Sweaty armpits not washing clean

[Chocchops72]

Help! I'm sure this must be a really common issue, and I have tried numerous online solutions but nothing (practical) is working.

DS1 has taken up boxing, he's training 3/5 times a week and getting through at least 2 t-shirts a day, most days. We live in France and his school is boiling most of the time, so he's pretty sweaty anyway. DH either cycles or runs to work most days - again he's getting through at least 1 x t shirt plus 1 x shirt each day. And the clothes all stink, no matter how much deodorant they both use.

After washing, their t-shirts and shirts still smell grim. I usually wash at 40°, standard mixed wash. I don't think I can wash hotter without the clothes shrinking. I've tried adding a capful of Sanytol (antibac rinse for fabrics) at the end of the wash - doesn't work. Ditto vinegar.

Lots of online recs for a paste of soda bic that is left on for hours... but we're talking 14 + shirts / tshirts a week: I don't have time or space for that! It needs to be something that is sprayed on before or added to the wash.

Any ideas?

1. Try to get them into wash as soon as they're worn.
2. Soak in vinegar & water first - doesn't need to be a long soak particularly if they're fairly freshly worn
3. Use a really good quality powder
4. Use extra powder
5. Don't put them into a big load of washing try to keep the load fairly small so they get a good wash

Do you use bio washing powder ?

Dettol Anti Bac Laundry Liquid (if you can get it?) for a 2 hour soak. Wash at 40 with boo powder (not liquid) and more Dettol. Line dry in the sun if you possibly can. This is the only routine to sort out DD's polyester school shirts.

Dettol laundry stuff
Pour a bit on the armpits if it's really bad as well as adding to wash
Wash with bio power and no softener

If you can't get that, this is good or halo sports wash
Personally I would do a soak for the first wash, bath and the dettol stuff and soak the lot to give it a head start

https://www.amazon.co.uk/HG-detergent-additive-unpleasant-garments/dp/B07QH5XJTW/ref=mpsa11?crid=26AMDD7P0JPZV&keywords=hg+laundry+booster+odour&qid=1663332721&sprefix=hg+laun%2Caps%2C69&sr=8-1

Strange but it works. I was advised to tell my other half to wash his armpits with head and shoulders shampoo instead of soap and it really stop the stink on clothes.

Napisan and biological washing detergent.

Regular Bio powder ie aerial or persil

do they use bar soap? This deodorant soap is brilliant and it’s not tested on animals Shield

Also worth a go: in the really hot summer weather I saw the suggestion of wiping your armpits with a facial glycolic acid toner to help kill the stinky bacteria and thoroughly clean off any lingering deodorant residue.
I'm sure Head & Shoulders has a similar effect.

If you can get hold of Halo or any kind of sports wash, try that. I've used that on stinky trainers and I worked very well. I think Ariel also do sports pods.

My DH always has stinky gym gear but a 40 degree wash with biological powder seems to do the trick.

If you have a lot of shirts and want to wash them all in one go, I'd be tempted to treat them like nappies - put them to soak in some napisan and then wash them all together when the bucket is full!

Someone brought me a bottle of the cheapest, nastiest vodka home from Greece

I keep it in a cupboard by the washing machine and dip armpits in it!