I’ve just realised that’s all my teenagers football tops still smell at the armpits after they’ve been washed!! Gross.

[EvangelicalAboutButteredToast]

What can I spray on that area before washing or do they need a higher temperature than 40 degrees?

Often it is deodorant residue. Try white vinegar before washing.

Another vote for white vinegar here . I put some in every wash .

DH solved this problem with his gym tops by adding Dettol laundry cleanser when he washes them (or the Morrisons equivalent). It’s antibacterial at the right dosage and that seems to have sorted the whiff completely.

Back in the wash! More soap longer cycle?

Also use white vinegar here - I soak them before washing as normal

We find this with DH’s reffing/training kit. I find a non-bio designed for sports wear is effective. This is the one we use but there are a few on the market.

Halo Sports Wash

Big glug of white vinegar in the fabric softener compartment. I buy the big 5L bottles from
amazon

Amazing!! Thank you. I have white vinegar so I’ll go in with that first and report back 👍

I solved it by washing at 60°c.

Wash tops inside out and line dry.

Halo gym wash is what you want, kills all the smell but keeps the Lycra and colour in great condition

Along with vinegar or dettol wash don't add fabric conditioner to those type of tops. It makes them worse.

It’s the material plus deodorant residue. Spray with white vinegar onto the armpits and chuck in the wash. Don’t use fabric softener with the tops it clogs up the material and makes them smelly over time. You can also get a laundry detergent called Halo, sports wash. It’s brilliant at getting out stubborn smells from laundry.
my work uniform is a thick version of a football top so I’m well versed in keeping them stink free!

We use Dettol laundry cleanser in every wash because this house has very sweaty people in it and over time the armpits of school uniform etc started to smell. Now they never do.

White Vinegar or bicarbonate of soda

If you put white vinegar in fabric softener drawer, do the clothes come out smelling of vinegar?

@changenameagain555no, not at all. I use vinegar for towels but it can be used for all laundry. It’s sufficiently diluted so that it doesn’t leave any lingering smell on the stuff in the machine.

I have 4 sons - Stardrops white vinegar spray on the pits for about half hour before you wash it. And you can put white vinegar in the softener part too. I use it on towels and it makes them lovely & soft. I first thought my nanny was crazy using it bc it would smell like vinegar, but there is no smell whatsoever only of the detergent you use.

With OH’s sports tops, I bought some petrol laundry cleanser and soaked the armpits with it and left for 20 min before washing. It definitely got rid of the smell
i use it as intended now each time I wash his sports kit and it does work

White vinegar works or a capful of disinfectant like zoflora or fabulous in the softener part of the drawer works.

Halo gym wash is great when it’s really ingrained and white vinegar won’t work

Biological powder will massively help. Enzymes break down smells and bacteria.

Lob some Zoflora in the wash.

My dh is the same. I soak his football stuff in a bucket first with some normal detergent. The stench of the liquid after is unreal! No wonder one wash doesn’t get his kit clean and I find it coats the other clothes in the smell as well if I don’t do the presoak. 🤮

Use the Eco cycle - takes longer but I’ve found it gives a more thorough clean for sweat as it is in the soapy water longer.