BO

Riggie I like a combination of Vanish Platinum powder and Dettol laundry liquid added to all DH’s washes. Does the trick for me, might be worth a try for you. Haven’t tried the Dettol alone.

Supposedly 30 degree washes don’t shift bacteria - don’t know whether this is true or not but have never got as good results on stains at 30 so I stick to 40 or above if need be.

Your poor boy though being a teenager is no fun in some respects!!

and Farmor

I was just thinking the same thing Riggie - cold washes are very popular to 'save the environment' and cold washes do not kill off the bacteria.
It's the bacteria that causes the BO.

Another thing worth mentioning is her clothes and whether they are being laundered effectively. We're told to wash cool to help the environment but sometimes a 30 or 40°wash doesn't cut it.

With my son's things - since teenage hormones have kicked in - I struggle in hot weather. Have tried hotter washes, the dettol anti bac laundry liquid, adding vinegar, washing soda etc to no avail and sometimes I just have to wash his stuff twice to get the stink out. (And I can't mix his clothes with ours as the smell permeates everything)

Some clothes, particularly synthetics, can hold the sweaty smell even after washing. It’s not immediately noticable, but if ironed, the smell can be released and it may happen with warmth of body. When my children were teenagers, I can remember school shirts getting very stained with sweat which wouldn’t wash out.

I’m not sure what the solution to getting sweat stains and smells out of clothes, but I suspect the practice of washing at lower temperatures may not help.

Perhaps girl’s mother should check clothes after washing to make sure they’are not contributing to the problem.

my g-son and his g-friend both teach in secondary schools.... and have in the past commented what a smelly lot they can be.... "and when they take off their blazers ... !!!!"

i asked what they did about it... during tutor group time personal hygiene is regularly brought up... comparison of deodorants etc sprays / sticks ... how you actually need to wash before applying ... etc ...

but crucially the subject is raised up near a weekend of holiday with a laughing gentle reminder (!) that don't forget that their blazers will need washing as well as their body and shirts ...

apparently works till next time ...

Sorry BBevan to see the OP on my phone I have to go in and out again.

Thanks for that suggestion gillybob I will look into that.

Oh, that's a nice suggestion.

Valorie Schaefer
The Care and Keeping of You (Revised): The Body Book for Younger Girls.

This is a very good book aimed at girls your granddaughters age OP ( sorry can’t renember who started the thread and I’m on my phone so I can’t see ) . I think it’s around £8 from Amazon . You could make her a little toilet bag “ gift “ up with some nice deodorant, body wash , a body puff and a book like this perhaps ?

Well someone is going to tell her she actually smells so it might as well be you. Blunt talking as has been described by other posters, if she can't take a gentle hint. She needs to wash properly or she will be the one the others talk about and someone will tell her. Less painful if it comes from you.

In the early 1950s we got a lecture about it at school to the whole class, when we were about 13. Probably a bit late for some, but I was already using deodorant by that age, having a sensible mother. I don't remember anyone being smelly after that. Nobody wanted to be unattractive.

I just told my elder son when it was time to use deodorant, and he did so. I don’t remember it being an issue with my younger boy. He was very conscious of his image and probably just used his brother’s stuff.

I have a friend whose husband has never used deodorant, and I can honestly say he doesn’t smell.

there will be other, similar, brands available, I have no connection to the above brand.

Here's a link to deodorants for younger people which are free from aluminium and parabens but supposedly effective:
www.keepitkind.co.uk/

I think I would stand over her and make sure she applies the deodorant.

Has she said if the deodorant she’s got is making her skin sore? Just in case that’s why she’s bodyswerving using it.

I remember having the most awful reaction to one a friend gave me. Impulse Vanilla. I’m itching even thinking about it now

It’s worth ruling that out.

I don't have any suggestions for the 'hot head' jocork - even the GP was no help whatsoever.

She always says she has used her deodorant. But ,sadly, we know otherwise.
Perhaps she is, though; as others have said, at puberty bodily smells can be more pungent. Perhaps it just isn't the right product for her.

some GNers have mentioned that their GC have been sparing in their ablutions, not washing properly all over.
If you mean me and a very long-ago tale- then I was not referring to my GC who are kept very clean by their mothers.

I work in schools and a few years ago worked in an all girls secondary school. One of the teachers decided to give the girls a talk about personal hygiene, as walking down an enclosed corridor in the summer had become a very unpleasant experience. The frank talk from that teacher did improve things a bit.
I'm now in a mixed sex school and usually find it's the boys whose BO tends to knock you out as they pass. We have to discourage the use of deodorant sprays as they can cause asthma attacks, and generally it is more of a problem stopping them overusing deodorants than getting them to use them at all. However there are still a few people who say antiperspirants are harmful, but as long as use is confined to the underarms there should be no problem.
I too am in need of a solution to sweating all over my head - the last few hot weeks have been torture. At least there isn't a problem with smell, but as my hair is thinning it separates when wet and shows a lot of scalp. Any suggestions? I can't imagine spraying my whole head with deodorant, and goodness knows what that would do to my hair!

GabriellaG
You think you're outspoken, I think you're rude!

humptydumpty
No, I certainly wasn't. I'm outspoken enough to actually say what I mean, so it wasn't an oblique reference to GNers, however, some GNers have mentioned that their GC have been sparing in their ablutions, not washing properly all over. My comment was picking up on that point. Not all children have BO pre/post puberty.

I'd approach this very bluntly by saying that you know she isn't using the deodorant, because she still smells bad. Highlight to her that girls with bad body odour can end up being bullied by others. Remind her that you love her and want her to be happy, not the miserable butt of nasty comments at school. It's sad but true that body odour can spoil kids lives at a very vulnerable time. Good luck.

I use a mineral stick which does not contain aluminium. My sense of smell is not good so I have made my OH promise to tell me if I offend. He says I am fine although I do have a thorough shower every morning.

grantante we have been together to buy Bath stuff etc. Also spent a fortune in Lush. Her Mum has bought her some lovely sets of bra and pants. She always says she has used her deodorant. But ,sadly, we know otherwise.

Also, the armpits of her clothes may retain a residual smell of BO, which will get worse as she sweats when wearing them next time, especially if the fabric is not natural..