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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To tell my husband when he stinks?

77 replies

Serialcatmum · 30/08/2022 22:56

Ive been married about 5 years. I adore him. He’s so much fun to be around, we spend lots of time together and do really fab activities together.

When I met my husband he was around 7 stone lighter, we have both gradually put weight on. He has always been very active, running, cycling, water sports, long hikes etc. but I never noticed him really smelling.

Recently the smell has been so bad I’ve had to start telling him. We were in Spain recently and I could see a family sit down next to us and then look around, I saw them register my smelly husband and a small child was holding their nose and then they moved away.

He is very clean. He showers everyday and puts fresh clothes on daily. His clothes are washed in a special washing liquid that is supposed to remove strong sport/ sweaty clothes, they are dried on the washing line. But he still stinks.

Yesterday he hung some shorts in the bedroom, he’s worn these shirts for a few hours that morning and they STUNK. It made my whole bedroom smell. I wasn’t happy. I told him them smell. He shrugged and said he didn’t know where to move them but he seemed annoyed with me. He said he couldn’t smell anything and I honestly jusy lost my temper and told him that they stink of horrible old farm yards and that I wasn’t having my whole bedroom smell like that. He was upset and told me it wasn’t very kind..

so, aibu to tell my husband that he/ his clothes stink?!

And any suggestions since he’s actually regular washing and putting in clean (yet smelly within 10 minutes) clothes every day?

OP posts:
minifigures · 31/08/2022 06:59

I think it'll be his clothes. I've noticed it on some of my DH older t shirts. I've just ordered some dr beckmen odour treatment to apply on the arm pits before washing. Sometime I can smell it when I iron his freshly washed, mine dried clothes. I'm washing at 40, but I don't think that's hot enough but the clothes don't recommend any hotter.

Funkyblues101 · 31/08/2022 07:22

Clothes should be made of natural fibres e.g. cotton or wool. Polyester etc holds the smell.

Glitterbiscuits · 31/08/2022 07:23

Dettol laundry liquid is brilliant for work out clothes.

I'd also suggest your DH washes with HIbiscrub to kill any bacteria lingering on the skin. He might only need to use it once.

justasking111 · 31/08/2022 08:05

OH had a pair of karrimor sandals. We were baffled then noticed the shoes washed them in machine, by hand, used everything on them. Upon googling found it was a recognised problem coming from the material so binned them.

MotherOfWhippets · 31/08/2022 08:11

I think he needs to go to the GP.

My OH is a big chap 6'4 18 stone and he showers once or twice a day and he cycles, goes to the gym, does a fairly manual job. At the end of the day he never smells. I know everyone is different but I was waiting for you to say he was a bit riffy and a soap dodger but it doesn't sound like he is poor chap.

I would also make sure you're drying your clothes properly. It's the most hideous smell and it get worse as people are wearing them. I used to have a lad that sat next to me and the small made me gag. I don't think people realise!

Passthecake30 · 31/08/2022 08:14

A spray of white vinegar on the armpit of clothes before going in the wash helps if the smell is ingrained into them

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 31/08/2022 08:19

What detergent is being used to wash his clothes?

Afterfire · 31/08/2022 08:23

Sounds like it’s more of an issue with how often / how he’s washing his clothes.

Ive noticed a lot more smelly people walking about lately. I think everyone is trying to save money and washing their clothes less and on lower temperatures but unfortunately it often leaves them smelling awful….!

SunSparkle · 31/08/2022 08:28

I’d get some laundry antibac liquid and wash his clothes on hot washes a few times to kill the bacteria. I’d also recommend he wipes his armpits with glycolic acid as this helps with bacteria and build up of deoderant on the skin. Also try a strong deoderant like Perspi guard or Driclor. Smell in clothes comes from bacteria and deoderant build up in the armpits. You can try and wash it away but sometimes it’s too ingrained in the fabric. An item will smell fine and then within a few minutes of being worn it will smell horrible.

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 31/08/2022 08:31

Ariel cold wash gel is excellent detergent. I used to use Aldi but during lockdown Ariel was all I could get and I've stuck with it, gets clothes so clean and fresh.

hotdiggetydog · 31/08/2022 08:32

What sort of food is he eating?

SheWoreYellow · 31/08/2022 08:39

I’d try proper soap (and I presume he’s using antiperspirant) and a few new T-shirts and pairs of pants and socks as a quick test before doing anything else.

whiskersonkittenss · 31/08/2022 08:43

If you use too much washing detergent or overload the machine it can have a detrimental effect to your clothes. Using softener is useless too and coats your clothes and stops towels absorbing water. I know in the past it has made my clothes smell as if I haven't washed them. Maybe this could help.

LookItsMeAgain · 31/08/2022 08:46

Can I also recommend that he tries to find jocks in natural fibres not manmade fibres and tshirts/tops again in cotton or linen or even bamboo fibres (I know the linen can look crumpled after a while) but natural fibres work best.

Also agree with the anti-perspirant vs deodorant and shower gel for sensitive skin rather than Dove soap and other suggestions made so far. See if they improve things.

A visit to his GP when he gets home wouldn't go a miss either...in order to rule out any sort of medical issue.

motherofawhirlwind · 31/08/2022 08:52

Dettol Anti Bac Laundry - soak everything for a couple of hours in that (I do a capful per item, in a washing up bowl), then wash at 40 with another couple of capfuls and bio laundry powder, not liquid. Sun dry.

That's the only thing I've found that properly sorts out sweaty teen pit stinks.

Meripenopause · 31/08/2022 09:08

I recommend bleach baths. You need to stick to NHS recommended methods of course (usually 125ml per 40 gallons of water). Milton steriliser seems to be the one most recommended. A one-off bath can reset the body odour.
For clothes, anti bacterial mouthwash is very effective as a pre-wash treatment. Especially on the arm pits. Slosh it on and leave for bit before washing.

MeetthemoveratDover · 31/08/2022 09:16

It’s strange that he doesn’t smell at all in bed but does within 10 minutes in the day in clothes??

knackeredagain · 31/08/2022 09:17

You say he showers at night but does he have an extra shower after sport? And he might need one in the morning too, especially while we’ve had warm nights.

Badger1970 · 31/08/2022 09:19

You need laundry sanitiser. Makes the world of difference. DH wears this horrific man made stuff for playing golf in, and in spite of washing every time he wore it, the tops just stank. One dose of this stuff - job done.

If he's wearing man made fibres, that's your answer.

Seriou · 31/08/2022 09:29

Detol and min 40 degree washes with clothes inside out.

Proper soap not shower gel.

Good deodorant- the roll on Sure is more expensive than the sprays but really works well.

Original poster
Serialcatmum · 31/08/2022 10:31

Thanks for those that have taken the time to make some brilliant suggestions and try to help. Really appreciated.

i fee things that people have asked:

We wash our clothes separately, we always have. He uses Persil or the special sports clothes detergent and no fabric conditioner and I want full blown flower and pixie dust detergent and conditioner.

To the poster that asked me if I was sure it wasn’t me that was smelling (🤣). Well I sometimes smell after an exercise session and after a particularly hot/ hard day at work but the smell I’m referring to is quite a distinct smell and has only really been noticeable in the last year.

One poster mentioned it was horrible of me in my OP to lose my temper and say my room
stunk of farmyards. Absolutely. I feel/ felt awful as he’s such a great man and that’s totally why I wrote the post asking for advice.

im going to use the advice given here and try to make some suggestions to my DH. I probably won’t check back now so thanks for the help everyone. Have a wonderful day x

OP posts:
SleeplessInEngland · 31/08/2022 10:35

How did he add 7 stone in the time you've known him? That's pretty bad - more than just natural aging. Unless he was a gaunt rake when you met and is now a healthy weight I'd be more focused on that.

ZekeZeke · 31/08/2022 10:53

Does he shower at night or does he shower each morning?
If he showers at night then he really should think about showering in the morning too.
Many of us have asked this question.

Willowthewispy · 31/08/2022 11:31

Powder washes clothes much better than pods I've noticed and clothes definitely need to be dried properly or they absolutely stink.

I noticed that you said you are both doing Slimming World. Interestingly years ago when I done SW my breath and body absolutely stank. My work colleagues literally walked away from me and wouldn't stand next to me. I asked them and they told me in a kind way. I stopped SW and within days the smell and repulsive breath were away.

SalviaOfficinalis · 31/08/2022 11:37

Are his clothes definitely getting dried properly? Outside on a line is best.

If they stay damp for too long then they smell even when they’re dry. And when you put the clothes on and they warm up the stench is released.

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