Sweat and White Shirts – How the Undershirt Saves the Day

Short answer: A thin vest in bamboo viscose is the most effective defence against perspiration marks on white shirts. It takes up and spreads the moisture before it reaches the shirt, and the smooth fibres also hold back the bacteria that create odour during the day.

Why white shirts are so exposed

White shirts show everything: wet patches under the arms, yellow deposits after many washes and transparency at the slightest moisture. The problem is not the shirt, but that perspiration hits it directly. With a middle layer it never gets there. Have a look at the bamboo vests for men.

What actually creates the mark

The yellow rings under the arms are rarely caused by perspiration alone. It is the combination of perspiration and the aluminium salts in deodorant that binds to the fibres and turns yellow over time. That is why it helps both to let the deodorant dry and to keep moisture off the fabric.

The vest as a middle layer

A vest takes up moisture where it appears and spreads it over a larger area so it can evaporate. The shirt never gets a wet patch under the arm, and you can change the vest halfway through the day instead of having to change the whole shirt when a meeting runs long.

Why bamboo works better than cotton

A cotton vest soaks up perspiration but holds on to it, so you walk around with a wet layer against the body. Bamboo viscose takes the moisture into the fibre, carries it on and dries faster. The same difference applies to the bamboo T-shirts for men many people use the same way.

Colour and fit

The vest has to sit close, otherwise it folds under the shirt and shows as ridges. Choose grey or skin tone rather than white, because white has the greatest contrast against the skin and shows most clearly through thin white fabric. A deep neckline keeps the vest hidden in an open collar.

Three habits that work

Let the deodorant dry completely before you put the shirt on. Change the vest every day, so the bacteria never get a hold. And hang the shirt up to air instead of folding it straight away if it is to be worn again before washing. Three small habits, no cost.

Washing the white shirt

Wash white shirts at 40 degrees with a detergent containing oxygen based bleach, and leave out fabric softener, which binds residues into the fibres. The vest, on the other hand, is washed at 30 degrees, because bamboo viscose does not take kindly to high heat. The two belong in separate loads.

When the mark is already there

Yellow rings can often be drawn out by soaking the shirt for a few hours in lukewarm water with oxygen bleach before a normal wash. It works best while the mark is fresh. If the ring has turned stiff and dark after many washes, the shirt is usually better kept for rough work. See also bamboo and temperature regulation.

Frequently asked questions

Does a vest help against odour in the shirt?

Yes. The perspiration never reaches the fabric, and bamboo viscose holds back the bacteria that turn perspiration into odour, so the shirt lasts longer between washes.