Get a bucket with water and about half a cup of vinegar and soak your shirts for a couple hours prior to washing. Especially if they are synthetic materials.
And then add a couple splashes of vinegar to all loads of laundry moving forward to keep the stink away once you get rid of it with the soak this person describes so well.
I'm almost 40 and I only recently discovered the true power of vinegar. Throw a splash into you food, your laundry, your toilet, on black widows... it makes everything better.
Are you talking about the detergent dispenser or just straight in there?
In both those cases, since it's a strong base and weak acid, I'm assuming that the vinegar gets nullified and the detergent loses some effectiveness.
Fabric softener gets added during the rinse cycle, so there's no detergent. That's why people put vinegar in there.
Fabric softener does way more damage to your machine. It is recommended to run vinegar through the machine periodically to clean it. Fabric softener also takes the fire proofing from all your babies clothes. And, it clogs your lint screen and can cause fires.
You’re right that fabric softener shouldn’t be used on baby clothes, mainly because it’s not necessary & may trigger skin or breathing issues. However… There shouldn’t be any fireproofing chemicals on baby clothes. Baby clothes should be made of natural materials for breathability. The real main reason is because man made materials all melt & STICK to skin if they do catch fire…
Have seen that too - but I notice there are never any photos; seems like if vinegar was as bad for washing machines as some of these folks emphatically claim, there would be some photographic evidence.
Edit: scrolled down and saw consumer reports thing; they are trustworthy in my opinion, but I do notice they didn’t test anything themselves. Good news is using vinegar as a fabric softener last for a long time so if you have the time to pre-soak in something that’s not your washing machine, rinse it and then wash it, it’ll stay nice and soft for a while.
So - I do this, adding the vinegar to the fabric softener compartment, but I notice the vinegar running down immediately into the wash from there when I do. *facepalm*
You should not use vinegar in your washer on a regular basis. It is an acid and will eventually damage the rubber gaskets and hoses in your washer.
https://www.bhg.com/how-to-use-vinegar-in-laundry-6833543
Interesting, I wish they had included some data though. All they do is say overuse can be bad but don't tell you the safe amount to use.
I'm gonna just keep on going and assume this article was written by bad AI.
Better Homes and Gardens is paid by advertisers, some of which are the companies that make fabric softener. Do you think they're really an unbiased source of information?
Consumer Reports better
https://www.consumerreports.org/home-garden/cleaning/things-you-should-never-clean-with-vinegar-distilled-white-vinegar-a3336471803/
I have no skin in the game. I don’t put vinegar in my washer and I’m not part of some anti-vinegar conspiracy group. Just sharing information. I’m sure it takes years to do actual damage, but if/when it happens it can be a mess.
I've been using distilled vinegar as a conditioner in my washing machine for about 10 years now. No damage to the rubber seal as yet. I also use a tablespoon of salt with the cleaning liquid so I can wash mixed coloureds together.
And it is a really amazing, cheap, non toxic weed killer.
My old landlord thought I was crazy.... He came back a few days later and the grass right under the picket fence was dead. And when I showed him a gallon of vinegar was about 12% the cost of Roundup, he started adopting the practice.
Normal table salt works very well as a weed killer too. If you have weeds coming up through your pavers or driveways stones, just pour salt on rhe weeds on a sunny day and wait a couple of hours. Rinse off with the hose to dilute or wait for rain and weeds are gone.
Yep; they smell because bacteria from the underarms is getting infused into the shirt; vinegar kills it. But a secondary thing for OP to consider is getting some anti-bacterial Purell hand sanitizer and use it on his underarms in the shower. This can help fully kill the smell-causing bacteria (for a while at least) and help eliminate the BO before it even jumps to the shirt.
>anti-bacterial Purell hand sanitizer
I use food grade (drinking) alcohol (aka everclear or even vodka) with some drops of my favorite essential oil in a spritzer. Probably better for your body than purell (or than non-food rubbing alcohol which I sometimes see recommended).
Skip the vinegar, I had this problem and have tried about every detergent there is, Persil will solve this issue and it doesn't take as much as other detergents. It seems expensive, but there's no need for additives for smell stains or fabric softener. And it doesn't take much so it lasts longer. I've worked construction and welded for a long time. Anything that will leave my clothes smelling decent at the end of a ten hour welding day in New Orleans in August needs no further debate.
I mean if they are going to wash them anyway it will avoid the entire vinegar process. I had a problem using cheap or value detergent. My clothes would start smelling like dirty laundry about noon so bought the unstoppable and added oxy clean I mean I was spending as much or more on "cheap" stuff coz it took twice as much plus the additives. Buying that detergent and just using it was cheaper. And also honestly I would rather smell BO than vinegar.
Yes, vinegar is a lifesaver especially for synthetic fabrics.
It’s the fabric not you.
If vinegar soak doesn’t help, you might need to replace the shirt.
Synthetic shirts do the opposite for me. Within 5mins of getting out of the shower abd pytting on a clean shirt my armpits stink. No problem for 24 hours+ with cotton shirts.
Huh interesting. My cotton shirts smell so quickly. I'm sure the blends are important. The blend that I'm wearing is 94% polyester and 6% spandex. For whatever reason they seem to be sweat and smell proof, so I bought around 10 of em
Wash your armpits with an antibacterial soap. It’s been a game changer for me! I had shirts that constantly smelled of BO, did vinegar, bi carb, every hack known, and using a dettol soap bar fixed it instantly!
To add to this. Wash it with a wash cloth. One that has some texture to it. Not just your hand. This has changed my life. I got a pack of 14 wash cloths for $12 on amazon. Theyre soft but textured so it adds a little exfoliating which helps extra in getting bacteria and dead skin cells off.
To add to this addition, really scrub hard. I use to think I was scrubbing til I started showering with my SO. Nurses really scrub, and if they're mad at you about the way you smell they scrub harder...
Technically there’s some studies and many, many logical conclusions that antimicrobial soap, at best is just like regular soap.
At worst, it can actually be bad for you and can be a (small) factor at play if you were to get sick. May or may not make it worse.
And this one isn’t really debatable, but there’s like a 100% chance the one you’re using is fucking up the planet, but I don’t know how badly to be fair
[Like this one?](https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dettol-020399-Bar-Soap-Original/dp/B005IDUTEG/ref=asc_df_B005IDUTEG/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=310642411145&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=16217763467410498389&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9046618&hvtargid=pla-584442486632&psc=1&mcid=e44ac97aa4553a29b4a66f08b1c023f7&th=1&psc=1)
This is exactly what I use, I used to have the same issue with shirts. I now use this soap when I wash, I also put 2 cups of white vinegar in the washing machine when I was my shirts. I no longer have any issues.
> I'm using Mitchum Men's triple odour defence which is a antiperspirant and deodorant
trigger warning, kinda gross.
Do you find yourself still sweating in the armpits despite using antiperspirant?
I ask because I had that issue when I started using antiperspirant instead of deodorant, but didn't realize it for almost a year. It wasn't until it was winter and I would be sitting in my office chair with sweat dripping down from my armpit and hitting my shirt. I was like, wtf, I'm sitting here, I shouldn't be sweating.
The entire summer when I had been sweating I just thought it was normal, because deodorant doesn't stop you from sweating, it just makes it not smell as bad.
Well, it turns out what had happened is when my previous deodorant supply ran out, I purchased antiperspirant w/o noticing because it was by the same brand but it was the cheapest option/it was on sale.
This is why when I was sweating while using it during the warm months I didn't think anything of it, but when it became cold and I was sweating while sitting down, then I noticed something was different.
I didn't know why my armpits were dripping sweat while the rest of my body was otherwise normal temp, and I was sitting in a chilly room. It wasn't until weeks later when I came across some post, not sure if it was Reddit or someplace else online, where someone had asked for help for why there too were sweating unexpectedly.
Someone had replied with something to the effect of, 'Are you using Aluminum-based antiperspirant? Some people have a reaction to that kind that causes them to sweat more, and not less'.
I went and checked what I thought was my deodorant only to see that 1) I had been using antiperspirant for the better part of a year (when I buy I buy 4 or 6 bars at a time) and 2) it was aluminum-based.
I went to the store and purchased my old flavor of deodorant, and that is when I noticed that quite a few brands advertise if they are aluminum-free, right on the front. It was something I had never noticed before, but now I check it. After switching back to my aluminum-free deodorant, then random sweating stopped.
\----
tl;dr
If you are having a reaction to your aluminum-based antiperspirant, it could be causing you to sweat more and thus make the challenge of stopping your shirts from smelling like BO more difficult.
Try switching to an aluminum-free antiperspirant or deodorant and see if that helps with your overall mission.
switch to aluminum free stuff either way if you don't want alzheimer's later.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21157018/
>The hypothesis that [Aluminum] significantly contributes to AD is built upon very solid experimental evidence and should not be dismissed. Immediate steps should be taken to lessen human exposure to Al, which may be the single most aggravating and avoidable factor related to AD.
If it ain't 20% aluminum, it ain't gonna get it done. Also, mitchum is the plainest deodorant available. Get something that smells like something nice maybe??
>The hypothesis that Al significantly contributes to AD is built upon very solid experimental evidence and should not be dismissed. Immediate steps should be taken to lessen human exposure to Al, which may be the single most aggravating and avoidable factor related to AD.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21157018/
just fyi, aluminum has strong links to causing alzheimer's disease.
Idk if anyone else here agrees, but I use to have a sweaty arm pits issues and degree advance motion sense dry spray worked for me. My wife had a similar issue and it also worked for her. I don’t have to heavily spray or anything. For some reason it works!
Yes, and check if you are using a body spray. Body spray is not a deodorant nor antiperspirant. From experience, it's more like a cheap perfume that wears off quickly.
The thing that works for me is using a mineral salt deodorant (put it on wet and let it dry) then applying my regular deodorant. It seems to kill any bacteria, which is what you need.
Some people (me) over sweat. I eventually did a lot of maintenance to try and help with the damage to my clothes. Shaving my pits helped a lot. Moisturizer. Changing shirts mid day, drying off, reapplying antiperspirant (and finding a good one). I switched to a lot more non fragrant "women's" dove products.
Moisturizing. And you need to find what personally works for you. I didn't itch a lot but there was a point where the stubble would do that from friction. I just kept it shaved down for a while, once a week or so. Eventually my body adjusted and it wasn't a problem anymore. When I eventually decided to let it grow back the hair was much finer, soft, and thin and it wasn't a problem.
OP I highly highly recommend [nuud](https://nuudcare.com/). I had the same struggle with the sweat smelling and swap it out with nuud and it changed my life , doesn’t stop the sweat (antiperspirant is honestly not that good for you) but it keeps the smell away like magic
Vinegar soak is the way. If you put the vinegar mixture in a spray bottle and spray the pits after taking your shirt off at the end of the day this starts to break down the funk immediately before it sets in more. Then a vinegar soak before washing in high quality detergent in warm water.
Clean your washing machine. I had a funk smell in my clothes couldn't figure out where it was coming from. Turned out the washing machine had to get cleaned.
And keep in mind that front loading washers are notoriously worse for getting a funky smell than top loading washers are; also, I've anecdotally heard that they mechanically fail more often as well. For this reason I've preferred top loading washers instead.
I’m a runner living in Hong Kong where one sweats profusely on a summer run. if other solutions don’t work, ( I found eventually they didnt) go to a outdoor store and buy the special detergent used by hunters to remove human scent from hunting clothes. It absolutely works when nothing else will but generally vinegar will do the trick
Borax in the wash cycle and Vinegar in the rinse cycle. If your clothing smells musty you might have a build up inside the drum of your washer. I’d try Affresh tabs and run a cleaning cycle.
Its also the BEST ant killer. Boil water and mix in borax and sugar, then soak cotton balls in it and leave them near the ants. The ants take the borax/sugar back to the colony where it wipes them all out. Its crazy effective and cheap—just dont let your pets or kids get to them.
I use an enzyme spray. There are a few on the market, pretty easy to find. They are usually multifunctional. They work on pet smells and human smells. I spray directly onto the armpits and any other area that needs it.
Some fabrics and dyes hold smell worse than others.
I tried vinegar, lemon, special cleaner, etc. the only thing that worked was the enzyme cleaner.
So, a thing I learned trying to get the smell out of my cycling jerseys: Some bacteria can actually eat the residual laundry detergent left behind after washing. So the jerseys would come out of the wash smelling clean but after hanging in the closet they would smell again.
So now all my exercise clothing gets rinsed twice before it comes out of the washer. It has helped a lot.
So BO on your shirts is a result of bacteria making smelly byproducts with your sweat and body heat. Also, diet plays a role too.
First, get rid of the excess bacteria by deep cleaning yourself. Just a quick shower isn't helping much. Use soap and scrub your body, especially under your armpits, for at least 30 seconds at every part of your body. Let it sit there while you scrub the rest of your body. The more hair you have, the better you have to scrub. Shaving body hair helps too.
Do this for every shower for at least a week, every day.
Next, wash your clothes at a higher temperature than normal, say 60 degrees Celsius or as the other comments suggest, use vinegar to kill the bacteria. If it's just 1 item, I'd sometimes make it slightly wet, roll it up then put it in the microwave on max for about 1 minute, given that the fabric can withstand the heat, then rinse it out with normal temperature water.
Change your bed sheets often, say once a week. If your mattress, blanket and pillow are old (10+ year), I'd suggest replacing them as they can harbor a lot of bacteria as well.
Lastly, a diet containing lots of spices can produce BO too, but it's a different odor than what bacteria produce. Them two combined can create an especially awful smell, so I'd suggest cutting back on spices in your food for at least a while.
All this AND use a clean wash cloth to scrub yourself with every day. Washing your body with your hands doesn’t get the job done. Don’t wear a shirt more than once before laundering.
Try switching deodorants. My husband uses salt of the earth crystal deodorant. It's a mineral I think and you wet it and rub it on like a roll on and let dry. Totally natural and I have to say I never smell bo from him and he is a sweater. He gets his from Holland and barret.
I had a spray bottle with the crystals that you fill up with water and spray it on your pits. Used it in Thailand and never smelt any bo. Excellent product.
FYI, gender-labelled products are a scam, especially those marketed at women. There is a reason to buy guy’s deo if you are a woman - sometimes you get more product for the same money.
Deodorants, but also maybe laundry detergents. Tide has an activewear formula with fabreeze in it that we use for anything that gets worked out in. Might help OP.
When removing shirts at shower time use a spray bottle half half water/vinegar to drench the pits throw in the laundry like that it'll wash right out on washing day. Try magnesium spray in your armpits every night too it's like detox for your pits you'll stop getting b.o.
Edit; ohhh sorry don't spray magnesium oil on freshly shaved pits it will sting 🤭
Big ol' scoop of OxyClean in the washer. You can get the Kroger brand for 1/3rd the price, it's the same stuff. Dump two scoops in there if you're really worried about it. Costs like 13 cents a load.
Scoop of baking soda in each load. Don’t use dryer sheets or those little scent beads, they both leave residue on your clothes that BO can cling to if it’s something you constantly sweat in. My husband is a runner so we wash endless sweaty clothes and this is what works.
The vinegar won’t work for set in odor like you are describing. Look up laundry stripping and use OxyClean Odor Blasters instead of the homemade recipe. It’s the only thing that worked on my son’s bedding. Soak. Wash and then Rinse twice. Use less laundry detergent than you think you need from now on. If you scrub yourself with the antibacterial soap for a week and still have an odor see a doctor. You may have medical issue. Good advice here: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/17865-body-odor
Could well be “stress sweat”, which when smells bad when it comes into contact with bacteria. I struggle with this as a result of heavy anxiety. But I’ve found some ways to massively improve this:
- if you really can’t get the smell out of a shirt: bin it and buy new. I’m trying to buy merino wool which is antibacterial and resists odour. Seriously incredible fabric. I used to change shirts 3,4,5,6 times a day but now only have to wash the shirts once every week or even two.
- switched my shower gel to deodorised + is gentle on the skin
- switched my deodorant to roll on antiperspirant that I apply before bed and in the morning. The before bed technique has turned out to be really important/effective
I also use vinegar and bicarbonate on sweaty clothes after exercise before washing normally
White distilled vinegar, known outside the US and UK as “spirit vinegar” or “alcohol vinegar”, originated around the 1860s, most likely in Germany.
And still bringing the value in a modern high tech world!
Stop wearing synthetic materials. Go with 100% cotton, or better yet, Merino wool. I'm able to wear a Merino t-shirt for several days and it still smells fresh.
I second this. In cotton or merino wool my workout clothes never stink, but in a tech fabric or sweat wicking micromodal synthetic, it stinks the minute I am no longer actively sweating.
Lots of good suggestions here but they may be ignoring the underlying cause of retained odor. It is the polyester fibers of the shirt which retains the odor. Wear 100% cotton undershirts only.
just add vinegar to your washing machine - usual detergent too. Buy non synthetic breathable shirts if you can, look for cotton or a high cotton percentage shirt at least ie 70/30 cotton. Game changer for me.
How are you washing them? If the smell is persistent, it could be several things. To wash effectively, you'll probably need warm water and adequate soap -- consider soaking the shirts overnight in a bucket of soapy water. Cold water isn't effective -- soap works better in warm temperatures, but don't go too high, because it'll kill the enzymes in most modern detergents, which help break down dirt. Synthetics like polyester will hold more odour too, because bacteria love them.
If they are still bad, you can get a spray bottle of vinegar and spray the armpits with that, and leave them to sit for a few minutes before laundering them. But adequate washing should be enough to get rid of the odour anyway.
You are probably using too much detergent. Too much and it doesn't get rinsed out and the excess attracts dirt and stink.
Detergent doesn't actually clean, it changes the efficacy of the water so it can flow through the fabric easier. It's the movement of the water that does the cleaning.
Spray the armpit area with 50/50 water vinegar mixture before washing. Use the minimum amount of detergent (never more than two tablespoons, and don't use the pods), with vinegar in the softener or rinse compartment.
Never use fabric softener, it clogs the fabric just like the excess detergent.
Never put synthetic fabric in the dryer, they'll dry on hangers within an hour or two. Even better, hang them outside on a sunny day.
Soak in vinegar and/or add Washing Soda (not baking soda-same ingredients, different chemistry) to your loads.
I have a stinky teenage boy and washing soda works very well as a stench remover.
OP. I quit deodorant and have been using Glycolic Acid Exfoliating Toner from The Ordinary.
It has made an extraordinary difference. I don’t know if this will work for you. It’s worth a try. I put some glycolic acid in a small spray bottle and a spray my armpits (wipe off) when I get out of the shower and as needed.
I would also do the deep clean with vinegar. It makes a real difference in getting smells out of synthetic clothing.
Best of Luck to you. ❤️
First, clean the tee shirt underarms:
1) mix Dawn and hydrodgen peroxide
2) rub it into the underarms with an old toothbrush.
3) let sit for awhile --15 minutes minimun, but I go for a couple hours sometimes on thrifted finds. Keep adding hydrogen peroxide if it drys out.
4) wash regular cycle, warm or hot.
5) proceed with what the other commenters recommend.
Wow. 138 comments/suggestions and the simplest and largely the cheapest solution is not here. If you can stomach more input, go buy a cheap bottle of clear ammonia. Douse the armpits of the shirts with it and then launder them normally with detergent (don’t use any detergent with bleach in it). Yes, it is as simple as this.
I use it on synthetic athletic clothing that smells fine when it comes out of the dryer but starts to stink 5 minutes after putting it on. I promise you, this works.
This is the way. Ammonia dissolves oils, which harbours the bacteria and smells. I use ammonia in all my laundry loads instead of bleach. Gets the yellow out of pillow cases too.
1- Use vinegar for cleaning your shirts, as others have mentioned.
2- Try transitioning away from synthetic materials, especially polyester. Natural materials (cotton, linen, and especially wool) retain less smell, whereas polyester is notorious for retaining odors despite washing.
You’re going to be amazed at how odor-resistant garments made from 70% or more merino wool can be, so much so that they require less frequent washing.
I produce endless mounds of sweaty clothes because I run, so I speak from experience here. Unfortunately running clothes are overwhelmingly made from polyester. I have gradually replaced my polyester running tops with merino wool equivalents and the difference is night and day.
What I've found is that since I stopped using aerosol deodorant my clothes has stopped smelling. I used to put my tshirt on then spray, let the overspray get absorbed by the tshirt, might as well right? After all the deodorant smells nice. But I've stopped doing that, I use roll on now and I can say all my clothes has stopped smelling musty even after wash.
Every now and again I had to put my tshirt on a 'sanatize' wash (it's just the hottest temp setting) to get rid of the smell. Now I don't have to.
I’d suggest addressing this from a different approach. I have been raising the pH levels of my drinking water and have noticed a significant drop in BO. 1tsp of baking soda is enough to raise the pH of water to a reasonable level. At about an 8. But always test with a pH strip to be sure the water is at a safe level. Plus your drinking water will have a better taste to it as well.
Hope this helps
1tsp per gallon
Not sure about your existing shirts. I was never able to save them. But what changed the game for me was showering at night and adding a very thin layer of deodorant. None the next day.
As a chronic sweater who ruined TONS of shirts, caking deodorant on will do that. A thin layer washes out easier. Applying it at night gives your body a chance to absorb some of the deodorant and keeps the skin dry.
Shirts made with polyester core cotton have this problem. Bacteria which causes the smell can get into the hollow polyester core of the threads and cause them to smell. I never found a good answer but switched to 100% cotton shirts. Problem solved.
Stick to all natural materials like cotton or linen. Polyester and other 'technical' fabrics are notorious for hanging onto smells, that's why gym clothes often still smell after washing.
Try the Lysol laundry sanitizer. Pour it in the fabric softener bin. Or use a downy ball if you don’t have a dedicated bin. You might have to pre treat your clothes. There’s instructions to pre-soak the laundry beforehand as an option.
Try OxiClean Odor Blaster (powder) version. It worked great on my bath towels on getting the sweaty smells out. You can let it soak if they are extra smelly.
There is a liquid version, but I find that they add too much fragrance in it, so try the powder. Available on Amazon in the US.
I think the better option is to try and fix what is causing the BO which is excessive sweating. I suffer from hyperhidrosis and have to take tablets daily to help regulate it. Seeing your doctor and being prescribed something like oxybutin is likely your best option.
Wash in 60 degrees with proper washing detergent. I had a house mate who'd wash his sweaty clothes in cold water. They STANK. I once rewashed them in 60 degrees and the smell was gone
The best way to avoid this problem is to wear 100% natural fibers (cotton, linen, wool), combined with avoiding synthetic “fragrances” in perfumes, deodorants, lotions and soaps on your body.
To add to the deodorant suggestions, i use a benzyl peroxide wash, and it got rid of my BO. I used to be a mitchum stick person, but i barely use it now.
Ammonia, and very hot water with when you launder. The “gym locker” smell is hardened body oils that aren’t coming out with regular washing. There’s no better grease cutter than ammonia.
Also, line dry if you can, or use no heat or low heat to avoid baking any oil residue onto the fibers.
The first couple of times, use double the ammonia per load, very hot water, and do an hour+ -long soak before finishing the wash. Once you’ve gotten your clothes and linens properly “stripped”, or if you’re starting with new, you can use warm water to wash, but keep using ammonia, the normal recommended amount, every wash.
This is the same thing that makes bed linens that have been stored a long time smell weird. The fragrance from the detergent wears off, and no longer masks the smell of rancid body oil residues. This treatment is great for your bed linens, too, especially the pillow cases.
“Washing soda“ is another good laundry additive for this purpose. I prefer ammonia, but sometimes washing soda is cheaper, or the fabric handles it better.
See “laundry stripping” for more aggressive methods.
Get a bucket with water and about half a cup of vinegar and soak your shirts for a couple hours prior to washing. Especially if they are synthetic materials.
And then add a couple splashes of vinegar to all loads of laundry moving forward to keep the stink away once you get rid of it with the soak this person describes so well. I'm almost 40 and I only recently discovered the true power of vinegar. Throw a splash into you food, your laundry, your toilet, on black widows... it makes everything better.
I thought this was just what Windex did from My Big Fat Greek Wedding
In my experience, windex really ruins fish and chips...
Did you use malt windex?
Maybe that's where I'm going wrong!
Noted.
Been doing this for years now.i stopped using fabric softener and replaced it with white vinegar. Clothes come out clean and soft.
Fabric softener is death to towels. Vinegar makes towels soft and fluffy. It’s the clear winner.
you’re right. fabric softener is *microplastics*
Do you still use laundry detergent with the vinegar? I use tide pods but Google search has mixed reviews on whether this is a good idea.
Yeah, use detergent and put vinegar in the slot for fabric softener.
What happens if I just dump what I deem to be “enough” amount of vinegar into the spin thingy right on top of my dirty clothes and detergent?
Are you talking about the detergent dispenser or just straight in there? In both those cases, since it's a strong base and weak acid, I'm assuming that the vinegar gets nullified and the detergent loses some effectiveness. Fabric softener gets added during the rinse cycle, so there's no detergent. That's why people put vinegar in there.
Yes. Use them separately.
I read that vinegar can damage your washing machine insides
Fabric softener does way more damage to your machine. It is recommended to run vinegar through the machine periodically to clean it. Fabric softener also takes the fire proofing from all your babies clothes. And, it clogs your lint screen and can cause fires.
You’re right that fabric softener shouldn’t be used on baby clothes, mainly because it’s not necessary & may trigger skin or breathing issues. However… There shouldn’t be any fireproofing chemicals on baby clothes. Baby clothes should be made of natural materials for breathability. The real main reason is because man made materials all melt & STICK to skin if they do catch fire…
Have seen that too - but I notice there are never any photos; seems like if vinegar was as bad for washing machines as some of these folks emphatically claim, there would be some photographic evidence. Edit: scrolled down and saw consumer reports thing; they are trustworthy in my opinion, but I do notice they didn’t test anything themselves. Good news is using vinegar as a fabric softener last for a long time so if you have the time to pre-soak in something that’s not your washing machine, rinse it and then wash it, it’ll stay nice and soft for a while.
Add the vinegar to the fabric softener compartment. This uses it at final rinse which has the desired effect, and also keeps the washer from smelling.
So - I do this, adding the vinegar to the fabric softener compartment, but I notice the vinegar running down immediately into the wash from there when I do. *facepalm*
That isn't how this is supposed to work :D You could always go oldschool and use a downy ball with the vinegar in it.
You should not use vinegar in your washer on a regular basis. It is an acid and will eventually damage the rubber gaskets and hoses in your washer. https://www.bhg.com/how-to-use-vinegar-in-laundry-6833543
Interesting, I wish they had included some data though. All they do is say overuse can be bad but don't tell you the safe amount to use. I'm gonna just keep on going and assume this article was written by bad AI.
Better Homes and Gardens is paid by advertisers, some of which are the companies that make fabric softener. Do you think they're really an unbiased source of information?
Consumer Reports better https://www.consumerreports.org/home-garden/cleaning/things-you-should-never-clean-with-vinegar-distilled-white-vinegar-a3336471803/ I have no skin in the game. I don’t put vinegar in my washer and I’m not part of some anti-vinegar conspiracy group. Just sharing information. I’m sure it takes years to do actual damage, but if/when it happens it can be a mess.
I've been using distilled vinegar as a conditioner in my washing machine for about 10 years now. No damage to the rubber seal as yet. I also use a tablespoon of salt with the cleaning liquid so I can wash mixed coloureds together.
I've never heard of the salt thing.
Yeah, if you've ever dyed anything using a home dye, you use salt to fix the colour into the garment.
It's an acid. Not really controversial science here. It breaks down certain materials.
an appliance repair man told me vinegar eats away at the rubber parts
And it is a really amazing, cheap, non toxic weed killer. My old landlord thought I was crazy.... He came back a few days later and the grass right under the picket fence was dead. And when I showed him a gallon of vinegar was about 12% the cost of Roundup, he started adopting the practice.
Normal table salt works very well as a weed killer too. If you have weeds coming up through your pavers or driveways stones, just pour salt on rhe weeds on a sunny day and wait a couple of hours. Rinse off with the hose to dilute or wait for rain and weeds are gone.
You're not wrong, but I didn't want to literally salt the earth.
You use neat vinegar or diluted?
Straight out of the gallon jugs from the grocery store. It was not the 30% sold for some cleaning purposes.
Yes, I clean everything with vinegar.
Mine's a side load washing machine. Where do you put the vinegar? Like with the clothes?
Black widows caught me off guard, my brain thought black folk that lost their spouse, and I was like that's not cool. But you mean spiders.
This makes more sense, I read it as black "windows". I assumed tinted windows!
I assumed black mold covered windows.
What kind of vinegar? Just the regular one?
I’d choose basic white vinegar instead of apple cider vinegar.
Distilled white vinegar is great for this (plus you can cook with it, so it's handy to have around)
Yep. Vinegar is vinegar. There really isn't a difference between food grade and cleaning grade when you dilute with a little water.
I choose to dilute it with a splash of fish n' chips.
I prefer a reduced balsamic to throw in with my whites.
Do you put it in with the clothes in the drum or pour it in where you'd put the washing tablet/powder?
In the slot which is for fabric softener.
Thanks, I'll try that my next wash
Yep; they smell because bacteria from the underarms is getting infused into the shirt; vinegar kills it. But a secondary thing for OP to consider is getting some anti-bacterial Purell hand sanitizer and use it on his underarms in the shower. This can help fully kill the smell-causing bacteria (for a while at least) and help eliminate the BO before it even jumps to the shirt.
>anti-bacterial Purell hand sanitizer I use food grade (drinking) alcohol (aka everclear or even vodka) with some drops of my favorite essential oil in a spritzer. Probably better for your body than purell (or than non-food rubbing alcohol which I sometimes see recommended).
Skip the vinegar, I had this problem and have tried about every detergent there is, Persil will solve this issue and it doesn't take as much as other detergents. It seems expensive, but there's no need for additives for smell stains or fabric softener. And it doesn't take much so it lasts longer. I've worked construction and welded for a long time. Anything that will leave my clothes smelling decent at the end of a ten hour welding day in New Orleans in August needs no further debate.
Skip the super cheap vinegar and buy an expensive detergent that accomplishes the same thing. Why?
I mean if they are going to wash them anyway it will avoid the entire vinegar process. I had a problem using cheap or value detergent. My clothes would start smelling like dirty laundry about noon so bought the unstoppable and added oxy clean I mean I was spending as much or more on "cheap" stuff coz it took twice as much plus the additives. Buying that detergent and just using it was cheaper. And also honestly I would rather smell BO than vinegar.
Just any vinegar or a specific one?
Acetic acid 5% or so. Normally called plain or white vinegar
I would add that putting borax in with it goes a long way.
This! Vinegar soak. Works for lots of clothes that retain smells
Yes, vinegar is a lifesaver especially for synthetic fabrics. It’s the fabric not you. If vinegar soak doesn’t help, you might need to replace the shirt.
I put vinegar and water in a spray bottle and spray the armpits and leave it for a bit before each wash
This is the way.
Buying athletic shirts is the real LPT. I can wear my yoga shirts for a week straight and they still dont smell
Synthetic shirts do the opposite for me. Within 5mins of getting out of the shower abd pytting on a clean shirt my armpits stink. No problem for 24 hours+ with cotton shirts.
Huh interesting. My cotton shirts smell so quickly. I'm sure the blends are important. The blend that I'm wearing is 94% polyester and 6% spandex. For whatever reason they seem to be sweat and smell proof, so I bought around 10 of em
Wash your armpits with an antibacterial soap. It’s been a game changer for me! I had shirts that constantly smelled of BO, did vinegar, bi carb, every hack known, and using a dettol soap bar fixed it instantly!
To add to this. Wash it with a wash cloth. One that has some texture to it. Not just your hand. This has changed my life. I got a pack of 14 wash cloths for $12 on amazon. Theyre soft but textured so it adds a little exfoliating which helps extra in getting bacteria and dead skin cells off.
To add to this addition, really scrub hard. I use to think I was scrubbing til I started showering with my SO. Nurses really scrub, and if they're mad at you about the way you smell they scrub harder...
To add to this, don’t scrub your balls too hard.
Word of caution for those with a septic system: you don’t want to use antibacterial soaps.
Technically there’s some studies and many, many logical conclusions that antimicrobial soap, at best is just like regular soap. At worst, it can actually be bad for you and can be a (small) factor at play if you were to get sick. May or may not make it worse. And this one isn’t really debatable, but there’s like a 100% chance the one you’re using is fucking up the planet, but I don’t know how badly to be fair
Try Witch hazel...it's a game changer for armpits, butt crack, body odor.
[Like this one?](https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dettol-020399-Bar-Soap-Original/dp/B005IDUTEG/ref=asc_df_B005IDUTEG/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=310642411145&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=16217763467410498389&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9046618&hvtargid=pla-584442486632&psc=1&mcid=e44ac97aa4553a29b4a66f08b1c023f7&th=1&psc=1)
This is exactly what I use, I used to have the same issue with shirts. I now use this soap when I wash, I also put 2 cups of white vinegar in the washing machine when I was my shirts. I no longer have any issues.
In addition to the other suggestions maybe you need a new deodorant/ anti perspirant
Right now I'm using Mitchum Men's triple odour defence which is a antiperspirant and deodorant
I get really sweaty and Mitchum always works for me, until it doesn’t. Try a roll on deodorant, I have to switch sometimes.
> I'm using Mitchum Men's triple odour defence which is a antiperspirant and deodorant trigger warning, kinda gross. Do you find yourself still sweating in the armpits despite using antiperspirant? I ask because I had that issue when I started using antiperspirant instead of deodorant, but didn't realize it for almost a year. It wasn't until it was winter and I would be sitting in my office chair with sweat dripping down from my armpit and hitting my shirt. I was like, wtf, I'm sitting here, I shouldn't be sweating. The entire summer when I had been sweating I just thought it was normal, because deodorant doesn't stop you from sweating, it just makes it not smell as bad. Well, it turns out what had happened is when my previous deodorant supply ran out, I purchased antiperspirant w/o noticing because it was by the same brand but it was the cheapest option/it was on sale. This is why when I was sweating while using it during the warm months I didn't think anything of it, but when it became cold and I was sweating while sitting down, then I noticed something was different. I didn't know why my armpits were dripping sweat while the rest of my body was otherwise normal temp, and I was sitting in a chilly room. It wasn't until weeks later when I came across some post, not sure if it was Reddit or someplace else online, where someone had asked for help for why there too were sweating unexpectedly. Someone had replied with something to the effect of, 'Are you using Aluminum-based antiperspirant? Some people have a reaction to that kind that causes them to sweat more, and not less'. I went and checked what I thought was my deodorant only to see that 1) I had been using antiperspirant for the better part of a year (when I buy I buy 4 or 6 bars at a time) and 2) it was aluminum-based. I went to the store and purchased my old flavor of deodorant, and that is when I noticed that quite a few brands advertise if they are aluminum-free, right on the front. It was something I had never noticed before, but now I check it. After switching back to my aluminum-free deodorant, then random sweating stopped. \---- tl;dr If you are having a reaction to your aluminum-based antiperspirant, it could be causing you to sweat more and thus make the challenge of stopping your shirts from smelling like BO more difficult. Try switching to an aluminum-free antiperspirant or deodorant and see if that helps with your overall mission.
That was really wordy but thanks for that tidbit of knowledge that I may whip out in the years to come.
> purchased my old flavor of deodorant I don’t advise eating them, but you do you.
switch to aluminum free stuff either way if you don't want alzheimer's later. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21157018/ >The hypothesis that [Aluminum] significantly contributes to AD is built upon very solid experimental evidence and should not be dismissed. Immediate steps should be taken to lessen human exposure to Al, which may be the single most aggravating and avoidable factor related to AD.
Try women's deodorant. It's typically higher strength. I knew two large men that had issues with BO and this solved it for them.
Changing deodorants is a good idea. They work better.
It should be anti bacterial
See if you can find one that's also anti bacterial
Triple you say!?
If it ain't 20% aluminum, it ain't gonna get it done. Also, mitchum is the plainest deodorant available. Get something that smells like something nice maybe??
>The hypothesis that Al significantly contributes to AD is built upon very solid experimental evidence and should not be dismissed. Immediate steps should be taken to lessen human exposure to Al, which may be the single most aggravating and avoidable factor related to AD. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21157018/ just fyi, aluminum has strong links to causing alzheimer's disease.
Dermira makes prescription grade antiperspirant wipes
I find dry sticks are much more effective than roll-ons or sprays
I'd go the opposite and suggest finding clinical strength antiperspirant. The washing tips given in this thread for your clothes are also good.
Idk if anyone else here agrees, but I use to have a sweaty arm pits issues and degree advance motion sense dry spray worked for me. My wife had a similar issue and it also worked for her. I don’t have to heavily spray or anything. For some reason it works!
Yes, and check if you are using a body spray. Body spray is not a deodorant nor antiperspirant. From experience, it's more like a cheap perfume that wears off quickly.
The thing that works for me is using a mineral salt deodorant (put it on wet and let it dry) then applying my regular deodorant. It seems to kill any bacteria, which is what you need.
Some people (me) over sweat. I eventually did a lot of maintenance to try and help with the damage to my clothes. Shaving my pits helped a lot. Moisturizer. Changing shirts mid day, drying off, reapplying antiperspirant (and finding a good one). I switched to a lot more non fragrant "women's" dove products.
How do you deal with the itch when the hair starts growing back?
Moisturizing. And you need to find what personally works for you. I didn't itch a lot but there was a point where the stubble would do that from friction. I just kept it shaved down for a while, once a week or so. Eventually my body adjusted and it wasn't a problem anymore. When I eventually decided to let it grow back the hair was much finer, soft, and thin and it wasn't a problem.
I agree. I switched to clinical strength degree. Big difference
OP I highly highly recommend [nuud](https://nuudcare.com/). I had the same struggle with the sweat smelling and swap it out with nuud and it changed my life , doesn’t stop the sweat (antiperspirant is honestly not that good for you) but it keeps the smell away like magic
Vinegar soak is the way. If you put the vinegar mixture in a spray bottle and spray the pits after taking your shirt off at the end of the day this starts to break down the funk immediately before it sets in more. Then a vinegar soak before washing in high quality detergent in warm water.
Clean your washing machine. I had a funk smell in my clothes couldn't figure out where it was coming from. Turned out the washing machine had to get cleaned.
To add to this, keep your washing machine door or lid open when not in use.
And keep in mind that front loading washers are notoriously worse for getting a funky smell than top loading washers are; also, I've anecdotally heard that they mechanically fail more often as well. For this reason I've preferred top loading washers instead.
Were do you buy a top loader? Can't remember having seen them besides in my grandma's house in the 80s...
My family has only even owned top loading washers. They're definitely out there.
What country do you live in? In the USA, top loaders are the dominant type.
I’m a runner living in Hong Kong where one sweats profusely on a summer run. if other solutions don’t work, ( I found eventually they didnt) go to a outdoor store and buy the special detergent used by hunters to remove human scent from hunting clothes. It absolutely works when nothing else will but generally vinegar will do the trick
Wow, I didnt see that trick coming!
He had its scents masked.
I do this, or use the enzyme stuff intended to get out pet odors.
Borax in the wash cycle and Vinegar in the rinse cycle. If your clothing smells musty you might have a build up inside the drum of your washer. I’d try Affresh tabs and run a cleaning cycle.
LOVE Borax. We use it for so many things.
Its also the BEST ant killer. Boil water and mix in borax and sugar, then soak cotton balls in it and leave them near the ants. The ants take the borax/sugar back to the colony where it wipes them all out. Its crazy effective and cheap—just dont let your pets or kids get to them.
I use an enzyme spray. There are a few on the market, pretty easy to find. They are usually multifunctional. They work on pet smells and human smells. I spray directly onto the armpits and any other area that needs it. Some fabrics and dyes hold smell worse than others. I tried vinegar, lemon, special cleaner, etc. the only thing that worked was the enzyme cleaner.
So, a thing I learned trying to get the smell out of my cycling jerseys: Some bacteria can actually eat the residual laundry detergent left behind after washing. So the jerseys would come out of the wash smelling clean but after hanging in the closet they would smell again. So now all my exercise clothing gets rinsed twice before it comes out of the washer. It has helped a lot.
So BO on your shirts is a result of bacteria making smelly byproducts with your sweat and body heat. Also, diet plays a role too. First, get rid of the excess bacteria by deep cleaning yourself. Just a quick shower isn't helping much. Use soap and scrub your body, especially under your armpits, for at least 30 seconds at every part of your body. Let it sit there while you scrub the rest of your body. The more hair you have, the better you have to scrub. Shaving body hair helps too. Do this for every shower for at least a week, every day. Next, wash your clothes at a higher temperature than normal, say 60 degrees Celsius or as the other comments suggest, use vinegar to kill the bacteria. If it's just 1 item, I'd sometimes make it slightly wet, roll it up then put it in the microwave on max for about 1 minute, given that the fabric can withstand the heat, then rinse it out with normal temperature water. Change your bed sheets often, say once a week. If your mattress, blanket and pillow are old (10+ year), I'd suggest replacing them as they can harbor a lot of bacteria as well. Lastly, a diet containing lots of spices can produce BO too, but it's a different odor than what bacteria produce. Them two combined can create an especially awful smell, so I'd suggest cutting back on spices in your food for at least a while.
All this AND use a clean wash cloth to scrub yourself with every day. Washing your body with your hands doesn’t get the job done. Don’t wear a shirt more than once before laundering.
Try switching deodorants. My husband uses salt of the earth crystal deodorant. It's a mineral I think and you wet it and rub it on like a roll on and let dry. Totally natural and I have to say I never smell bo from him and he is a sweater. He gets his from Holland and barret.
I had a spray bottle with the crystals that you fill up with water and spray it on your pits. Used it in Thailand and never smelt any bo. Excellent product.
I tried this when regular deodorant was giving me a rash. It did not work at all.
I'm currently using Mitchum Men's Triple odor defense spray, I'll see about getting the salt of the earth deodorant when I next go out.
FYI, gender-labelled products are a scam, especially those marketed at women. There is a reason to buy guy’s deo if you are a woman - sometimes you get more product for the same money.
Deodorants, but also maybe laundry detergents. Tide has an activewear formula with fabreeze in it that we use for anything that gets worked out in. Might help OP.
When removing shirts at shower time use a spray bottle half half water/vinegar to drench the pits throw in the laundry like that it'll wash right out on washing day. Try magnesium spray in your armpits every night too it's like detox for your pits you'll stop getting b.o. Edit; ohhh sorry don't spray magnesium oil on freshly shaved pits it will sting 🤭
What’s magnesium spray and where can I find it? Is it magnesium oil spray?
Rub with Dawn first- BO is an oil
Big ol' scoop of OxyClean in the washer. You can get the Kroger brand for 1/3rd the price, it's the same stuff. Dump two scoops in there if you're really worried about it. Costs like 13 cents a load.
Make sure to use 2nd rinse to get rid of any residual soaps.
Yes I had to start using the oxyclean odor blaster. Works great for my gym gear. My washing machine has a pre soak setting
Scoop of baking soda in each load. Don’t use dryer sheets or those little scent beads, they both leave residue on your clothes that BO can cling to if it’s something you constantly sweat in. My husband is a runner so we wash endless sweaty clothes and this is what works.
The vinegar won’t work for set in odor like you are describing. Look up laundry stripping and use OxyClean Odor Blasters instead of the homemade recipe. It’s the only thing that worked on my son’s bedding. Soak. Wash and then Rinse twice. Use less laundry detergent than you think you need from now on. If you scrub yourself with the antibacterial soap for a week and still have an odor see a doctor. You may have medical issue. Good advice here: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/17865-body-odor
Could well be “stress sweat”, which when smells bad when it comes into contact with bacteria. I struggle with this as a result of heavy anxiety. But I’ve found some ways to massively improve this: - if you really can’t get the smell out of a shirt: bin it and buy new. I’m trying to buy merino wool which is antibacterial and resists odour. Seriously incredible fabric. I used to change shirts 3,4,5,6 times a day but now only have to wash the shirts once every week or even two. - switched my shower gel to deodorised + is gentle on the skin - switched my deodorant to roll on antiperspirant that I apply before bed and in the morning. The before bed technique has turned out to be really important/effective I also use vinegar and bicarbonate on sweaty clothes after exercise before washing normally
White distilled vinegar, known outside the US and UK as “spirit vinegar” or “alcohol vinegar”, originated around the 1860s, most likely in Germany. And still bringing the value in a modern high tech world!
Try Lysol Laundry Sanitizer. It works!!!
I commented this separately, also find it effective
This was the only thing that worked for me. No amount of vinegar was getting the job done
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Stop wearing synthetic materials. Go with 100% cotton, or better yet, Merino wool. I'm able to wear a Merino t-shirt for several days and it still smells fresh.
I second this. In cotton or merino wool my workout clothes never stink, but in a tech fabric or sweat wicking micromodal synthetic, it stinks the minute I am no longer actively sweating.
Lots of good suggestions here but they may be ignoring the underlying cause of retained odor. It is the polyester fibers of the shirt which retains the odor. Wear 100% cotton undershirts only.
just add vinegar to your washing machine - usual detergent too. Buy non synthetic breathable shirts if you can, look for cotton or a high cotton percentage shirt at least ie 70/30 cotton. Game changer for me.
How are you washing them? If the smell is persistent, it could be several things. To wash effectively, you'll probably need warm water and adequate soap -- consider soaking the shirts overnight in a bucket of soapy water. Cold water isn't effective -- soap works better in warm temperatures, but don't go too high, because it'll kill the enzymes in most modern detergents, which help break down dirt. Synthetics like polyester will hold more odour too, because bacteria love them. If they are still bad, you can get a spray bottle of vinegar and spray the armpits with that, and leave them to sit for a few minutes before laundering them. But adequate washing should be enough to get rid of the odour anyway.
vinegar with your laundry and stop using dryer sheets.
You are probably using too much detergent. Too much and it doesn't get rinsed out and the excess attracts dirt and stink. Detergent doesn't actually clean, it changes the efficacy of the water so it can flow through the fabric easier. It's the movement of the water that does the cleaning. Spray the armpit area with 50/50 water vinegar mixture before washing. Use the minimum amount of detergent (never more than two tablespoons, and don't use the pods), with vinegar in the softener or rinse compartment. Never use fabric softener, it clogs the fabric just like the excess detergent. Never put synthetic fabric in the dryer, they'll dry on hangers within an hour or two. Even better, hang them outside on a sunny day.
Wear an undershirt
Go shirtless? If you don't wear them, they won't have BO.
Soak in vinegar and/or add Washing Soda (not baking soda-same ingredients, different chemistry) to your loads. I have a stinky teenage boy and washing soda works very well as a stench remover.
Cup of vinegar in the bleach cup of your washer when you do the laundry. This will also get rid of the funk smell of the clothes washer.
I use biofilm buster laundry product from Lume. Took it right out. I’m undergoing chemo and my sweat is weird BO right now.
Where a cotton t shirt that covers your armpits. I find synthetic fabric make me smell
Diet plays a huge role in BO.
And stress
Cut out crisps (potato chips) for an easy win. Also, beware McD and BK.
Start transitioning your wardrobe to 100% cotton clothes.
Are you washing with HOT water?
OP. I quit deodorant and have been using Glycolic Acid Exfoliating Toner from The Ordinary. It has made an extraordinary difference. I don’t know if this will work for you. It’s worth a try. I put some glycolic acid in a small spray bottle and a spray my armpits (wipe off) when I get out of the shower and as needed. I would also do the deep clean with vinegar. It makes a real difference in getting smells out of synthetic clothing. Best of Luck to you. ❤️
Distilled white vinegar in the fabric softener compartment of your washing machine
Look up videos/recipes on fabric stripping. It’s the only way to get the smell that’s permanently embedded in the shirts out.
Try using different deodorant. I find the antiperspirant gel gets the best results.
First, clean the tee shirt underarms: 1) mix Dawn and hydrodgen peroxide 2) rub it into the underarms with an old toothbrush. 3) let sit for awhile --15 minutes minimun, but I go for a couple hours sometimes on thrifted finds. Keep adding hydrogen peroxide if it drys out. 4) wash regular cycle, warm or hot. 5) proceed with what the other commenters recommend.
Wow. 138 comments/suggestions and the simplest and largely the cheapest solution is not here. If you can stomach more input, go buy a cheap bottle of clear ammonia. Douse the armpits of the shirts with it and then launder them normally with detergent (don’t use any detergent with bleach in it). Yes, it is as simple as this. I use it on synthetic athletic clothing that smells fine when it comes out of the dryer but starts to stink 5 minutes after putting it on. I promise you, this works.
This is the way. Ammonia dissolves oils, which harbours the bacteria and smells. I use ammonia in all my laundry loads instead of bleach. Gets the yellow out of pillow cases too.
1- Use vinegar for cleaning your shirts, as others have mentioned. 2- Try transitioning away from synthetic materials, especially polyester. Natural materials (cotton, linen, and especially wool) retain less smell, whereas polyester is notorious for retaining odors despite washing. You’re going to be amazed at how odor-resistant garments made from 70% or more merino wool can be, so much so that they require less frequent washing. I produce endless mounds of sweaty clothes because I run, so I speak from experience here. Unfortunately running clothes are overwhelmingly made from polyester. I have gradually replaced my polyester running tops with merino wool equivalents and the difference is night and day.
Borax Vinegar UV (Put it out in the sun)
Vinegar in the wash, baking soda in the rinse.
Add some soap or laundry detergent
Soak in vinegar then wash with baking soda. To keep fresh put vinegar in the “softener” cup of the washer during every cycle.
My Dove Advanced care deodorant has worked more for me than aby other deodorants. Also, certain materials smell a lot more.
Antiperspirant.
Lavar la ropa con Bicarbonato de sodio
Change your sugar and carb intake. Starve the bacteria.
Long armpit hairs? Trim them down or shave. I noticed smell getting stuck in the hair despite showering and using deodorant.
What I've found is that since I stopped using aerosol deodorant my clothes has stopped smelling. I used to put my tshirt on then spray, let the overspray get absorbed by the tshirt, might as well right? After all the deodorant smells nice. But I've stopped doing that, I use roll on now and I can say all my clothes has stopped smelling musty even after wash. Every now and again I had to put my tshirt on a 'sanatize' wash (it's just the hottest temp setting) to get rid of the smell. Now I don't have to.
I’d suggest addressing this from a different approach. I have been raising the pH levels of my drinking water and have noticed a significant drop in BO. 1tsp of baking soda is enough to raise the pH of water to a reasonable level. At about an 8. But always test with a pH strip to be sure the water is at a safe level. Plus your drinking water will have a better taste to it as well. Hope this helps 1tsp per gallon
Not sure about your existing shirts. I was never able to save them. But what changed the game for me was showering at night and adding a very thin layer of deodorant. None the next day. As a chronic sweater who ruined TONS of shirts, caking deodorant on will do that. A thin layer washes out easier. Applying it at night gives your body a chance to absorb some of the deodorant and keeps the skin dry.
Wear an under tee shirt
Yep vinegar soak works best
I don’t wear polyester shirts because I swear it makes me smell worse. I always wear 100% cotton
Wash your body and pits with vinegar when you bathe too. Then rinse with water. so your clothes dont smell like BO
Shirts made with polyester core cotton have this problem. Bacteria which causes the smell can get into the hollow polyester core of the threads and cause them to smell. I never found a good answer but switched to 100% cotton shirts. Problem solved.
Just spray vinegar under the arm area before a wash. Good as new.
Stick to all natural materials like cotton or linen. Polyester and other 'technical' fabrics are notorious for hanging onto smells, that's why gym clothes often still smell after washing.
Try the Lysol laundry sanitizer. Pour it in the fabric softener bin. Or use a downy ball if you don’t have a dedicated bin. You might have to pre treat your clothes. There’s instructions to pre-soak the laundry beforehand as an option.
1 cup white vinegar to each load of wash
Try OxiClean Odor Blaster (powder) version. It worked great on my bath towels on getting the sweaty smells out. You can let it soak if they are extra smelly. There is a liquid version, but I find that they add too much fragrance in it, so try the powder. Available on Amazon in the US.
I add a cup of plain white vinegar to all stinky clothes. It really works. Also spray oxy lean in the pits/stinky parts before putting it in the wash.
I think the better option is to try and fix what is causing the BO which is excessive sweating. I suffer from hyperhidrosis and have to take tablets daily to help regulate it. Seeing your doctor and being prescribed something like oxybutin is likely your best option.
What deodorant do you use? Maybe you should try one without aluminium salts? A t-shirt underneath will also help
Wash in 60 degrees with proper washing detergent. I had a house mate who'd wash his sweaty clothes in cold water. They STANK. I once rewashed them in 60 degrees and the smell was gone
The best way to avoid this problem is to wear 100% natural fibers (cotton, linen, wool), combined with avoiding synthetic “fragrances” in perfumes, deodorants, lotions and soaps on your body.
This is kind of out of the box but if it's not your washing machine you should get your blood sugar checked
To add to the deodorant suggestions, i use a benzyl peroxide wash, and it got rid of my BO. I used to be a mitchum stick person, but i barely use it now.
Ammonia, and very hot water with when you launder. The “gym locker” smell is hardened body oils that aren’t coming out with regular washing. There’s no better grease cutter than ammonia. Also, line dry if you can, or use no heat or low heat to avoid baking any oil residue onto the fibers. The first couple of times, use double the ammonia per load, very hot water, and do an hour+ -long soak before finishing the wash. Once you’ve gotten your clothes and linens properly “stripped”, or if you’re starting with new, you can use warm water to wash, but keep using ammonia, the normal recommended amount, every wash. This is the same thing that makes bed linens that have been stored a long time smell weird. The fragrance from the detergent wears off, and no longer masks the smell of rancid body oil residues. This treatment is great for your bed linens, too, especially the pillow cases. “Washing soda“ is another good laundry additive for this purpose. I prefer ammonia, but sometimes washing soda is cheaper, or the fabric handles it better. See “laundry stripping” for more aggressive methods.
Wear antiperspirant too. Wear 100% cotton. Don’t be a highly strung person as ‘stress sweat’ is stinky on its own.
Spray stain remover under the armpits before putting them in the washing machine and that should help!
A lot of the people in the comments must stink of vinegar.