Disposable underarm sweat pads

[LifeIsGoodish]

Does anyone use these to protect their clothes day-to-day? There are lots on Amazon, but always mixed reviews.

I don't want to rustle, and I don't want any added fragrance.

I would want to use them mostly in stretch fabrics, like T-shirts, and in light fabrics, like viscose, as well as cotton.

Can anyone recommend a make?

I used to have the same problem because I was washing my clothes at 40 as the washing liquid told me that was a high enough temperature. I now wash everything at 60 and have not had this problem since so I guess washing at 40 doesn't kill all the bacteria.

I've used vinegar to get rid of stale sweat smells, interestingly I used malt vinegar (lazy) in a spray bottle every wash for about a month and that worked, no bleaching effect.

I have some lovely tops that are a bit wiffy in the underarm department and can't be washed at high temperatures.
I find that by using a pre wash and then main wash solved the problem.They come our smelling beautifully clean.

How different are they to panty liners I wonder?

I use disposable stick on dress sheilds.

They can be a bit rustly but otherwise work great. I've used sweatex and they were good

I have sweated heavily most of my adult life, to much for 'normal' antiperspirants to control, but not to hyperhydrosis levels. Stress and nerves increase the problem so at work I was often very very aware of big wet patches.
I have the same problems with tops smelling clean initially, then my body heat re-activating the pong. I was throwing tops away all the time, then I read a thread on a sports website forum about Halo Sportswash being great for this problem. It's designed for lycra sports clothing, but you can use it to wash normal clothing in the machine, and it kills the nasty bugs that cause the smell, that don't get killed off on a 40 degree wash.
You can get it in Sainsburys for about £.3.99 a litre, but it's concentrated, so not too expensive. Or Amazon and Wiggle sell it online.
It's really good, I have found it the best thing in tackling this smelly clothes problem, and I have tried all sorts...white vinegar sprayed on the clothes, in the wash, the bicarbonate of soda thing, soda crystals, stain-removers...etc.
I can't say it's 100% effective on everything, I think a couple of my older tops were past help. But it's been a lot better since I've started using it on any new tops from the first wash.

I agree about it being about the kind of fabric. Cotton seems to be able to be sweated onto (by me) and not smell at all horrible, and lasts the day at works no problem. Viscose, polyester, some kinds of knitted stretchy stuff smell pretty bad straightaway.

Ive used them on dresses that are dry clean only. Work fine but wouldn't wear them on a regular basis. I didn't rustle!!!!

As much as I needed them I didn't get on with the industrial strength antiperspirants either. What I found did work was using Mitchum roll on in the same way as the industrial strength stuff, so put it on over night and wash off in the morning. That way there's no residue on your skin that can build up on your clothing. I did use a crystal deodorant during the day to start with as a back up, but I really didn't need it.

Of course that won't help with tops that are already affected, but it has stopped me ruining any more clothing.

I had this problem but found merino wool tops from icebreaker never ever smelt. Range of colours and then nice knitwear over the top.

Katy

Crystal deo doesn't work for me. I smell fine, but my clothes go rank even faster than with conventional deo, as it doesn't stop me sweating.

I don't wear synthetics if I can help it, and it doesn't make any difference pong-wise whether I wear cotton or viscose.

The only fabric I have come across that does not pick up the pong, or, if it does, can have the pong washed out, is pure wool - merino or cashmere.

I launder at 40C. According to Which?, no 60C cycle actually delivers, so I don't bother with it. I have a bedwetter dc, and 40C works fine, no odour. I do a 95C towels load every so often to clean the machine.

This Halo stuff sounds worth looking at. If it contains my allergens, maybe I can just use it to pre-treat clothes, then wash with my regular detergent.

I've used the pads - have a box in the drawer and use them on special occasions/special clothes. They don't rustle.

I've had this problem since puberty. I have found that to control it now I use a sweat/deodorant spray on all the armpits of my clothes when I wash them (I'm not in UK so brand name useless to you, but it smells and tastes like strong, unsweetened grapefruit juice so I suspect citric acid) and when I'm taking them dry off the line I check them and any which are getting fusty, I collect and when I have enough I put them all in for a "strip wash" - like you do with cloth nappies - 60C or higher, no fabric conditioner, only detergent and added vinegar, plus soaked with the anti-sweat spray for 10 mins or so before starting. That gets the smell out of the clothing.

However, the smell will come back. The only thing I'd ever found which actually worked was when I borrowed a boyfriend's deodorant - there is some other ingredient in men's sprays which works. But they are often so heavily scented that you end up smelling like a teenage boy and some of them even do weird things - Old Spice (spray, not cologne) creates some unholy mixture with my natural smell to end up smelling like I have literally just seasoned my armpits with some old spices and left them to fester along with the BO which then doubles in strength. Yuck.

But anyway. I noticed the other day that Lynx now produce a deodorant spray aimed at women. So I bought it, and fingers crossed, it doesn't seem to be transferring that fusty deo+sweat smell that I always get. And it is more heavily perfumed than I'm used to (DH asked me if I was wearing perfume) but it's not an unpleasant or masculine smell. It might just be me, but I've tried so many kinds before and always had the same response from them and this is the first one I've found which is different, so it might be worth a try.

LifeIs, the key thing with re-appearing odour on clothes is that the antiperspirant actives are 'locking' your sweat onto the fabric. I'm a cosmetic scientist, and know that antiperspirants work by forming a gel which blocks the apocrine glands in your armpit. This gel also traps sweat onto your clothes. They key to getting rid of it is knowing that these actives are soluble at low pH, i.e. in acid conditions. Therefore, soaking your clothes overnight with a few spoonsful of citric acid (available from the chemist or sometimes in the home baking aisle) before washing is usually enough to clear the problem. Shirts that have yellowed or gone stiff under the armpits will need repeated soakings, but eventually this should save your clothes.

Driclor. Seriously persevere for a couple of weeks - the itch and burn dies off and I use it about 4 times a year now and it keeps it in check.

I've never chosen clothes by what they're made from but viscose can't help. I'm not really drawn to viscose clothes - they look hot and sweaty on the hangar.

I had the same problem with smelly tops but I found Vanish antibacterial works wonders. Blinking expensive though, so I shall also be giving the Sports wash mentioned by Stable a go too.

Would breast pads work? Lansinoh were amazingly absorbant. We also have Halo wash - don't use it for everything but I use it on/off for my husband's shirts.

Villanova - what helpful advice, thank you.

Try adding detail antibacterial laundry cleanser to your washing machine instead of conditioner - it should get rid of the sweat and smell. Apparently the smell is caused by old sweat bacteria on your clothes - and though initsllialky fine when first washed they start to smell again when warmed up either through wearing or through ironing. I had this problem with loads of work tops and all my running gear but the detox has worked a treat and I've never smelt sweat on them since.

I've tried underarm pads from eBay. They're great for using inside Blazers but I find them a bit tricky to get on any flimsy garment. The pads are shaped to stick around the bottom of the armhole. When the fabric is flimsy it's absolutely impossible to stick it to fit the bottom of the armhole as its a curve. You end up with bunched up looking armpits on tops. Really doesn't work with silk tops, t shirts and linen or viscose.

if I dont wash a top at 60 I have to bin it soon after - smell stays.

I was everything at 60 - and just dont buy stuff that cant be washed at it

I bung it in at 60 anyway cos washing at less will leave a smell so wont be able to wear again

PurpleWithRed what make are your pads?

Villanova that would explain why vinegar helps a bit. I shall buy some citric acid and soak some of my pong-ruined shirts to try it out.

Few ideas that worked for my sweaty horse riding stuff and tops I thought I would have to bin

The dettol stuff but the powder, you use it to soak before washing
Don't use fabric conditioner as it holds the smell in and use bio washing stuff
Turn tops inside out to treat armpits
Try sprinkling bicarb on armpit of tops then pour on white vinegar, let them sit for a bit before washing
Napisan (I soak stuff, it's never bleached it) then wash with a bit of napisan as well
Vodka on armpits of clothes
Halo sports wash - I rub it into armpits of clothes as well before washing

The main tricks seem to be treat the armpit of clothes before washing, soaking them helps and get them treated and soaking asap and don't use fabric conditioner

I have decanted some vodka into a little spray bottle & spray the underarm area of my tops with it. It works a treat to get rid of any nasty niffs.

However I do think that todays alcohol free deodorants aren't as good as the ones we used years ago that did have alcohol or more alcohol in.

What about biological washing powder? Or detol (I think) do a liquid that you put in with the wash.