This question comes up frequently in the Cleaning Forum. There are a number of things to try. OxyClean seems to get the most votes. Dishsoap is another and so is vinegar.

It thought I heard something about boiling them with something... not sure with what though.

You may want to tell her to keep in mind that the problem area may be deodorant stains and not perspiration stains... they may need to be treated differently.

I've had success by soaking the shirt in Oxy-Clean for several hours. Then putting it in the usual washload.

I vote for soaking for a couple of hours in WASHING SODA solution (per instructions on box.) It's worked wonders on a multitude of stains on DH's clothing, bed linens, etc.

Suzi

I am a fan of Washing Soda also. I add it to the stinky clothes. I have 3 athletes in my house and a farmer DH - man their clothes are stinky!

The worst for underarm smell (but not stain) is the UnderArmor they wear. Gaaaa...that stuff holds on to the stink! Washing soda helps - and they tend to loose the stuff before it damages it anyway - Doh!

DH does not use antiperspirant - just deoderant. So he does sweat, but no stains. Check to see if the product he uses is antiperspirant/deoderant or just a deoderant.

Yes, I believe it's the deodorants that make the stains.

Biz is great as a pre-soak. I use it all the time and it works on all stains. I pre-treat with Spray and Wash, but only in the airesol can. The pump sprayer doesn't work nearly as well.

I saw somewhere, you put 2 aspirins in water and then soak the garment or just spray it on the stain....Haven't tried it yet.....

I use Dow Scrubbing Bubbles bathroom cleaner on stubborn stains. My housekeeper told me about it and it really works. Has to be Dow though, for some reason the generic brands just don't do it.

I've done everything listed above, and nothing works. I just throw his shirts away eventually and replace with new ones.

Are his t-shirts white or colored, Mickey?

It happens with all of dh's shirts: dress shirts, t-shirts-all of them.

White shirts (and white anything) can be soaked in a washing machine with about half of a big box of Cascade dishwashing detergent. I've never tried it on sweat or deodorant stains, but it used to work on my mother-in-law's school cook uniforms (food stains), my son's little league baseball pants (grass and dirt stains), and I still like to use it on white socks (that over time get grimy), white sweats, white anything that has a stain that won't come out. I've always filled the washer with HOT water and all the grimy whites I can find. Then I agitate for a few minuets, then leave soak a while (15-30 minutes) then agitate again. Do that over and over, up to half a day if you have time. Then finish the load and rewash as normal.

Don't try it on colors. Cascade can take all color out of some fabrics, just like clorox would. I've had it happen. Also, I have a new top loader now (since June) and haven't figured out how to use a dry granular like Cascade in that :-(

It's worth a try on the whites if you're going to have to throw them away otherwise.

I make a paste of Oxy Clean and water in a little cup and scrub it into the t-shirt armpits with an old toothbrush and then throw it into the washer. It works amazing for stains and odors. I've tried the boiling (with bleach and dishwasher soap) but it doesn't work as well as the Oxy Clean.

There is a new Oxy Clean spray on which is stronger. It lists things, like blood, ink etc. You might try that--or if you want to get to the bottom of the problem, take it to a good cleaner and have the stains analaized--It could even be a food alergy, meds, or something in the sweat glands. You could also ask the Dr. Just scrubbing it out is not going to make the problem go away.

F.Y.I on the Cascade - they have reformulated dishwashing detergents - and they don't work on laundry like the used to. I think they have taken the bleach out.

That was the best stuff ever to get football pants white - but not anymore!