Are you wondering how to get the sweat smell out of clothes?
Almost every one of us sweats. Sometimes, we even break up a sweat to get the sweat smell out of our clothes. Well, you don’t have to sweat it anymore!
Today, we will show you ten ways to get the stink out of your clothes.
1. Shower More Often
This tip is more of a prevention than a solution to the sweat smell problem.
As we already know, the stink or the sweat smell comes from, well, sweat. Where does it come from? Us!
Showering more often would help with the root of the problem.
2. Change Clothes More Often
You can say that changing clothes more often is another preventive step.
By changing your clothes often, we don’t mean to change around five times every day!
Change your clothes often if you sweat a lot. This way, the sweat and the bacteria that come with it won’t pile up on your clothes. If the bacteria don’t pile up, it would be easier to remove when you wash your clothes.
3. Pay Attention to the Fabric
Again, you could say this tip is more on the prevention side.
If you are almost always dealing with that sweaty smell on your clothes, then it might be time to pay attention to the fabric of your clothes.
Some fabrics are better than others when it comes to handling sweat and body odor.
In this study, they looked at the difference between natural and synthetic fibers. They used cotton and polyester in their experiment, both the most common variety in their respective group.
At the end of the study, it appeared that polyester smelled more than cotton.
With that, you might want to consider avoiding polyester and synthetic materials for your sweat smell problem.
To add, you might also want to invest in some undershirts. This way, it would take some time to soak your favorite shirts in sweat. You would still have to worry about the undershirt, but it’s one way to be sure your favorite top will not be ruined.
On the other hand, you might not even have to worry about the undershirts. There are some undershirts made specifically for this problem.
4. Let the Clothes Dry
Let your clothes dry before you throw them in your gym bag or the laundry basket.
This extra step will help by reducing the bacteria that makes your clothes stink.
5. Wash As Soon As Possible
Doing the laundry is not the most exciting task out there, but don’t put it off for too long!
It’s best if you wash extra sweaty clothes as soon as possible. This way, you will immediately get rid of the bacteria that cause your clothes to smell.
6. Wash Your Clothes Inside Out
When we sweat, it is the inside of our clothes that gets in direct contact with it. That’s why it would be a good idea to turn your clothes inside out when it’s time to wash it. This way, it will be more exposed to the cleansing agent, giving the cleansing agent a better chance of killing the bacteria and the smell.
7. Make Sure There’s Enough Space
Make sure you don’t overload the machine when it’s time to wash. Making sure there is enough space is making sure the clothes will be cleaned properly.
If there is not enough space in the drum, there is a possibility that the cleanser would not be able to get through every corner and crook of the clothes.
8. Pick Your Cleaning Agent
There are many cleaning agents out there that could help you with this problem.
#Baking Soda
Baking soda is a household wonder. You can find it in the kitchen, in the bathroom, and now it might find its place in the laundry room too.
It is no secret that it is one of the best cleaning agents out there. If it has helped you with some stinky problems before, it might be able to help you again now.
There are two ways you can use baking soda in your laundry.
- Soaking – For the first one, get a basin or something similar. Put some baking powder with warm water in it, then mix. Soak the sweaty clothes in it for a few minutes up to an hour. Wash as normal.
- Sprinkling – On the other hand, you can add it to the laundry. Put the clothes in the washer, sprinkle some baking soda in there and do the laundry as you usually would.
#Vinegar
Vinegar is another great cleaning agent. You might be surprised, but yes, you can use vinegar to help with the smell.
There are also two ways to do this. You can also soak your clothes in a distilled vinegar solution for a few minutes to a few hours. On the other hand, you can add some vinegar to the washer.
When using vinegar, you have to remember to use as little as possible. As much as vinegar could help, it could also ruin some clothes. The amount to use would ultimately depend on the number of clothes, but generally, you don’t want to use more than 1 cup.
Don’t use vinegar if you’re going to use bleach! More than ruining your clothes, mixing vinegar and bleach creates a toxic gas.
#Lemon
Next up, the lemon. Maybe not as known as baking soda or vinegar, but lemon is also a great partner when it comes to cleaning.
For this one, juice or slice a couple of lemons. Again, the amount would depend on the number of clothes you are washing. Typically, half a cup is enough.
Mix the lemon juice or slices in hot water. Let it sit for a while, especially if you used lemon slices. Soak the clothes in for a few minutes or hours.
After that, you could take out the clothes and wash them as usual. Alternatively, some also like to add the solution to the washer too.
#Salt
Here we have another great cleaner that you probably already have – salt!
Again, you would need some warm water for this one. Put some salt in it. The amount would depend on the number of clothes you’re washing, but half a cup should do the trick.
Make sure that the salt mixes with the water. Soak the clothes in it for a few minutes up to a few hours. Wash normally.
#Detergents
Finally, we have the detergents.
If none of the cleaning agents above worked, do not worry. There are dozens and dozens of different detergents available in the market. Many of them specifically made for this problem.
If you don’t want to opt for some home solutions, you can take a quick trip to the nearest store near you to scan their laundry needs area.
It might be a good time to note that when using laundry detergents there is a right amount. There is no exact number. However, the root of your problem might be because you’re putting too little or too much.
Putting too little won’t cleanse your clothes properly. On the other hand, putting too much will make the solution thicken. If the solution gets thick, it might not be able to properly get into the crooks and corners of your clothes.
9. Don’t Use Fabric Softener
Using fabric softeners is like sweeping the problem under the rug. Quite literally at that.
Fabric softeners don’t get to the root of the problem. Instead of removing the bacteria causing the stink, they mask it under artificial smells.
If you want to use fabric softeners, you might like to try one of the cleaning agents we stated above instead. In addition to removing odor, they’re also great fabric softeners.
10. Let the Clothes Dry 2.0
Our last tip is similar to our 4th point. Let the clothes dry.
Do not leave the clothes in the washer for too long. Dry them as soon as possible.
Follow the care label, but usually, it is best to let nature dry your clothes. Put them out where there is sunlight and wind. These two things are almost always the best driers around.
This last tip will not work if your clothes still smell like sweat after taking them out of the washer. If your clothes still smell like sweat after you’ve washed them, try one of the other tips and rewash them.
Don’t let your clothes dry smelling like sweat. Drying locks in the smell. If your clothes still smelled when you put them up the clothesline, it will still smell that way when it dries.
Summary
How to get the sweat smell out of clothes? It’s easy! There are many ways to get the stink out of clothes. Usually, the solution only involves making a few adjustments here and there.
You can now work up a sweat without breaking a sweat trying to get it off afterward!
Jessica Oliver is a fashion enthusiast with more than ten years of experience in the industry. She previously managed her own clothing store in New York before becoming a mother of three. With a passion for sustainability and a desire to share clothing care and recycling tips.