How do you get rid of the stench in your workout clothes? When I sweat in them after wash'g, they smell sour!

Question

I have new workout clothes, but it always seems after just a few washes they get this smell to them when I start perspiring in them. I use detergent and after they are washed they smell fresh, but the second I start to sweat in them, they get this awful "musty/sour" smell... It makes me want to Gag! I'm tired of constantly throwing out my tops, because they smell so bad... Does anyone else have this problem? Any suggestions on how I can prevent this? What detergents do you reccomend? Any other suggestions.... Any good advice is greatly appreciated... :-)

Answer 1

They are contaminated with bacteria that live on sweat ...

1 - Let your workout clothes dry completely before you put them in a hamper.  This prevents the bacteria from growing huge numbers.

2 - Wash them with hotwater, soap and a cup of baking soda, and do a double rinse.  Alternate washes with soap and a couple cups of vinegar.

3 - If you can, dry them outside in the sun.

Answer 2

Try Feebreeze or a strong perfume

Answer 3

The smell is mildew/mold caused by clothing left wet for too long. If the clothing is dried faster after being wet, mildew will not have time to grow. Simple normal washing in cold or warm water does not usually remove the mildew. Hot, hot water must be used along with a long wash cycle. Sometimes a couple long, hot wash cycles is required to rid the clothing of the mildew. Then to the dryer within minutes after the wash cycles. The mold/mildew must be killed or the clothing will smell the next time it becomes wet again.

Answer 4

White vinegar should take care of it. Add 1/2 cup to the rinse cycle, or presoak them in warm water and 1/2 cup vinegar. Vinegar kills germs, deodorizes, breaks down the sweat in the clothes, and works as a fabric softener. The vinegar smell dissipates as it dries.

Answer 5

Try washing them in baking soda or vinegar.

Answer 6

Are you putting them in a gym bag? That could be the musty smell problem, if they are picking any odor up. If so, just scour your bag out with disenfectant wipes and let it air dry. If you wear them to the gym, then that shouldn't be the problem. What I would do, is wash them as usual, but put about a cup of white vinegar right on the load then start the machine. Vinegar is magic on odors, cleans water build up on your machine, protects colors, etc. Washing the load with vinegar and soap should keep them really fresh.  Also the towel you are using at the gym should be washed with vinegar as well, that could be transferring odor. Use a clean one every work-out. If all that fails, change to a new soap Gain keeps clothes smelling freshest the longer, don't wear any lotions or perfumes that could cause a reaction to your clothes while sweating, and you should be all good. Good luck on tracking it down! Also,,, Don't worry about the smell of vinegar it will not be on your clothes, they just smell fresh and clean and it softens them also!