How do I keep by clothes from smelling like BO?

Question

I sweat somewhat excessively. To the point where I use Certidri heavy duty deoderant. Any suggestions on what to wash, or soak, my clothes in to deter the smell from lingering?

Answer 1

The smell you detect is *probably* coming from the yellowish, possibly cake-like stains under the arms of your shirts.  Perspiration is a means of excreting bodily wastes - in addition to regulating body temperature.  The yellow stains are caused by (among other things - more on this later) urea, a natural byproduct of the body's processes. Urea is, as you might imagine, also excreted in urine (the main reason why your pee is yellow, especially if you're dehydrated), although urea is FAR more concentrated in urine than in sweat.

Long story short, everybody is different, and every person's sweat contains different amounts of urea, and that's PARTLY why some sweat stains (and the smells that go along with them) are worse than others.  Here's the real key to the problem, though:  your antiperspirant and laundry detergent probably are exacerbating the staining problem.

Most antiperspirants contain aluminum salts, which react with the chemicals in sweat, and make the stains worse. The more aluminum salts (i.e., the stronger the antiperspirant), the worse the stain.  Then, when the aluminum salts are combined with laundry detergent (especially in cooler water settings), the salts do not fully dissolve.  If too much detergent is used, the residue can compound the problem even further.  The result is a gross, crusty-looking, yellowish stain (sometimes greenish, if the deodorant/antiperspirant is blue) that doesn't come out in an ordinary washing cycle.  The BO smell clings to the stain, and doesn't go away no matter how many times you wash.

Try soaking your existing shirts.  There are several options, and I don't pretend to know them all.  Caution:  some or all of these methods could RUIN your clothes, so read all product/clothing labels VERY carefully.

First, there's Oxy Clean.  Annoying commercials aside, the product can work - if you follow the directions.  Oxy Clean is a bit expensive, and you can make it yourself - if you know what you're doing.  This is not recommended, however, because you run a much higher risk of ruining your clothes.  But if you're feeling brave (or experimental), the active ingredients in Oxy Clean are (mainly) percarbonic acid and percarbonate ion.  Make a paste of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide, and mix a small amount (say, 1/4 cup) in a gallon of ROOM TEMPERATURE water - do not heat.  Soak overnight, rinse and launder (see below).  

You also could try soaking overnight in hot tap water mixed with a small amount (1/2 cup per gallon to start) of white distilled vinegar (a mild acid), or the recommended amount of an active enzyme laundry product, such as Biz Bleach or Axion. Rinse, then wash normally (see below).

If the stain STILL won't come out, dampen the fabric, and sprinkle a generous amount of meat tenderizer into the stain (rub it in, like you're preparing a steak for the grill). Wait about an hour, rinse the shirt, then put it back in the wash (see below). If the meat tenderizer doesn't do the trick ... well, you might be better off just retiring your shirt.  

So much for treating existing clothing.  But as the saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.  

Your first line of defense is striking at the root of the problem (antiperspirant and bacteria).  I've heard that applying distilled white vinegar (right from the bottle) to the underarms, and allowing it to dry completely BEFORE putting on antiperspirant, can help r****d bacteria growth, but have no idea whether this actually works.  Regardless, use deodorant instead of antiperspirant, or perhaps an antiperspirant that doesn't contain aluminum salts (there are some out there, but they're not particularly common) - if possible, especially during the cooler months.  If neither is an option, use a non-solid antiperspirant (a gel or a non-powder spray), and to allow it to dry completely before getting dressed.  

To help prevent the smell, mix 1-to-1 water with distilled white vinegar, put the mixture into a spray bottle, and saturate - saturate - the affected areas after wearing the shirt, and AGAIN before laundering (see below).

Also put a little extra effort into the laundry process (although the stains will form, eventually): (1) pre-treat the affected areas with vinegar/water - as soon as you take off the shirt; (2) pre-treat (a second time) just before washing with vinegar/water or an anti-stain spray (follow the directions); (3) wash your clothes on the hottest recommended temperature; (4) use the highest recommended agitation setting; (5) max out the duration of the agitation cycle; and (6) use the CORRECT amount of detergent - remember:  detergent can be part of the problem, and too much is just as bad as too little.

Note:  resist the temptation to use bleach (soaking, spot-treating or in the laundry cycle) for this problem.  Bleach is obviously not appropriate for colored clothing, and although it is great for killing bacteria (a major source of the smell) in the short term, it can ultimately make the staining worse.  Bleach tends to turn fabrics yellowish over time.

With all of this advice, PROCEED WITH CAUTION.  Read your labels, and test the methods - first - on older clothes you are prepared to lose.  

Answer 2

soak your clothes in arm and hammer washing soda

http://www.thelaundrybasket.com/images/p...

before washing them with some detergent and use a cup of vinegar to the final rinse .

Answer 3

Before washing your shirts spot treat all the underarms with a mild shampoo.  This will help break up the deoderant  residue left in the fibers. Use Arm and Hammer washing soda as directed on the box.  It may help if you rinse the clothes a second time.  Good luck!!

Answer 4

Perhaps you could use a scented bleach? Maybe try more breathable clothing if possible. Check your diet also, there may be something you can change to decrease the odor.

Answer 5

Pre-soak them for half hour in a mixture of water, detergent, a cup of vinegar and a cup of baking soda.  Then drain that water off and wash as usual.

Also, if you shower with Dial soap (it has triclosan) it will kill some of the bacteria on the skin which create odor.  

Answer 6

must always keep it to the sun light cos it make kill the gem's and bacteria and it make u cloth smell more better and don't let the cloths stay to long in box it make dust and make smell

Answer 7

Wash in warm water with plenty of detergent.  Rinse well and air dry outside.

Answer 8

You can use underarm guards to protect clothes. They're disposable.

To clean sweat stains:

Mix two parts white vinegar to one part water.

Saturate stains with this mixture.

Let it sit for a couple of hours.

Wash in the washing machine as usual.

This should work even for old stains that have been through the dryer