirts with a free sample of the new Stainguard Speedstick encouraging people to start over with new t's. So far my dh & dds t-shirts do not have the nasty BO smell.

My daughter just removed the deoderant build up on her DHs undershirts today. We had tried several ways to no avail. She made a thick paste of Oxyclean and just a little water and coated the yellow underarms of the undershirts and left them overnight. The next morning she ran them in hot water and detergent, and they look like new.

xhappyx said: To break this down in the fibers of clothing just simply use ammonia on the stains. Just spray in the armpits some ammonia and saturate the stain, and roll up these shirts and put in a plastic bag overnight and let the ammonia break down the fatty waxy acids in the formulary. Then just launder in the morning, and the stains will be gone.

I promise, this works!

Well, I just wanted to let you know I tried this on an old linen shirt that I thought was ruined... and it worked like a charm! The shirt is good as new.

Thanks very much, it was very easy to do.