Step 1: Determine if the stain caused by the deodorant is fresh or has been sitting for a while. If it has been sitting for while, like at the bottom of your laundry basket, it may have started to change the color of the fabric.
Hint: It is best to treat stains caused by deodorant as quickly as possible so this change in color does not occur, because that is difficult to impossible to fix.
If the deodorant is discovered almost immediately, you may just be able to rub it off the clothing. I recommend a foam deodorant remover for removing these stains from fabric. You can click the link for a review and video demonstration of what these little foam deodorant removers are designed to do, and also how to make your own at home.
Step 2 (Alternative a): If the deodorant has been sitting for a while you should apply distilled white vinegar to the stained area, allowing it to sit for approximately half an hour.
Step 2 (Alternative b): If it is a fresh stain, then you should apply ammonia to the stained area, and let it sit for approximately half an hour.
Hint: Be sure to test the ammonia in an inconspicuous area first to make sure it will not damage the fabric.
Please note that you should not apply both vinegar and ammonia to the stain at the same time thinking this would be twice as good. Since one is a low pH and another is a high pH, when combined they basically neutralize each other and neither one is effective.
Step 3: Rinse either the vinegar or ammonia from the fabric and apply a laundry prewash stain remover.
Step 4: Launder in the hottest water the fabric will allow to get out the stain caused by the deodorant.
Hint: Make sure the stain is gone after washing, but before you place in the dryer or you may set the stain. Repeat if necessary.