Can Gym Clothes Reach the Point of No Return?

LorinaLynn

Do gym clothes, in particular dry-weave clothes, reach a funk-saturation point from which there is no hope of ever getting them smelling fresh and clean again?

I have a few shirts that no matter how much they're laundered, they reek to high heaven. Sadly, I don't always notice this when I first put them on. Guess it's time to retire those bad boys... But I wonder... I've heard that putting smelly running shoes in the freezer kills the bacteria responsible for their pungent aroma... will the same theory hold true for other articles of clothing?

Or should I just throw out the offending shirts before they EPA comes after me?

visiri

Try washing with ammonia in the load - NO BLEACH though -if they mix it's a bad thing. When my husbands close get a bit too rank, I put ammonia in the fabric softener compartment and it seems to help a lot. I've heard white vinegar helps too (or that might be softening).

kaiteboo

Have you tried soaking them in baking powder or warm salt water? There is also special detergent called sport wash and sport suds that I have heard good things about!

cufirst84

With all your hard work, treat yourself to some new duds !!!! :happy:

seekingstrengthX2

With all your hard work, treat yourself to some new duds !!!! :happy:

Agree. My husband has had a few get so nasty that I couldn't stand to wash them. Go shopping!

thefuzz1290

I get the yellow pits on white shirts, but no funk sticks with it...I've had some gym shirts for 10+ years.

ashfuse

I smell like ammonia when I work out and my workout close are starting to get bad. I tried baking soda but that didn't help LOL it's mostly my sports bras that have the odor. I'd love to replace but they are expensive.

almc170

I've heard the freezer theory applied to jeans (apparently some people never wash them?), so it might be worth a shot to try it with other clothes too.

KPainter70

I have the same issue with a couple of my sports bras. I've tried washing with vinegar - it did nothing. Haven't tried the sports wash or baking soda yet. Right now I keep them for when I'm doing outside stuff on my own, but I'm thinking about pitching them soon.

itsuki

I want to emphasize that ammonia + bleach isn't just "a bad thing:" it creates a toxic gas that will kill you.

Just as an fyi.

Do you have any dusting powder or deodorant powder? Get a big ziplock bag, throw a bunch of deodorant powder and the clothes in there, shake it up, and let it sit for 24 hours. Then take it out and try washing again.

kgarman

I want to emphasize that ammonia + bleach isn't just "a bad thing:" it creates a toxic gas that will kill you.

Just as an fyi.

Do you have any dusting powder or deodorant powder? Get a big ziplock bag, throw a bunch of deodorant powder and the clothes in there, shake it up, and let it sit for 24 hours. Then take it out and try washing again.

But it works so well....

In all seriousness, smell is from bacteria. Set them out in the sun for an afternoon. That should kill the bacteria off. If it works for my hockey gear it'll work for a t-shirt.

BerryH

I don't know, some of my dry-weave kit is as fresh as a daisy, other bits smell like a wrestler's jock strap. That natural breathable fabric derived from bamboo or whatnot seems to be the worst culprit.

I did have a free sample of some specialist sports kit wash that I've seen in running shops too that did the trick, I may just invest in some.

AmyRhubarb

I want to emphasize that ammonia + bleach isn't just "a bad thing:" it creates a toxic gas that will kill you.

Just as an fyi.

Do you have any dusting powder or deodorant powder? Get a big ziplock bag, throw a bunch of deodorant powder and the clothes in there, shake it up, and let it sit for 24 hours. Then take it out and try washing again.

But it works so well....

In all seriousness, smell is from bacteria. Set them out in the sun for an afternoon. That should kill the bacteria off. If it works for my hockey gear it'll work for a t-shirt.

I was gonna say - ask a hockey player! There is no funk quite like hockey funk. :sick: LOL

Monica_in_MO

My son's football coach always tells the boys to sit their shoulder pads and cleats out in the sunshine for a day or two to "de-funkify" them. If that's not a word, it should be. : )

FoamyRiver

I pour white vinegar in the bleach compartment of my washer and it works wonders. My laundry doesn't smell like vinegar afterward either.

wendorfa

I've washed my daughter's pajamas after she has wet the bed and had them come out still smelling. The only thing that seems to work is Oxy Clean, and that totally takes the urine smell out. If it works for urine, it should work for funk LOL

agentscully514

Tide Sports with Febreze seems to work pretty well.

Jamiecfc1

I reckon if your clothes don't reach the point of no return - you're just not working them hard enough . I find that after a while they do start to, umm, develop their own fragrance, plus go out of shape/lose their elasticity, so it's a good excuse to buy new stuff. I usually change mine on a fairly regular basis, that "fresh out of the box/off the rail" feeling is a bit of a motivator. Or maybe I'm just strange :bigsmile:

lleabrooks

Go Shopping!! You deserve it! :happy:

ahealthy4u

I've heard the freezer theory applied to jeans (apparently some people never wash them?), so it might be worth a shot to try it with other clothes too.

I don't know how it would work on people's clothes but I do know that homemade ice packs you are to through in the freezer for it will kill what ever lurks on them.

My favorite product is the freebreeze stuff that you through in your laundry it is for ordor control. Far as shoes go people would prefure if I just bought new ones every time I take them off LOL good luck

love22step

I soak and wash items in baking powder to take away musty smells.

76tech

Overnight in the freezer. Double bagged, since you're probably got actual food in there too...
If that doesn't do it, it's perma-stink and time to get some new stuff.

mariposa224

In all seriousness, smell is from bacteria. Set them out in the sun for an afternoon. That should kill the bacteria off. If it works for my hockey gear it'll work for a t-shirt.

I'm SO going to have to try this with my son's RANK-smelling hockey gear. I swear that stuff could get up and walk on its own it's so nasty!

mariposa224

I was gonna say - ask a hockey player! There is no funk quite like hockey funk. :sick: LOL

AMEN to that!!!

rml_16

Do gym clothes, in particular dry-weave clothes, reach a funk-saturation point from which there is no hope of ever getting them smelling fresh and clean again?

I have a few shirts that no matter how much they're laundered, they reek to high heaven. Sadly, I don't always notice this when I first put them on. Guess it's time to retire those bad boys... But I wonder... I've heard that putting smelly running shoes in the freezer kills the bacteria responsible for their pungent aroma... will the same theory hold true for other articles of clothing?

Or should I just throw out the offending shirts before they EPA comes after me?

Get some OxyClean (or the generic, cheaper version) and toss a scoop in with the clothes when you wash them next.

BerryH

If they're that bad, you don't have to decide to chuck them out, they'll walk out on their own!

AmyLRed

I smell like ammonia when I work out and my workout close are starting to get bad. I tried baking soda but that didn't help LOL it's mostly my sports bras that have the odor. I'd love to replace but they are expensive.

Ebay! i am a DD so i can only wear really good sports bras. i have found many new ones on Ebay for a fraction of the cost

Sherbog

Anything that requires more work for me gets the boot.

katya143

THIS IS MY ISSUE!!!!!! I have tried vinegar, doesnt work! I bought sport wash, sport suds and all the other crap, havent tried it yet, but have a feeling it might not work either..... I just try to treat myself to new gear when hitting a new goal! Its motivating when u work out and smell the funk!

rgunn02

I wash all of my work out stuff in LOTS of vinegar and detergent. I add vinegar to the pre wash dispenser, to the bleach dispenser and to the softener dispenser. Seems to work good for me. Even ones that used to be really rank are like new again!

GTOgirl1969

I have a couple of workout T-shirts that smell no matter how many times I wash them. I'll try the vinegar trick before investing in special sports detergent.