Vinegar for Underarm Odor

I read about the risk of using regular deodorants because of the potentially risky ingredients they contain, so I decided to try an organic deodorant. Not only it did not work but I started having underarm odor even after I returned to my old product of 15 years. After I went online and researched underarm odor, I found a site with a reader's comment assuring that baking soda and lemon make a good remedy for this embarrasing disorder. I made myself a mixture of baking soda and lemon extract in a little water and put it in a dispenser bottle. I apply it every morning and it works. The odor dissapears for more than a day and I can now use the organic deodorant effectively. Since baking soda is abrassive and does not completely dissolve, I recommend not to rub the solution too much under the arm or any other affected area. Thanks

Your site for vinegar versus fungus would not come up so I am using this site to let you know my success. Toenail fungus. About two years ago I started spraying vinegar (I keep a spray bottle in the bathroom) on my dried toes after every bath. My toenails are now beautiful and fungus free. Inexpensive and easy and no side effects. It just took a while. Please tell that ignorant podiatrist he is misinformed. It does work!
Katherine Webb

My former job was working backstage for the wardrobe department in theatre. Actors sweat, and clothes that are not machine washable are only dry-cleaned once a week. Clothes get sweaty each day and smell.

The solution that I was taught and used everywhere is to spray undiluted white vinegar or vodka (the cheaper and higher proof the better) on the armpits and other areas that get sweaty. Once the vinegar or vodka was allowed to dry, the clothes didn't smell. It worked for the 15 years that I did it.

Vinegar for underarm odor didn't work for me, but Milk of Magnesia applied to the underarm area works perfectly. Also it doesn't sting even when used after shaving.

Pls. help me to resolve my underarm odor. I've tried already almost all deodorants on the market. I want to ask if the vinegar you are talking must be a distilled one or if I can make use of the crane vinegar used for cooking.

Don't use baking soda. It made my armpits' skin dark, and I don't know why. The odor was gone, but it left my skin so dark. Please recommend another remedy for under arm odor that works and does not darken the skin. Thanks.

I agree that baking soda should not be used. It does control odor but it severely irritates my skin and turns my arm pits black. I am going to try vinegar although I am skeptical. I have tried rubbing alcohol and peroxide to no avail. I truly hope the vinegar works.

Instead of using deoderant for underarms, I tried Listerine. It works for me.

I tried the Milk of Magnesia. It is a miracle! Works perfectly! The vinegar left me smelling like saurkraut and really didn't work (sorry).

I switched to mostly using a non-aluminum deodorant about 2 years ago and have been very happy; my arthritis showed a 50% improvement within a month. It's important that you use a natural deodorant that contains rock salt for odor control; I prefer the ones that also contain lavender oil. I only use an antiperspirant when I don't want sweat stains to show. It's also better for your clothes not to use antiperspirants.

I've tried something I read about in a travel magazine: in the morning I apply a small amount of anitbacterial hand cleaner (like Purell) to my underarms, and follow it with a light application of baby powder (cornstarch version). Works for me and eliminates deodorant stains on dark clothing.

I use 1/2 cup of corn starch and 1/2 cup of baking soda, mixed together and used with a puff. Works great for underarm odor if you're allergic to deodorant, or just don't want to use chemicals.

I actually have a question. I today, just went to my doctor about under arm odor that I have had for more then two years. He has no idea what to do for me so he initially wanted me to see an endocronologist. I called them and they say I need to see a Nuerologist. ???? So after the run around I came home after work today, worked out, smelled, got a shower, and looked for applecider vinegar.

I couldnt find it in my house so i used ride vinegar. then after 10 minutes I applied regular deodarant. So far, an hour later, i am smelling great. But will it last? Whats the deal with the nuerologist? Should I apply the deodarant after I use vinegar?
I would love to hear your thoughts.
Christina

i have been living with underarm odor since my daughter was born 5yrs ago, i was told it was hormones, however when i shower the smell never totally goes aawy, and sometimes i scrubb so much that my arms are sore and irritated,ive tried every deodorants,but to no avail!! im very frustrated, embarrassed and hopeless, i will be getting married within a year and i dont want that to be an issue for me. someone please help

People's Pharmacy Answer:

You may want to try Milk of Magnesia. Let us know if it works please. You are clearly a tough case. If you search this Web site for milk of magnesia you will discover that many folks have found a little of this white laxative on their armpits works wonders.

You can start taking liquid Chlorophyll from the health food store or pharmacy. A teaspoon or less in a glass of water.
It helps so much!!!! Digestion, glowy skin, natural deodorant, Liquid sunshine!

I have been using Apple Cider Vinegar with a cheap bottle of hair conditioner mixed together and poured into my laundry rinse cycle. No more itchy skin, no more clothes odor and NO MORE ALLERGIES! I have been mixing vinegar with a pinch of
baking soda and a drop of clear dish soap to a spray bottle topped off with water. What a great cleaner.
Love vinegar!!!!!!

I tried baking soda, but it itched a lot and did not work every time. I didn't get any rash though or change of colour of my armpits. I find it hard to imagine how could the skin turn black or very dark ... Unless you have naturally dark(er) complection.

Now I am testing home made apple vinegar. We'll see how that goes ...

My daughter and I have been trying to find an answer to this one lately...something natural that will keep us from smelling. The vinegar only lasted about half a day for me. I do like a rock deodorant I bought at a health food store but I can't use it every day as then my underarms get kind of raw. My daughter hadn't been able to find anything that worked until we combined two of the mentioned remedies. First we spray with vodka, let it dry and then use the Milk of Magnesia on top of that. Works beautifully! So happy to find something natural to solve this problem!

I decided to try the alcohol instead of the vinegar due to fear of the lingering smell.I am happy to say the alcohol as worked wonderfully for me.

My underarms become very irritated and itchy with regular commercial deodorants. I like Purell the best because it dries quickly and really works. No underarm odor. The information on these pages are so helpful. Thank you.

I have tried using zinc and it works for me -- under arm odor is caused by bacteria that's why Purell type products work - they are alcohol and kill the bacteria. Also vinegar is anti bacterial along with tea tree oil (which MUST be mixed with a carrier oil if used on skin ! Never use essential oil by itself !!!) zinc also helps to prevent wetness (you can use baby rash type cream) works great!

I am booked for botox injections to stop my underarm sweating. I was looking for any chance I've missed trying a treatment or product. I've tried it all. Carrying extra shirts, wet wipes etc has helped get me through with less embarrassment, but I'd like a break. I was also trying to find info on whether not sweating in my underarms would effect risk of breast cancer, lymphoma by reducing lymph circulation. Haven't found any major deterrents yet. Good luck everyone.

I too began using baking soda instead of deoderant/antipersperant. I have never had an odor/sweat problem, but two years ago I had my first child. Since then I have experienced an increased odor. Even after applying deodorant a slight odor would occur. Also, after showering at night, if I didn't apply deodorant, I would develop an odor later that evening or in the morning.

I began using baking soda each night (or morning if I showered in the morning) about 2 weeks ago. I haven't experienced any odor issues, but this morning I noticed that my armpits were really dark and covered with dead skin. They were also peeling on the edges. I didn't notice this yesterday, but I guess I could have just over looked it.

I keep a giant bottle of white vinegar under my kitchen sink and a small bottle in the bathroom to spray the shower so I guess I'll try that and some of the other suggestions.

i have a really bad under arm odor and i would really like to know how to apply the vinegar under-arms. ex: after showering, before showering, etc.

My daughter and I have the underarm smell problem. I have tried every deodorant. I have tried rock deodorant, aubrey’s natural deodorant spray and milk of magnesia. While showering, I now use betadine from time to time. After bathing apply deodorant. It combats the odor for a while. So, whenever I notice the deodorant is not doing the job, I shower again using the betatdine. Note: some people are allergic to betadine.

I don't know how I acquire this underarm odor but it really is a very big problem to me... also my 9 yr old daughter suffers from this odor, what shall we do? please help!

Hello...I am just one of many people who suffer from underarm odor, ever since I reached my adolescence. Too bad for me... it's really a hindrance to do anything in my life really hard. That I don't know how to solve it.. tried so many deo and anti perspirants.. and now driclor. I thought this will be the end, but sad to say its not. It irritates my skin a lot and I smell stinky. Please help me. I want to try that milk of magnesia but don't know if its available here in Iligan City Philippines.

I had bad underarm odor after stopping hormone pills. I found that my underarms were turning yellow. I also read about the harms of the chemicals in over counter deodorants.

I tried vinegar...no help..guess I have bad case.
I then purchased some Tea Tree Oil online... I use it diluted with water and small amount of scented oil mixed in a jar. I use cotton to apply. I guess you could use small spray bottle.

So far seams to help. I don't shave so if you shave I would test it first. Also the Tea Tree Oil works great on bug bites and small cuts.

I have a problem with underarm odor and wetness. I don't sweat so much until I get wet spots on my clothes but I feel like not long after I apply my deodorant that my underarms are wet and I get a musty smell. I have tried different deodorants and nothing helps. I am tired of this musty smell, it always happens, especially when it is real hot outside. Can anyone tell me what to do to get rid of this musty underarm odor??

Hi, I have a six year old that suffers from god awful underarm odor and something that seems to work well for her is lemon. I cut a lemon in half and rub it on her underarms no rash has appeared just light tickling.

I have tried every deodorant on the market to no avail. I have suffered from foul armpits as far back as I can remember. I've used dove, ladies speed stick, soft n dry, degree, ladies choice, suave, mitchum, ban,crystal, vinegar, baking soda, milk of magnesia, alcohol, arrid, adidas and certain dri. Certain dri was the best that I had found but there still seemed to be an underlying must to my pits.

I decided to try Listerine as I'd seen in some comments. I promise that this is the best thing I've ever used. I can actually wear it alone although I'd been putting the certain dri over it. I forgot the other day and just wiped with the Listerine alone. I was frightened that I would smell before the days end but I was actually fresh when I got home. For me to be fresh is something that just doesn't happen trust me. Listerine is the way to go!!!

Listerine...the mouthwash?

Hi all,

I have a really serious underarm problem that started a few years ago, maybe 5 or 6. I have tried every single cormorant on the market, including the clinical strength ones and even men's deodorant. In the shower, I wash my underarms and scrub even with pumice stones to get the smell out and I can never leave the shower totally odor-free. This is extremely embarrassing.

I can't give anyone hugs or hold the rail on the train without offending people. I used to dance and I would have to apply deodorant before and after. I still have to apply every few hours now and I don't dance anymore. When I get stressed, it's worse. The deodorant doesn't work and I tried the vinegar also. It worked for about 3 hours on one day only.

I don't want to treat this, I want to cure it. I want to be able to apply one a day, not be disgusting in a matter of an hour after a shower. Please, can anyone help? I'm so ashamed by this. I'm extremely clean and I can't stop the smell.

Thank you so much in advance for anyone that can help me. This is a really extreme case.

PEOPLE'S PHARMACY RESPONSE: YOU MIGHT TRY MILK OF MAGNESIA OR LISTERINE AS HOME REMEDIES. OTHERS IN YOUR SITUATION HAVE FOUND THEM HELPFUL.
BOTOX INJECTIONS CAN STOP SWEATING FOR SEVERAL MONTHS AT A TIME. AND THERE ARE SURGERIES THAT CAN STOP UNDERARM SWEATING PERMANENTLY. SURGERY IS OBVIOUSLY A LAST RESORT.

Can I use the white vinegar used for cooking?

I have been to general doctors and one endocrinologist and all he was suggesting was that I go to a dermatologist. I have hyperhidrosis, I am a little afraid of how a botox injection will affect my body but nothing else seem to work. I have read that sweat is not the cause of the odor but when it mixes with the bacteria from your skin is the cause of the problem.

Since no doctor can recommend anything to kill that bacteria, reducing the sweating is my only option. I was surprised that the people on this web site know more about solutions to this problem than the doctors.

I have tried most of these remedies with no success but for a few hours turnip juice seem to work for a short time. Squeeze the turnip juice in a t-shirt and rub it on your underarm and let it dry

I've experimented with several homemade deodorants -many mentioned here. I'll relate my experiences in case they will help people:

a. I first tried a simple powder of 1/2 baking soda and 1/2 cornstarch. The baking powder neutralizes bacteria while the cornstarch absorbs the moisture where odor-producing bacteria grow. I scented with some essential oils. This worked great for me and several friends who I talked into trying my recipe. In fact, it worked better than any commercial product I've tried. After a few days of use, I had absolutely NO underarm odor. I don't know if all the bacteria were dead or what. I bought a little makeup brush to brush on the powder. It was messy in a way but very effective. After about six months, however, I started getting rashes under my arms. I read online to reduce the baking soda in the mix and tried again. Still had rashes. I think the powder works well but some people may not be able to tolerate the baking soda.

b. I also experimented with mixing the powder into coconut oil to make a solid. I never worked out a viable product but others may have more success.

c. My old commercial deodorants gave me rashes. The new powder worked great but started giving me rashes. Cologne would work for awhile but really only masked any odor for awhile. That's when I read about using vinegar. I bought a small spray bottle and mixed in a bit of my favorite cologne and white vinegar. I spray it on and it works as well as the powder. There is initially a smell of vinegar for a minute or two until the spray dries, but then I cannot smell any vinegar. Pros: Works great. Cheap. Easy to spray on. Cons: Traveling requires putting the bottle in a ziploc bag or you may face a suitcase splashed with vinegar.