Armpits of clothes smelling as soon as I wear them - help!

[marellocherry25]

I'm trying to figure out why my clothes are smelling so much.

I was my clothes on a 30 degree wash, the washing machine is cleaned regularly and I leave it open after loads to make sure it doesn't mildew. I air dry the clothes

My clothes smell lovely when they've been washed but 30 minutes after wearing them my armpits smell horribly of BO. I use salt of the earth deodorant. However, I'm unsure if that's the issue as sleeveless tops do not smell. Only sleeved ones.

I have tried washing at 40 and putting dettol in the wash with my clothes but nothing helps. Do you have any suggestions?

Thanks!

[LilyTP]

In the past, I have had a couple of tops that smelt a bit BO-y when I ironed them - I imagine it's the same thing, a bit of inground yuck, which is brought back to smelly-life by the heat of your armpit (or my iron).

I couldn't find a way of getting them clean-smelling again either - though if a hotter wash and Dettol doesn't work I'd try soaking them in diluted bicarb, or Dettol or Napisan for a few hours and scrubbing the armpits before a normal machine wash.

I believe that most antiperspirants just block your pores, stopping the sweat from getting out, where as SoTE doesn't block pores, instead neutralise the smelly bacteria with naturally occuring antibacterial agents. So the sweat itself still soaks into your clothes - but doesn't smell at the time (as you're wearing the antibacterial deod), however unless it's removed from the clothes it starts to smell in the fabric.

You probably have very sensible reasons for choosing SoTE deodorant - I use Mitchum, and I haven't noticed any yucky smells since I started using it.

[Branleuse]

run all your tops on a hotter wash with biological detergent, at least once, and then start wearing proper anti-perspirant

[LoveAGoodToddlerTantrum]

I find using fabric softener makes my tops do that. I stopped using it and use a tumble dryer sheet to make them soft and haven't had this problem since.

[SiencynArsecandle]

My son's school shirts have this problem despite him smelling very sweet! I use a liberal spray of white vinegar on each pit and leave to soak in for half an hour before putting them in a normal 40 degree wash. Its certainly helped.

[Sothatsflatwhite]

Sometimes fabric softener makes my clothes smell awful too if they are squashed in a drawer for a few days after washing.

Not in the armpits though

[TheSpottedZebra]

Agree - the deodorant is not effective enough, alas.

[pinktransit]

I had some tops like that, and following advice from on here soaked them in Napisan and washed without using fabric softener. It worked brilliantly - although I have got back into bad habits and bought softener, and now some tops smell again.

[AnthonyPandy]

60 degrees and bio powder every time.

[snowgirl1]

There's a washing liquid that is designed especially for sport clothes called 'Halo' (Sainsbury's sell it), and it might be worth giving that a go too as it's supposed to get rid of the bacteria which causes odour. It's non-bio.

[blobbityblob]

I think for me it was the deodorant leaving residue on the clothes which wouldn't wash out. I use Simple roll on deodorant now which leaves no residue. But the clothes affected didn't really recover. The new ones have no marks and no smell.

[marellocherry25]

Thanks for all the advice!

As LilyTP says I have reasons for wearing the deodorant I do. I'm going to do all the things you mentioned at once :D

[Madbengalmum]

Dettol laundry wash is most effective and least harsh on clothes. Use it for OH sports and towels, better than halo etc which has taken colour out of things in past

[dairyfarmerswife]

I have found spraying with anti bacterial surface spray seems to work. Dettol or supermarket own brand, the kind of thing that is safe for use in high chairs, food prep areas etc

[Grumpyoldblonde]

I bet these are mostly dark tops? tightish around the arm pit? If so it is a really common problem, I believe it is something to do with the dye chemicals, its not you anyway! I spray anti bac in the pits of black t-shirts and hot wash.
It is horrible to smell that BO smell rising despite having showered and put on a clean top, but there are lots of threads all over the internet about this issue.

[GrubbyWindows]

I get this occasionally too- a bio wash at 40, with a few drops of tea tree oil right in the armpits of the garment, generally sorts it. Scrubbing with bicarb can help too, but is harsher on the fabric.
Also drying in the sun and the wind (which means on a hangar out of the window for us, as we have no outside space)
I'd rather do that every so often than use antiperspirant too! Although I have never got on with the salt ones, I like green people's unfragranced one.

[Grali]

I have been using Downy fabric softener and suffered from the same problem with odour. I bought Kirkland fabric softener and my problem has disappeared. I am still amazed as I only got it about a week ago. I am going to wash everything in my closet now. Hopefully this helps because I never associated the problem with my fabric softener.

[robrobinson]

Mine sometimes smell a bit odd if they are even slightly damp. Make sure they are bone dry before wearing.

On another note: @SiencynArsecandle is he diabetic? My brother smelt sweet and then we found out he had diabetes. Sorry not meant rudely but just thought I would speak up.

[BoffinMum]

You can get sew in pads for the underarms if tops to absorb sweat. The royals use them sometimes.