Teenage son stinks of BO despite good hygiene and deodorant

[TheMatriarchyRules]

I don't want to mean and am not rude or mean or bring it up with him at all. It's the same every season whether he does sport or not. Clean shirts in the morning stink in the evening. It's a bit of a problem. Bed sheets really smell as well. It's like a boy smell.

He lives with me full time and i am the only mother figure he has so it is in my business before posters accuse me of interfering. I also have to do the washing.

[LonginesPrime]

Has he thought about looking at his diet?

When I cut out dairy, meat and junk food, I noticed that I didn't even really need to use deodorant, but when I eat that stuff, I really do!

[AntagonyAunt]

Try Pitrok crystal. Feels like it is doing nothing but definitely stops BO. Would probably need a separate anti-perspirant though.

[SargeantAngua]

Oxygen bleach powder added to the wash, as well as the above advice about really good antiperspirant and cotton t shirts, should help. I've had issues in the past and all of that really made a difference.

[Hulder]

Mitchum stick anti-perspirant.

And check he is actually washing in the shower not just standing there getting wet.

[Tippytappytoes]

He could try Perspi-Guard antibacterial odour control body wash. It's kills the bacteria that make the smell. I've used it for a while now and it's great - shower in the morning, stay whiff free all day. I also use salt of the earth deodorant.

[AntagonyAunt]

Second thoughts, not sure that the crystal would fair well against a hairy armpit.

[CremeEggThief]

I find my DS (14) can smell just as bad after a bath or shower, if he doesn't dry his pits and apply spray anti-perspirant ASAP. He has a bad habit of lounging on his bed in his bathrobe for ages after his bath or shower, instead of drying properly, putting his anti-perspirant on and getting into clean pajamas.

[frieda909]

Does the smell linger in the clothes even after washing? I find that some deodorants make it worse by building up in the armpits and then every time you sweat the smell kind of gets reactivated...

But I do think teenage boys sometimes just smell! It's all down to hormones I guess. And he will probably grow out of it in a few years.

[TanteJeanne]

My son was like this for about 6 months when he was14 but it turned out to be a temporary phase. Coincided with horrible 6 months of bad mood etc. May have been a giant hormone surge which then settled down.
In the meantime, second all the advice- hot wash clothes and bedding, replace school shirts frequently if you can. Cotton t shirt under school shirt and remove at lunchtime . Shower morning and night. Specialist anti perspirant if age permits e.g. Driclor

[Wando1986]

Anti perspirant deodorant when used properly wont make you smell as long as you have the right brand. Plain old deodorant will.

Also I find if I don't use a PH neutral showergel and use something like imperial leather then I start to smell a lot quicker.

A shower gel like Sebamed and using Dove for men antiperspirant should stop it.

[Cartman03]

Try adding some Napisan to the wash. Could be that bacteria are surviving on his clothes and bedding between washes.

[19lottie82]

Another vote for Mitchum deodorant (anti perspirant).

[FurryLittleTwerp]

My very clean DS was quite smelly every evening after work - more like a strong "man smell" rather than proper BO, IYSWIM.

Replacing his polycotton shirts with 100% cotton has made a huge difference.

[OhtoblazeswithElvira]

I second making sure that he is washing properly in the shower. Water, or a rushed wash, won't do much for hairy sweaty armpit.

[SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius]

Can I suggest Mitchum - it is an antiperspirant that lasts up to 48 hours, and is the most effective one I have found.

[Foureyesarebetterthantwo]

Mitchum definitely is better than most other antiperspirants, get him the fragrance free.

I agree a coolish wash doesn't always deal with smelly armpit odours, also if you over stuff the washing machine, then these new ones use hardly any water, and I have found things stay a bit smelly. Fewer clothes for the really pongy stuff, plus a good 60 degree wash every now and again.

Agree cotton is the way forward, polycotton is awful for people who sweat a lot, my husband can't wear it at all.

[BerylStreep]

Mitchum used to be good, but I think they changed their formula recently. TripleDry seems to be effective.

Is your DS having enough to drink during the day?

I second the suggestion of Halo Sports Wash (I buy it in bulk online).

I also use spray vinegar on the armpits of clothing before I wash them - allow at least an hour to work before washing. I've never tried napisan.

Would it be worth getting him to trim his underarm hair?

I also heard a recent report about getting armpit transplants but it is still a bit experimental, and possibly extreme!

[Wolfiefan]

Stupid question! Is he showering every day? He's not taking the 48hr thing literally is he? So shower this morning. Apply it. Shower tomorrow. No roll on. Shower and deodorant the next day?
I only as as my pre teen came back from camp a bit pink. When questioned he thought factor 50 meant it lasted for 50 hours!

[ohidoliketobebesidethecoast]

Its not an armpit transplant (sounds a bit shocking), its a donation of armpit bacteria from someone with less stinky armpits...still weird, but a bit better than surgery!

[gamerchick]

I also heard a recent report about getting armpit transplants but it is still a bit experimental, and possibly extreme!

Wtf man?!

ALL teenage boys go off and stink to high heaven to their mothers. It's nothing you're doing wrong or anything to freak out about.

Put something extra in the wash like dettol laundry stuff and stop worrying about it.

[Fruitbat1980]

Another Mitchum anti perspirant fan here. Make sure it's the non perfumed one- seems way more effective.

[DuoTwo]

Another vote for Mitchum deodorant stick. I get DS2 to use the expensive one. I think it might cost £5. 😱
I think some D.C. just smell worse than others. 🤷🏻‍♀️ I've four DC and one was always more odorous than the others even when he was younger.
He is quite hairy and I wonder if he should trim his hairy armpits.

[Astro55]

The sun helps with clothes smells so dry stuff outdoor - if you can!!

Driclor - helps with the swearing find it in chemists

Other then that make sure he's applying the deodorant to the whole area

[Astro55]

Actually make that sweating - haven't found a cure for swearing yet!!

[Allthewaves]

Dh clothes can be really bad. As soon as they heat up the smell appears. Tumble drying sets in ten smell. If his clothes are bad then rubbing bicarbonate paste onpits and leaving the soaking in vinegar solution works well. Then a hot wash with oxy stuff.

You just might have to get him to change bedding every couple of days.

A really good treatment for arm pit bo is rubbing on a frashly cut lime to the skin, leaving until dry and washing off.

Perhaps adding teatree oil wo wash may help too