Dettol laundry cleanser?

[HelpMeGetOutOfHere]

Have a smelly teenage son who no matter how much lynx he sprays his clothes still end up with a bo smell even after washing. Yes I have provided roll on anti perspirant and only buy the anti perspirant lynx but still the problem exists.

My mum said that this dettol laundry cleanser is supposed to get rid of sweat smells. Does anyone know if it actually works? It's quite expensive if it doesn't. I'm at the point of wanting to throw out all of his t-shirts and sweatshirts as they smell. I've used white vinegar in the wash and on the armpits as well as a white vinegar and bicarbonate solution. Washing the tops on their own in a regular wash so plenty of water going through them but nothing works.

[rabbit123]

It's a waste of money. Use a biological powder (not a liquid) and wash on 60 degrees. Avoid quick washes and low temperatures. This should sort the problem out.

[HelpMeGetOutOfHere]

We can't use biological powder as everyone except h is sensitive to it. Any other suggestions? Thanks

[DandyMott]

I don't know if it will work on teenage sweat but I put a glug of antiseptic disenfectant in my softener drawer. I figure it's the same as the dettol stuff but only a quid a bottle, you could try that first?

[TheFairyCaravan]

I've got 2 sons (18&20). DS1 is in the army now so I don't do much of his washing, but when he lived at home he used to go to the gym everyday as well as running every other night. His clothes would drip with sweat but I never had a problem with smells. I do use a bio powder, but I add a capful of Zoflora to the fabric softener drawer for sports kits, towels and bedding.

I would look at getting your son a better deodrant if it were me. I'm not sure Lynx is the best one for really sweaty people. My kids and DH use Mitchum roll-ons. They are more expensive, but they don't have smelly clothes.

[rabbit123]

Biological detergent does not cause skin irritation. This is caused by excessive perfumes and other chemicals, not the biological factor. It's also caused by over dosing and poor rinsing.

Try using a bio powder with a low scent like original Persil, Ecover or Ariel. Avoid Surf, Bold & Daz like the plague! It would also help to use the extra rinse function on your washing machine.

England is the only country in the world that still sells non bio detergents, marketed as "sensitive". But in reality, the bio aspect has absolutely nothing to do with skin irritation.

[rabbit123]

www.nhs.uk/news/2008/05May/Pages/Biowashingpowderrashesamyth.aspx

[HelpMeGetOutOfHere]

It was Persil that caused everyone to itch and then seemed to start us itching with other bio detergents.

Will try a couple of others and see if they work. I saw zo flora in poundland it's worth a shot.

Re his deodrant. I have brought Mitchum and Nivea, and right guard etc all roll ins. Said to him a million times to put it in as soon as he's out of the shower and dried then by the time he's put his underwear and trousers on it should be dry enough to put a t-shirt on and use the anti perspirant spray as a body spray. He just never puts the roll on on. It drives me mad as the few times he has use it even he has commented in being less smelly at the end of the day.

He's at college and changes for sports and the gym. The frustrating thing is his gym kit doesn't smell as that's worn for his work out then put straight in the wash so not worn all day letting the smells set in.

[rabbit123]

It's definitely worth a shot. If you don't fancy using it for the whole wash, maybe just try washing the offending items with it?

Are you using non bio powder or liquid? If you want to stick with non bio, the powders are way better than the liquids. A hotter wash should help too.

[HelpMeGetOutOfHere]

I use tablets for white/light loads and liquid for dark loads. I use minimal fabric conditioner as otherwise I get itchy. I don't use conditioner on towels/cleaning cloths.

[rabbit123]

Maybe try using the tablets since you have them in anyway? A full cottons wash on a hotter temp (50 or 60 degrees) with the tablets should help. And at least if that works you won't have to buy additional products

[HelpMeGetOutOfHere]

Thanks I'll give it a go.

[dementedpixie]

I also use a couple of capfuls of zoflora in with the fabric softener for smelly gym/sports stuff. I do use bio powder too though

[DarylDixonsDarlin]

Napisan, if you can get it anywhere sems like Tesco is the only place that sells it near me. DHs shirts sometimes have terrible underarm smells and napisan works even on a 40...if I do too many 60s his shirts fade and look rubbish!

[mrssmith79]

I got some last week while it was on offer (£2 in Asda, £3 in Sainsburys) - have used it with dh's sweaty socks and also the dog's bedding. It's pretty effective I'll admit but I'll probably knock it on the head when it goes back to normal price.

[HelpMeGetOutOfHere]

It was £5 in asda yesterday so I didn't get any. Will look in sainsburys tomorrow.

Will try it on a hotter wash as well. Have tried just putting a couple of hoodies in at a time and didn't make much difference.

Have just put the two main culprits in on a 50 wash with non bio tablets as that's what I have in.

[rabbit123]

Let us know how you get on

[JenniferJen]

i would have another go at using bio washing powder. But put the laundry through on an extra rinse cycle afterwards to see if this stops everybody reacting to it.

Have you tried having a look at your washing machine? Cleaning the filter, giving it a maintenance wash (ideally 90 degrees empty with loads of white vinegar) might improve it's performance? And cleaning anything you can get to - drawer, rim etc. If your washing machine is at it's best then it's always good.

I second the Zoflora idea. although be warned that it's very strong. I now dilute it before putting it in the drawer beacuse even a small glug is too much. Definitely wouldn't advise 2 capsful as recommended above if you have sensitive skin. One at the most.

Mitchum deodorant is definitely worth another go. If he prefers a spray, they do this also. If it were me and i was having this problem and he was refusing to use deodorant properly then i would be tempted to give him one last try with the threat that if he isn't putting in the effort to solve the problem then he is doing his own laundry. I hate using roll ons myself but use the Mitchum spray just under my armpits and it works great.

[returnvisit]

I use it and it definitely helps with sweaty odours that don't otherwise come out. You can get it for about £2.99 in places like poundstretcher and home bargains etc.

[alexw]

A glut of white vinegar in the conditioner bit does the job. Smell evaporates on drying. Works a treat and cheap.

[Chchchchanging]

Lynx is basically body spray not antiperspirant,
Get him some Mitchum for underarms, he can still go nuts with the lynx for the laydeees

[Snowflake15]

Second white vinegar - I have certain tops/dresses that still smell on the armpits after washing, I either spray the pits with white vinegar or soak the items in diluted before washing! Dead cheap and works a treat

[dementedpixie]

The op says she gets the antiperspirant Lynx (you get both types). She also said she had tried vinegar so needed to try other options

[HelpMeGetOutOfHere]

The machine is a nearly new (about three months old) bosch. I do a weekly maintainance wash on it and clean the detergent drawer.

Today is the test day. I have just put the two main offenders in on a 50 with two tablets of non bio and instead of conditioner have put white vinegar in. Fingers crossed or I'll bin them and stand over him every morning making sure he puts the roll on on. Which I shouldn't have to do at 17!!!

[Moonwatching]

I've found the Dettol laundry sanitiser and regular Dettol disinfectant liquid both very effective at removing smells. When I use one, I use it in fabric conditioner drawer, with non bio tablets and soda crystals in main wash compartment. If it's an extra smelly wash, will put one tablet in prewash compartment too. I then wash on 60 C cottons, with prewash and extra rinse. Does the trick on sweaty underarm clothes, smelly socks & toddler clothes (think toilet training mishaps ).