The Laundry Tool That Makes Removing Stubborn Sweat Stains A Breeze

Stubborn sweat stains are the bane of anyone passionate about preserving their clothes and bedding. There are all kinds of products on the market proclaiming their ability to fight the toughest laundry stains (of which sweat is certainly one): from complex concoctions in fancy sprayers to a simple bottle of bleach. But you can leave these on the shelf with a single tool ... and a little liquid laundry detergent. With a laundry brush, you can remove pit stains with minimal elbow grease and a little extra laundry room time.

A laundry brush was among the first things Anne Bogel, the writer behind the popular domestic blog Modern Mrs. Darcy, purchased when reinvigorating her home laundering processes. "I removed lipstick and a nasty chicken tikka masala spill from my favorite ivory cashmere sweater" with a brush and some pantry staples, she writes. Why brushes are such an effective stain-removing tool is down to their construction. The large, ergonomic block is easy to hold, allowing you to apply the right amount of pressure to move the soft yet sturdy bristles back and forth over the item. This mimics the mechanical action of your washing machine, agitating the cloth fibers to dislodge tiny particles of dirt, oil, and grime.

Until the mid-20th century or later, most cleaning brushes were handmade by skilled craftspeople. Today, most laundry brushes you buy are mass-manufactured — though not all! That doesn't mean they're not good quality, though. Walmart has a plastic stain and shoe brush set for $10.00. If you prefer an earth and animal-friendly option, try this biodegradable Laundry Stain Brush from Molly's Suds, also $10.00. You can fill this $4.39 brush from Amazon with liquid soap or laundry detergent, saving you a step in the sweat stain cleaning process. Don't want to shell out big bucks for a fancy laundry brush? As shared in this Reddit thread, a hard-bristled nail brush may work just as well. An old toothbrush is a great option, too.

To remove unappealing yellow sweat stains with your new brush, simply add some stain removal spray or liquid laundry detergent to the stain. Scrub gently, then launder the clothing. If the stain is still there, repeat the process. A laundry brush will also work on avocado, baked beans, coffee and tea, deodorant, lipstick, and burn marks, according to laundry expert Patric Richardson via Mail Online. This is not an exhaustive list — test it out for yourself on whatever stain you find yourself needing to deal with. You'll soon be wondering what's a functional laundry room without one.