Why do I/my clothes smell??

[Stinkysolutions]

Right lovely MNers, I've name changed for this.

I think I smell when I'm at work. Warm environment etc, but I can't work out the actual source! It's like a BO smell, but both myself and my uniform are freshly washed. I don't notice it when I'm not at work, so I don't think it's actually my body.
I usually wash my clothes at 40c but have upped it now to 60. My clothes don't seem to smell when they're off either.
Its been going on a few months now. Have changed shower gels, deodorants, perfume, washing powder. I don't use fabric softener or scent boosters. I've tried washing clothes with white vinegar, soda crystals, increased washing temp. I line dry clothes where possible.

Any ideas? I'm so embarrassed 😳

Has anyone else actually said they can smell what you smell? If it’s only in work then is it not something specific to that environment?

Do you actually smell or are your clothes a little musty smelling?
You don't need to wash your clothes on 60. That'll destroy a lot of them over time.

When was the last time you gave your washing machine a clean, including the detergent drawer and seal?
Do you leave washing sitting wet in the machine for a while before hanging out?

Does your washing machine or dryer smell? There are special products you can run through if they have gone a bit manky. How do you dry your clothes if not on line? I’m currently drying some jeans on a towel rail and just noticed the bathroom and them smell a bit musty

How long is the washing cycle, if it's a quick wash your clothes if sweaty aren't clean.

I have exactly the same thing! I wondered if it's my deodorant as I've used Mitchum for absolutely years, and I don't know if it just doesn't work for me anymore.

I often ask my colleagues if I smell, and I don't seem to smell out of work!

If you leave work in the same clothes can you still smell it? Or is just at work?

Hope I remember to answer all here...

I've worked in the same environment for years, and this is only going on the past few months. Nobody else has mentioned anything.

None of my other clothes smell so I don't think its an issue with my washing machine. I wipe down the seals and run a cleaning product through it wvery couple of months. I only notice the smell when I'm at work so I thought it might be my uniforms.

Clothes are dried on radiators/clothes horse if not on the line. It's fairly quick drying materials (hospital scrubs), and wet clothes are never left sitting in the machine. I'd rewash them if I had forgotten to hang clothes up.

Normal cycle is 1hr, or 1hr 20 on a 60c wash

I change in and out of uniform at work. I don't seem to smell on my way to/from work!

If the uniform is polyester it may be hanging onto the smell. I have this issue with my son's school blazer. It absolutely stinks and I have to wash it frequently. It might be worth investing in some sports wash which is designed for this type of fabric and is for gym clothes etc.

.

Edited as I hadn’t RTFT.

I find this with synthetic fabrics and darker clothes, which I tend to wash on a cooler cycle.

I've started using this product which has helped:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B07BJZRBY2?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title

Maybe a polyester issue, so echo the above, plus maybe use some of the antibac washing stuff. It’s def helped with my OH’s smelly sports stuff
and switch to bar soap and give your pits a good scrub every day- it really helps.

Can you wear a cotton vest underneath?

If you notice your sense of smell has changed, or you’ve changed how you smell in general it might be worth getting checked out for Parkinson’s disease, and also multiple sclerosis.
I know it sounds like a WTF moment but changes to smell can be detected years before any symptoms arrive and treatment is best done sooner than later.

Does the bag you take the clothes to work in smell? Maybe it's transferring onto the clean clothes in there?

Uniform is washed after each wear. Polycotton blend. Will check out a sports wash. Thanks for the suggestion!

Milk or tea or coffee spilt on your chair or carpet around your work area?

Thanks, I'll try this!

That's quite interesting. The smell is literally only when I'm wearing my uniform at work, so thankfully unlikely to be a more serious issue.

How old are you op? I had the same problem and it turned out to be a symptom of perimenopause. I’d been using the same deodorant for years, I thought it had stopped working. It was more a combination of my body odour changing and my sense of smell becoming more sensitive.

No, it's not a designated area i work in. The smell follows me unfortunately 😔

Not yet 40, but definitely something to consider. Although as I say, it only seems to be at work!

Is it the shoes you wear on shift? Feet doing lots of work can get sweaty and some shoes are more prone to smelling than others.

When you wash do you use soap or shower gel?. I find if I don't use soap then I get whiffy come lunch time. I use soap first then shower gel after. Not Dove soap though. It's not 'real' soap (more a moisturising bar).

I had a similar problem recently and realised it was my work shirt (washed every day) was hanging on to armpit smell 🤢 I've gone back to bio powder and a hotter wash and is much better

It definitely sounds like it’s the combination of being active and the polycotton scrubs. I don’t normally use it as it makes my eyes stream but that Dettol laundry cleanser might be worth a shot.

As an experiment, Is it possible to get a new set of uniform to see if that makes a difference? Then you’ll know for definite.