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.

[SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius]

I use the unperfumed one, and haven't noticed any changes in it recently. Dh uses one of the men's Mitchums and that is just as effective as ever.

If he uses the unfragranced one, he can use Lynx on top, so he smells the same as his friends!

Incidentally, does anyone else think Lynx is basically weaponised fragrance? When it is liberally sprayed in a teenage boy's room, you can taste it downstairs, through two closed doors - how the hell does it manage that?

[lucyandpoppy123]

Buy 'trust' deodorant from boots. It's £8 but so worth it and lasts months just for 1 tiny pot of solid deodorant. I used to smell all the time and nothing I did seemed to help before I found this

[Astro55]

Why can't you bring it up with him?

I quite often tell mine they stink and need a shower! Works wonders

[1Evaline1]

I had this problem. I swear loads and when i do the bacteria sticks to the clothes so when I wash them on hot heat and wear again as soon as I sweat I smell really bad although it's the clothes really.

The solution is I use driclor it is fantastic and I don't sweat underarm with this. He needs to throw all his tops out with that smell underarms and they can't be saved

Also shaving his armpits might help or at least trimming the hair really short

[Astro55]

1Evaline1

Put the soap in your mouth - may help

[StuntEgg]

Another vote for Mitchum - it's the business. Possibly just a phase for your son, so recommend two showers a day, lots of fresh around the pits, and lashings of Mitchum.

[PurpleMinionMummy]

Another for Mitcham and 60 degree washes. I don't think 40 cuts it on sweaty stuff. I wash all our sports kits at 60. Anything less and I find the stink of sweat starts two mins after putting them on when I haven't even started exercising yet.

[BerylStreep]

Yes, it's not an actual surgical transplant . IIRC one [stinky] twin had to wash his underarms with antibacterial soap several times a day for several days in a row. Then his [non-stinky] twin donated his good arm-pit bacteria via wipes.

All to do with the micro-biome apparently.

I suppose it would be handy for telling twins apart though - stinky twin and non-stinky twin. I wonder did the teachers use it as short-hand?

[Haffiana]

Hot wash. 60 degrees. And use a powder, not a liquid. All this washing at 30 degrees does not remove odours. Detergent manufacturers are making their products more and more scented to cover up the piss poor results of 30 degree washes, but as you have found, it simply doesn't remove body odour from clothes. I have a really sensitive nose and I sometimes gag at the mix of old re-heated sweat and overstrong fabric conditioner/liquid wash on overcrowded public transport here in London.

[BerylStreep]

Why is powder better than liquid?

[Jenni2legs]

Caffeine can really make me smell, when I'm drinking loads of coke and coffee I smell worse. Does he drink coke, Dr Pepper or Irn Bru lots?

Don't rub lemon or lime on pits, it can react with sun and burn skin (hyper sun sensitivity). Mitchum is good.

[stopfuckingshoutingatme]

I dont not know why but I love this thread !

Pages of good laundry advice

[GlitterGlue]

As everyone else has said, try sports wash liquid. Although zofolora disinfectant also works. As does that dettol wash liquid.

[Haffiana]

Powder contains bleaches. Liquid does not. Powders are far more effective at removing stains, dirt and odours. It is not a coincidence that liquids are far more highly scented.

[ArcheryAnnie]

I found white vinegar to be great for getting that lingering teenage sweat smell out of the armpits of DS's non-iron school shirts. (White vinegar is also only 30p a big bottle in tesco so it's also very cheap.) Laundry powder alone didn't seem to do it. Squirt vinegar on armpits, leave for a bit before shoving into washing machine.

[BerylStreep]

Thanks Haffiana, I didn't know that.

I buy 5 litres of white vinegar for next to nothing at my local Asian wholesaler.

[DontCallMeBaby]

Liquids gack up your washing machine as well. It's either washing powder, better deodorant, or a combo of both that's stopped me getting those awful 'argh, thought this top was clean but now it's warmed up, yuck' moments.

[coolaschmoola]

I understand that you don't want to bring it up with him - but if he stinks regularly then he may face the greater horror of bullying or the embarrassment of a teacher having to bring it up because smelling badly can be indicative of a potential safeguarding issue.

I teach older teenagers, mainly male. It is something that I have had to address with a number of students. Not only is it a potential safeguarding issue indicator, it is also unpleasant for other students (and me!)

You really need to talk to him about it - before someone else does.

[HemanOrSheRa]

I had a conversation with my 12 yo DS just this afternoon about how he really needs to start using antiperspirant every day now. He showers every morning and most evenings as he does a lot of sport after school. But his pits are getting whiffy, bless him . Like I said to him, better his old Ma telling him he's a bit stinky than other kids at school.

[FreddieFlowerdew]

Botox in your armpits is arguably more safe than using clinical strength anti perspirants every day. It costs about £500 and will stop his underarms sweating completely for 6 months. No sweat, no smell!