Not AIBU but need some advice!

[Christmasslippers]

Apologies for posting in this section but I thought I may get more responses here or perhaps someone who has experienced similar could give me some advice.

Not exactly a nice situation, but over the last 4-5 months I've noticed a lot of my clothes (tops only) smell of BO and my deodorant, normally a mix of both. I'm a cleaner so naturally sweat when I'm working as I clean a lot of large houses but this has been ongoing before I even became a cleaner (only been in the job for two months so far) so I can't exactly blame it on that.

I'm a clean person and shower twice a day (in morning and at night before bed), I put deodorant or body spray on so I don't sweat. I normally only wear tops once before their washed and I do a load of washing every two days. I don't think I actually smell as I've never had any complaints and I'm pretty sure if I did my mother or at least a family member would of told me as their very honest and speak their mind.

I've tried different deodorants but it doesn't seem to help and even if it did the tops would still smell of BO as well as like I said above it's a mix of both the smells . The ones that do smell I've washed a hundred times, turned them inside out to wash and even put fairy liquid on the underarm areas of them before putting them in the wash but nothing seems to work. I've actually ended up binning most of the ones that do (some brand new) as I just gave up trying to get rid of the smell. I've actually bought some new clothes in the Boxing Day sales today but I'm a bit worried it may happen again and I might have to bin these ones which I can't really afford to do!

I've never had this problem before, it's definitely only within the last 5 months it's started happening. Has anyone experienced something similar and what did you do? How do I stop the smells from lingering on my clothes? I've had to bin some lovely tops as well which I'm gutted about.

Thanks!

Mitchum Roll on deodorant is what you need x

What are you showering with? Ditch the shower gel and try a normal soap - been a game changer for me. Ditch body sprays as well - they don’t stop you sweating

Do you wear a clean bra every day?

I had this with one of my work shirts, just under one arm though, very odd! I rubbed in zoflora and water before washing, problem solved

Second vote for bar of soap

Can I ask how old you are?

I developed exactly the same problem when I was peri-menopausal. I switched to using Mitcham and always put a dash of disinfectant in with the fabric conditioner to neutralise the bacteria.
I also took deodorising wipes to work.

I've had this too and totally eradicated the issue by spritzing the underarms of my clothes with white vinegar before washing. I think the deodorant somehow coats your clothes and prevents them from washing properly.

Are you using deodorant or anti-perspirant?

Deodorant is just a fragrance to cover the smell. Anti-perspirant helps prevent sweating.

Washing the clothes will remove the smell. Use washing powder and fabric conditioner. Dont use fairy liquid.

Sure maximum strength roll on - changed my life :)
But I've always struggled - my concern is it coming on suddenly for you - worth a trip to the GP?

I do use shower gel, hardly ever soap really but I'm more than happy to switch over if you think it will help. Admittedly I don't wear a clean bra every day  does that make a difference? I really didn't know tbh.

It's mainly plain long sleeved tops or ones to that effect that seem to hold the smell (I wear those types of clothes for work so if they get ruined by bleach or cleaning products it doesn't matter) but I've noticed some of my nice tops have the smell too. I've actually just picked up one of my nice blouses that was drying on the horse rack and it smells very strongly

I always put washing tablets and fabric conditioner in the washing machine but thought fairy liquid might help (read it somewhere online) but unfortunately didn't do the trick. 

I'm 32 @1Morewineplease

Spray underarms with white vinegar before putting in the washer, I find using fabric conditioner makes smells cling to clothing, my teenage ds school shirts were still smelly even after a pre wash & full wash cycle, since I stopped using fabric conditioner & those scent boosters the smell has reduced, I also wash his clothes with a shot of dettol antibacterial wash as well as washing powder, if I am doing a cycle with pre wash, I put the Dettol in the pre wash slot of the soap dispenser & powder in the main wash.

Earth conscious deodorant is better than any roll on or spray I’ve ever tried. The peppermint one is the strongest and smells lovely.
Cotton clothes.
New bra and new top every day.
Bar soap.
Shaved underarms

Mitchum 48hour deodorant

How old are you?

It's not you, it's the clothes. As several of us have said, try spraying underarms with vinegar and leaving for half an hour before washing. Wash clothes inside out as hot as the care label suggests you can. The vinegar does the trick and allows the detergent to properly penetrate tree your clothes where the deodorant has coated them.

Is it the clothes that are the issue or yourself? If it is the clothes that have a lingering smell have you cleaned your washing machine recently?

Have you cleaned the washing machine? Mine honked until I went back to powder (I'd been using capsules). I also ditched the fabric conditioner. The Dettol antibacterial stuff mentioned upthread is good too.

I never used to sweat or get BO before I got pregnant but now I do.
Mitchum deodorant and bar soap both work. I have big boobs and realised one hot day that actually my underarms still smelled fresh, but the issue was under-boob sweat apologies for the grossness so might be worth rolling some deodorant under your boobs if you're large of breast. I also bought more bras so I could wash them daily, though my bank balance did not thank me for this.

I've had this issue for years!

Things that have worked for me.

1. Washing tops at 60'
2. Ditching fabric softener and occasionally using vinegar in the conditioner part of the washing machine.
3. Switching to natural deodorant (not anti perspirant). It did take a few weeks to notice the difference though.
4. For some reason white tops are less smelly

Maybe try a good roll on deodorant. The sprays are not effective I have found.

Ben & Anna deodorant is made with baking soda, and that works well (I also wash my clothes using baking soda) and is free of potentially harmful substances found in most deodorants. It's expensive, but long-lasting (both in terms of per application, and per stick).

Use soap b insured off body wash/ shower gel.

Perspirex deodorant stops excess sweat. Nothing else works

I would also recommend not using softener, or reduce the amount you use. It’s tempting to add more than you need, but it make the washing machine less effective at removing smells.

Detail antibacterial wash additive works for me and DH. We work in a hot sweaty environment and offer sweat and smell through the antiperspirant, even mitchum 😣