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Struggling with Body Odor Despite Daily Hygiene Routine

94 replies

imnina · 23/09/2024 08:16

Hi everyone, I’m really hoping to get some advice because I’m at my wit’s end. I’ve been dealing with a serious body odor problem, and nothing seems to be working. Here’s what I’m currently doing:

•	I shower every single day.
•	I apply deodorant and antiperspirant (sometimes even at night).
•	I try different deodorant brands, but nothing seems to work for long. The one that worked the best was Mitchum, but it stained my white clothes yellow and left white marks on my colored clothes.
•	I also wash my clothes after every wear, but they still smell like sweat, even after a second wash.

Despite all of this, I still smell terrible—like sweat, and it’s so embarrassing. I can’t afford costly solutions like Botox treatments, and I’ve already tried a lot of different deodorants and hygiene products.

Does anyone have affordable tips or advice on how to deal with this? Especially for clothes that still carry that sweat smell even after washing? I’d really appreciate any help at this point!

Thanks so much in advance!

Struggling with Body Odor Despite Daily Hygiene Routine
OP posts:
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imnina · 23/09/2024 08:58

DustyLee123 · 23/09/2024 08:24

Sniff the armpits of your clean clothes to see if they still smell. I found that the armpits of my teenage son’s school shirts stunk of BO as soon as I put the hot iron on them. I had to squirt Vanish on the armpits before washing, and I had to throw them away half way through the year and get new ones. Yet he showered daily and used deodrant.

Yes they all smell, even my tops that are shoulder-less...

OP posts:
imnina · 23/09/2024 08:58

Creativemumof3 · 23/09/2024 08:30

I used to have this issue until I started using the brand 'sure' under arm roll on. Hope it helps!!

Hi, i've tried it, it doesn't work for me...

OP posts:
imnina · 23/09/2024 08:59

sunsetsandboardwalks · 23/09/2024 08:55

You need proper bar soap under your arms, not shower gel. The shower gel is fine to use afterwards if you want, but you need proper soap for cleanliness.

I do use soap, i use different brands like Dove, Le petit Marseillais, and others

OP posts:
Thebellofstclements · 23/09/2024 09:00

Try potassium alum salt rock deodorant, it prevents the bacteria that cause the whiff from growing. Absolute game changer. It doesn't cling to clothes like normal antiperspirant. I'll never use anything else. I think the commercial brand is Pit Rock.

imnina · 23/09/2024 09:00

niadainud · 23/09/2024 08:51

Have you been to the GP to see if there might be a medical cause?

I have been, he says nothing can be done because i don't sweat excessively, I "just" smell.

OP posts:
imnina · 23/09/2024 09:02

FuckThePoPo · 23/09/2024 08:49

I think the washing at 30 does it as well although that might not be your problem!

wash with powder at 40 and not quick washes. This helps with clothes smelling I've found.

oh and yes to soap under arms as well

Edited

I wash my clothes with Lenor, and homemade Marseille shavings, at 40° for roughly 1h.

OP posts:
Turnitoffnonagain · 23/09/2024 09:02

The pit rok crystal deodorant is good, my DH uses it. I'd also try Cidal soap.

Planits · 23/09/2024 09:02

Another vote for proper soap, not using shower gel/creams.

FuckoffeeBeforeCoffee · 23/09/2024 09:02

amzn.eu/d/630Ek3U

imnina · 23/09/2024 09:03

Lovethatforyouhun · 23/09/2024 08:49

try this for a few weeks-

Body- Proper soap always. Use exfoliating mits on underarms once a week with soap.

Clothes- Don’t overload your washing machine. Tumble dry clothes hot. Wash at 40 and use Persil short cycle liquid BIO or bio powder.

drink and eat pineapple

I'll try the food, and the exfoliating, however i don't have a tumble dryer.
Thank you !!

OP posts:
FuckThePoPo · 23/09/2024 09:03

imnina · 23/09/2024 09:02

I wash my clothes with Lenor, and homemade Marseille shavings, at 40° for roughly 1h.

ok get yourself some biological powder and see if that helps! I have used that soap and it is good washing my hands but not for my clothes. Sorry but I think you need some enzymes!

imnina · 23/09/2024 09:03

Rendang · 23/09/2024 08:45

I agree with a previous poster to use bar soap on your arm pits.

I also shave my armpits everyday as I think this helps too.

Don't use ‘see through’ bar soap like Pears, it doesn’t seem to work. Dove isn’t soap and won’t work on your pits.

Imperial Leather works as does Shield but I don’t like the smell. I buy French bar soap (Savon De Marseille) which I love. They are gorgeous and come in a variety of scents.

As someone else has suggested check your clothes don’t smell of sweat. Some of them you can get the sweat smell out of but if it is too imbedded just get rid.

I suggest you buy some cheap new T-shirts and a cheap bar soap and use/wear these for a few days then you know the soap works. If you then wear your previous clothes and start smelling sweaty again you know it is the clothes not your new routine.

Thanks a lot!

OP posts:
Turnitoffnonagain · 23/09/2024 09:06

Soap shavings in your washing are not going to remove the smell from your clothes, you need a bio washing powder or liquid. You don't need Lenor either, that is probably making matters worse. Do you know what that stuff is made of? It's rank.

sunsetsandboardwalks · 23/09/2024 09:06

I wash my clothes with Lenor, and homemade Marseille shavings, at 40° for roughly 1h.

You need proper biological washing powder (not liquid). The soap shavings you refer to don't seem to be proper detergent at all.

Ohnobackagain · 23/09/2024 09:07

@imnina has the Dr checked your thyroid functions and vitamin C levels? Also their diagnosis is not exactly helpful - I thought you could have this kind of thing treated by botox on the NHS in extreme cases. Could you see another Dr at the practice and explain other people notice, you’ve tried everything and it’s really affecting your mental health?

sunsetsandboardwalks · 23/09/2024 09:07

@imnina oh okay, it's just your photo only shows a load of shower gels.

From your later posts it sounds like you're not using a proper detergent when you do your laundry though. I'd also ditch the fabric conditioner.

Ineedwinenow · 23/09/2024 09:09

I too had a similar problem under my armpits , I used to use white vinegar on the arms pits before washing but I use Driclor , it’s awful stuff, it does cause an itching/burning feeling sometimes but it blocks sweat glands and genuinely works, I now use it two-three times a week (before bed) ( I used it daily to start with) and I just need body spray /deodorant to make me smell nice in the daytime

Hope you sort it, driclor was a game changer for me

Hayley1256 · 23/09/2024 09:09

Try using an anti bacteria soap bar (cidal do one), I second using talc under boobs etc. Also make sure you are throughly washing and not just have a quick body wash. Cotton clothes should also help. Make sure tour washing machine is clean and give clothes space when they are drying

imnina · 23/09/2024 09:10

Think you all, i'll show you a selection of what i bought. Keep in mind that I live in France so brand names might be different.

Struggling with Body Odor Despite Daily Hygiene Routine
Struggling with Body Odor Despite Daily Hygiene Routine
Struggling with Body Odor Despite Daily Hygiene Routine
OP posts:
MouseofCommons · 23/09/2024 09:11

Wash your clothes inside out and line dry in the sun as much as possible. Although I have some older synthetic running tops that I don't seem to be able to totally shift all of the smell, they're purely for solo outdoor running now.

Real soap does seem to help too.

MeMyCatsAndI · 23/09/2024 09:13

White vinegar soak your clothes for a while and then put them through the wash will get rid of the smell.

SendMeHomeNow · 23/09/2024 09:15

I’d try probiotic supplements as well, just in case, can’t hurt.

BunnyOnTheOnion · 23/09/2024 09:16

Is this a new problem? Menopause hormones can trigger changes in body odour and hopefully it resolves once they stabilise. Hang clothes up to air as soon as you take them off (don't dump them in a laundry basket, leave them hanginguntil you wash them). Dettol instead of fabric conditioner helps de-stink clothes, as does line drying and sunlight. In the mean time, drinking plenty of water, try altering your diet (reduce UPF and onions) and go swimming, the smell of chlorine on your skin is better than body odour!

imnina · 23/09/2024 09:17

Also bought this, i live in an apartment so i can't really sun dry my clothes. They just dry on a drying rack with the windows open.

Struggling with Body Odor Despite Daily Hygiene Routine
Struggling with Body Odor Despite Daily Hygiene Routine
Struggling with Body Odor Despite Daily Hygiene Routine
OP posts:
eatyeateat · 23/09/2024 09:18

Everything needs to be harsher. Antibacterial soap twice and with an exfolianting cloth.

I think you need a Bio washing detergent and I would either be throwing the smelly clothes away or washing on 60. Personally I would put dettol or zoflora in there too.

Best thing I've ever found for smell is the natural deodorant company. I stunk when breastfeeding and it took it away completely.

I suspect your smell is likely hormonal