SWEAT - Help! How do you get rid of the smell from clothes?

Are you using a biological detergent- that might help? You could give Seasalt a ring and ask what they recommend.

I use Ariel with actilift for DH's sweaty garden clobber. Always come out smelling sweet!

I soak my sweaty stuff in a solution of vinegar and water for a few hours or overnight and then wash them as normal. So far, it works.

I use Dettol anti-bacterial laundry cleanser in the wash. It is meant for items which have to be washed at low temperatures. I use it for my exercise clothing. I recommended it to DD when I noticed that her teenagers' school polo shirts whiffed a bit on ironing, and it has eliminated the problem. It used to be sold in liquid form, but I found this week that it is a powder in a tub. Don't know if it has changed or whether both are available in supermarkets.

I'm with Lona on this. Treat the underarms with white vinegar before washing as usual.

I would not use Dettol type anti-bacterial sprays on laundry at all. I am sure it must add to the likelihood of antibiotic resistance. That is a serious problem. I really dislike how Dettol goes on increasing unwarranted anxiety about germs in its adverts.

www.independent.co.uk/news/health-warning-on-dangers-of-anti-bacterial-cleaners-1084391.html

You could try microwaving the article when still slightly damp, as you could a smelly dishcloth.

I did read once that washing in Head and Shoulders is supposed to help.

I think cotton is particularly bad for absorbing smells.

I'd like to try the vinegar, but how much vinegar to water? A whole bottle or a few tablespoons?

I just glug probably a mug full of cheap brown vinegar into a bucket of water. The clothes don't smell at all of vinegar after washing.

Could you not hang it outside? I am sure that would remove any odd whiffs.

It's very odd - none of my other clothes have this problem, just this one top. I'll try the vinegar first and see what happens and then contact Seasalt if it doesn't help.

Rowantre I put neat white vinegar on the underarms and soak it a bit before washing.

There seems to be a lot of stuff about vinegar working well .

www.google.co.uk/?gws_rd=ssl#q=vinegar+to+remove+sweat+smell

You might try this rowantre

When the arm pit area is wet, liberally sprinkle with salt, covering the whole area, rubbing salt into the seams.

Leave it for 3-4 hours, then then immerse in warm water for another couple of hours, salty arm pits too.
If concerned about shrinkage, shorten the soak times.
Then wash as normal. It works.

Find my remedy fitting, considering the make.

I immerse my DH's sweaty shirts into hot water, spreading out the fabric, then pouring out copious amounts of salt onto the exposed arm pit area, whilst rubbing salt into the seams.

I think the stitching of the seams hold onto odour unless displaced by my determined salty rubbing.

Still works a treat. Let me/us know if you try this please.

Deodorant??!! Prevention better than cure??!!

I have a spray bottle with diluted vinegar in and spray underarms on clothes and crotch in trousers if they smell a bit but otherwise don't need washing - especially good for dry clean items. I have heard that using a citrus spray works as well.

Oh, yuk! If the crotch is still smelly, even after washing, something is seriously wrong...

starbird, surely if they smell a bit they do need washing.

I don't think I'd like to walk around smelling of vinegar. It would remind me of Friday night hair-wash night and the ghastly vinegar rinse.

No whiffs, but I did find that Mr P's shirts and T shirts became stained in the underarm area.

I use Mitchum roll on antiperspirant, and always allow it to dry before I get dressed, Mr P used to just roll it on and put on his shirt straightaway! I have now got him onto aerosol antiperspirant and that seems to have helped.

TBH, I would be a bit worried if my clothes smelled of sweat, are you sure it isn't some sort of stuff used in the fabric processing?

I have a very good sense of smell and often smell things others can't. If there is just the faintest whiff on my clothes I don't wear them again, but to save washing if there is a slight smell I use the diluted vinegar spray at night. The vinegar smell is gone in less than an hour. If there is any smell in the morning I put the clothes in the wash, but you'd be surprised how often there is no smell at all. It is the same principle as having a bowl of vinegar in the kitchen when you cook fish.
Apparently in the old days in the East they put sweet smelling incense like frankincense on the fire and the ladies let the smoke waft up their skirts!

When I visit my son and iron his shirts the underarms smell of sweat/perspiration in spite of having been washed. Any answers to that?

I think if clothes are smelling of perspiration even after washing then personal hygiene needs reassessing. Shirts should not smell if he is using anti perpirant.

Perspirant even

Are you using sufficient biological washing powder, not a hot enough wash or over-filling the washing machine?

Have you tried using Vanish? In my opinion starbird if clothes smell at all then they need washing.