Removing sweat SMELL from clothes than can’t be washed hot

[Pollyanna9]

Hope you've got some good tips!

Let me start by being clear about the issue I’m looking for help on as I don't need any help with sweat marks under armpits, it's purely a solution for clothes that you can’t wash on a really hot wash that I’m interested in.

The scenario where you wash them and they smell fine but when you’ve had them on not for very long the next time you wear them, lo and behold the sweaty aroma starts to waft and you feel instantly like a right old mucky pup (when in fact you are clean and always use a good deodorant/anti-perspirant).

I would just like to be able to wash my clothes knowing that if they did get a bit sweaty, that they won’t smell of sweat the moment I put them on again when I pick them out fresh from the cupboard!

So I need something for:

• removing the sweat SMELL, not stains
  
• colour safe on man-made fabrics
  
• something that I’d apply to the armpits say 15 minutes before doing the washing and that would do the trick even on a lower temp wash
  
• happy also to add something to the rinse cycle as well as if needed.
  

I know there’s all sorts of solutions around such as bicarb, white vinegar and hydrogen peroxide to name but three – I just want to be sure I don’t go ahead and use them only to find I’ve got white armpits because all the colour’s come out of my (not) posh Primark clothes!!

[IDismyname]

I use some stuff I get in Sainsburys called Halo. Its in a silver bottle in the washing powder section - costs about £4 - and gets my smelly sweaty gym kit clean - and smelling clean, too.

Its a sports wash which wipes out the bacteria that 'live' in our sweaty clothes.

HTH

[CakeUpWall]

Yep, Halo is good. Tesco also do an own-brand sports wash that kills the whiff-producing bacteria.

I tend to just use Dettol laundry cleanser nowadays - this is really effective. Iirc the instructions say to put it in the fabric conditioner dispenser, but if I'm washing particularly stinky stuff then I double up and put it in with the detergent too.

[DubiousCredentials]

I just drizzle a bit of white or malt if I've run out of white vinegar on the pits then wash as norm.

[Pollyanna9]

Oh ok that's a couple of good ideas for me to try - thank you.

[Fluffycloudland77]

I use disinfectant on the area for 20 minutes before washing, I've had the same problem on my tops.

[Pollyanna9]

Has it stripped colour Fluffy or was it ok? Which disinfectant - didn't 'contaminate' the whole wash with a disinfectanty smell then??

[Bloopbleep]

Bicarbonate of soda in the washing machine should remove the smells but dailingnthat I was recommended zoflora which also works brilliantly!

[ArseyTussle]

I had a thread about this recently, and people recommended Halo on that. I've been using the Tesco own brand antibacterial liquid stuff that you put in the rinse compartment and it works a treat but I don't really like the smell.

[Fluffycloudland77]

It's smart price disinfectant. Most of the smell washes out.

I've also used vinegar warmed in a pan but it makes the kitchen smell.

[TheDuchessOfKidderminster]

I use the Dettol stuff in DP's work shirts, which are mase if that stuff that 'wicks away' sweat from your skin and starts to smell horrid after a while. I also use it on DS2's nappies and have definitely noticed the difference when I've run out. The Aldi equivalent was just as good (not sure it is available all the time though). I've never heard of Halo, would that also work on nappies?

[Fozzleyplum]

I use a sports kit washing liquid-I buy it in bulk from Amazon.

[Pollyanna9]

Right, I'm going to conduct an experiment using my Primark shirt-and-jumper-in-one top as the test item. Just wet it under the pits and sprinkled with bicarbonate of soda and am leaving to soak in/do it's work as a pre-wash stench remover. I've left it on for X minutes. I shall be wearing this top next week and will report on any re-emergence of aroma.

[MikeUniformMike]

I soak clothes in water with disinfectant. The sort that doesn't smell like disinfectant (not pine, Dettol etc), then wash as normal.

[IlPorcupinoNilSodomyEst]

Ace bleach is excellent, doesn't bleach the clothes but it bubbles so you feel it's doing something when you spray it on the sweaty bits! I like the smell too, it's not too bleachy. Very good for stinky armpits.

[Pollyanna9]

Ace bleach - sounds - ace! Who stocks it/where do you get it from? I think I'll make a spray bottle up that I can pit-blast with. What fun!

[CointreauVersial]

I use Tesco Expert Sports & Workwear Wash. It's a liquid; I squish a bit of neat liquid onto the pits of the clothing before I wash it (and add it to the wash).

It's the only thing that takes the pong out of sweaty sports tops.

[TheTroutofNoCraic]

Another vote for a soak in white vinegar and water before washing. Always works for me on my husbands rank cricket gear. (The grass stains are an entirely different matter!)

[Pollyanna9]

Thanks all, I'm going to test one by one and see which one(s) work.

Before I start wearing the close-fitting dresses I got for work recently - I don't want to wear them once then find they stink forever thereafter - it's such a waste of new clothes (that I have to keep on wearing because I can't just throw them away, but then it's minging to smell that sweaty aroma).

[IlPorcupinoNilSodomyEst]

Got Ace in Sainsbury's today. It can be hard to find, don't think Tesco has it.

[Pollyanna9]

I'll see if I can find Ace or I might make a spray bottle up of bicarb and vinegar. But I must await the results of experiment number 1 first - splodging on water and bicarb mixture to the armpits of my 2in1 jumper! It did feel fresher at work today but I'll have to see how we go.

[LordPeterWimsey]

Cheap vodka in a spray bottle also works (also good on dry clean only stuff). I bought a plant sprayer for £1 and use it on my work suits.

[Pollyanna9]

Very risky LordPeter - not sure it would make it to the armpits!!!

[LightastheBreeze]

I use Halo recommended above, I ordered from Wiggle as I didn't know Sainsburys sold it. I bought 2 bottles to get free delivery, it sweetens up DH's very smelly sports kit

[Pollyanna9]

Thank you for all your wonderful suggestions! I will complete my bicarb experiment and if I don't feel that's hitting the spot I might try some of the other suggestions.

I'm just glad to find that there are a variety of ways to get the latent aromas out that only wake when your armpits heat up (SO sneaky) without having bleached armpits on my clothes! I've struggled with this for ages but finally, the threat of my new close-fitting work dresses starting to pong from day 1 is too much to bear.

Thank you one and all - MN to the rescue again.

[PinkSwimGoggles]

any disinfectant liquid (apart from pine stuff - that stains) will do the job, instructions for laundry on the bottle.
white vinegar is also good and doesn't fade colours.
generally using bio powder and no softener helps.