kinda gross but if anyone can help...

smae1980
smae1980 Posts: 794 Member
edited September 22 in Fitness and Exercise
Sorry I'm not sure where this topic belongs, but here seems the closest match. Anyway my problem is that my workout clothes smell. Yeah yeah I know they're supposed to, but I mean they smell even after I just washed them. I know it probably has something to do with proteins in sweat clinging to the armpits of my gyms shirts, I just don't know how to get rid of the smell! I've tried spray n wash on the bad areas, presoaking them, extra washing them, nothing works. I'm in school and kinda broke and would rather get these smelling better than go buy new stuff if I don't have to. Does anyone know of an enzyme based detergent or something that might work on my clothes or has anyone had this problem and found anything that works?

Replies

  • fawnifer
    fawnifer Posts: 3 Member
    Go to Walmart or any grocery store and in the laundry isle look for a box of 20 mule team borax. It will do the trick! I have a construction worker hubby that sweats out in the Arizona sun all day and his shirts would reek! Borax is the only thing that kept me from throwing out his shirts.
  • smae1980
    smae1980 Posts: 794 Member
    thanks, will try. That stuff is pretty cheap, too isn't it?
  • BeautifulScarsWECHANGED
    BeautifulScarsWECHANGED Posts: 749 Member
    Also, I think it's Tide that makes a sport detergent with Febreeze in it as well. It works on my workout clothes.
  • cem789
    cem789 Posts: 231 Member
    that happens to my clothes too....
  • bainos
    bainos Posts: 99
    be proud of your workout stink.
  • smae1980
    smae1980 Posts: 794 Member
    be proud of your workout stink.

    Trust me I'm totally proud of my workout stink as long as it's AFTER my workout, not when I'm still lacing up my sneaks!
  • whalenmich7295
    whalenmich7295 Posts: 21 Member
    be proud of your workout stink.

    just let me get my set in before you lay on the bench :)
  • tuduis
    tuduis Posts: 67
    I also have workout stink clothes... I did a double take self smell this afternoon when I was at the gym... THANKS FOR THE TIPS
  • smae1980
    smae1980 Posts: 794 Member
    be proud of your workout stink.

    just let me get my set in before you lay on the bench :)

    Hey! I always wipe the bench when I'm done!
  • melkneec
    melkneec Posts: 309 Member
    My friend use to have to strip her kids cloth diapers for the same reason. I found a website with some information about it. Maybe it will help. :)http://www.zany-zebra.com/stripping-cloth-diapers.shtml
  • NoAdditives
    NoAdditives Posts: 4,251 Member
    I use BabyGanics laundry detergent and never have problems with lingering smells. It gets out tough stains too, but for the ones it doesn't remove I use their stain remover spray. You can get it at Toys R Us or Babies R Us. It's organic and made from plant-based ingredients like coconut oil.
  • exp_lauren
    exp_lauren Posts: 29 Member
    Not sure if this will work, but definitely cheaper than new clothing to try. I add Borax powder to the machine when washing smelly stuff. It boosts your detergent and is a natural deodorizer. You can find it in the regular laundry soap section at most supermarkets. Where I live, it comes in a sage green box with a nostalgic image of a child dressed in western clothing on the box front. Good luck!
  • Dafrog
    Dafrog Posts: 353
    add amonia to your rinse cycle
  • fasttrack27
    fasttrack27 Posts: 324
    I'd answer you, but I need to go ask my wife first. I'm guessing we have a washing machine somewhere in the house....

    (just kidding - I really am a pretty good hubby - just being funny today i guess)
  • smae1980
    smae1980 Posts: 794 Member
    add amonia to your rinse cycle


    ewe! then I'd just smell like cat pee!
  • amstein18
    amstein18 Posts: 131
    add some fabric softener too!
  • NotAllWhoWanderAreLost
    NotAllWhoWanderAreLost Posts: 615 Member
    Have you tried vinegar in your rinse cycle? I used that with cloth diapers And no, you won't end up smelling like a pickle :laugh: ... I would Google info on removing smells from cloth diapers if i were you... there is a TON of info out there from the cloth diapering community!
  • LifesPilgrim
    LifesPilgrim Posts: 498 Member
    I use oxy clean and let the clothes soak anywhere from 15 to 30 minutes, depending on our activities. We went hiking, white water rafting, and speelunking last summer, and not a single hotel had laundry facilities, so nothing got washed for about 5 days. I'll leave the aroma up to your imagination, but you could smell everything through the watertight bags!

    I ran the wash twice, using the oxyclean, and everything is good, and still very usable.
  • girlruns
    girlruns Posts: 344
    Try this:

    http://www.penguinapparelcare.com/sport.html

    You can buy it here:

    http://www.roadrunnersports.com/rrs/products/PEN105/
  • kking74
    kking74 Posts: 2
    I second girlruns suggestion for the Penguin Sport Wash. I picked up a bottle at my local running store. I took all my workout clothes and threw them in with a couple towels that were starting to smell. It really worked. I don't use this all the time because it's pretty expensive, I just throw everything in with the regular laundry. Now I was just thinking this morning that it might be time to wash all the workout gear in the Penguin Sport Wash again because I have a couple things that stink again.
  • ironsister
    ironsister Posts: 9 Member
    You can also add baking soda and vinegar to the wash in addition to your detergent, it works pretty well. Also, last year we had a house fire and most of our clothes ended up wet and smelling like smoke, if you have ever had a fire you know the smell, it is horrible...anyway, I took several of our things to a cleaner that used Ozone and it took the worst smells out. I didn't know at the time that Ozone can be purchased at local hardware stores.
  • Nich0le
    Nich0le Posts: 2,906 Member
    I had this same problem and have found three solutions.

    First, I have a high efficiency washer, which is great for mother earth but not so great for the noses that surround me at the gym. I use clorox stain fighter in the wash, COLD water and I do very small loads. Baking soda is great to help get rid of odors too when added to the wash. I have tried borax etc and although they help a little I found that is not what is causing the biggest problem.

    If you use a gel deoderant STOP, the gel gets in the clothing and traps the odor. I have switched to a regular deoderant and have had a lot less stink in the clothes. Problem with the new fabrics is once the smell is in there it is hard to get rid of it.

    Also, the absolute best way to get rid of odors and stains is to soak the clothes in cold water over night and then wash, I find this approach works better than warm water and then when it's time to wash I add the stain fighter and a bit of baking soda and everything seems to return to a non stinkier happy place.

    I will admit that I have a couple of newer sports bras that I refuse to get rid of but I only wear them when I am running through the hood because I don't want to be the gym offender :wink:
  • flynabster
    flynabster Posts: 87
    Baking soda added to the wash should work....and it's CHEAP.....
  • jeorwa
    jeorwa Posts: 92 Member
    I have a farmer husband that literally comes home covered in crap everyday. The only thing that works for him is Tide with Arm and Hammer and Oxyclean! AND a good fabric softener, AND good drier sheets( I prefer Downy april fresh) ! But his clothes come out smelling great
  • nickeymhughes
    nickeymhughes Posts: 115 Member
    Wow, not that would be expensive.. Borax is cheap and it works.. matter of fact I make my own laundry soap and borax is one of the ingredients (I'm cheap I know). Can't help it, I really hate how expensive laundry soap is.. every so often I buy some if I have a coupon and when I use it all I keep the container so I can fill it with the laundry soap I make cause I make a ton of it at a time...(it last me for like 3 months) and it smells good too =)
  • dom300186
    dom300186 Posts: 127 Member
    try putting them on a normal machine wash with powder and pour white vinegar in the softner compartment and leave it to clean dont worry it wont smell of vinegar when finished as its a deoderiser.
    or mix baking soda with vinegar of sweat patches and leave for about 20 mins then wash as normal and it will dissapear.
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