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How to get body odor and sweat smell out of clothes
Getting body odors out of clothes can require anything from a quick wash to a deep clean, and deciding which method is best can depend on the type of fabric, whether odors are lingering after a previous wash, possible detergent buildup, laundry habits and more. Use this guide to learn pretreating methods, tips for helping get odors out of clothes and strategies for helping get rid of stubborn, lingering odors.
Generally, to help remove body odor from clothes, turn them inside out, pretreat with baking soda or vinegar, rinse them and wash them as soon as possible. Use warm water for cottons and odor-fighting detergent. Dry clothes fully to help prevent odors from lingering. Always rinse clothing of any vinegar before putting items in the washing machine.
Body odor, sweat smells and armpit odor can cling to clothing, especially workout wear, leggings and synthetic fabrics. Keep reading to learn techniques that may help you eliminate odor from your laundry and find out tips for what to do when the smell sticks around—even after washing.
What causes clothes to smell?
Body odor already has a pungent smell by itself, so it’s not hard to see why it can cause your clothes to stink once it gets transferred to them, lingering especially in the armpit areas of shirts and workout clothes. Body odors, trapped body oils and fabric type can all play a role in the odors coming from your clothing.
Synthetic fabrics like polyester, often found in athletic wear, can easily trap stinky sweat. In fact, that is what they are often designed to do, which makes them likely to hold onto odor, sometimes even after washing. Natural fibers like cotton are breathable and release odors more easily, but they can still absorb moisture that leads to smells.
How to wash clothes with a body odor smell
For some clothing, getting rid of body odors is as simple as washing clothes as soon as possible after wearing them. If you can’t get them into the washer right away, allow them to hang dry, if damp from exercise or activity, until the washer is available. Choosing the right detergent and cycle settings may be enough to get rid of odors, but some may linger without pretreating before washing.
To take on more stubborn body odors in clothing, act quickly, use the right supplies, pretreat clothing and choose appropriate laundry settings. The steps below outline how to help remove smells from clothing while protecting your garments. Whichever treatment method you choose, be sure to check your care tags first and test the treatment on a small, inconspicuous area of the garment first to make sure the fabric can handle it.
Supplies
Standard or odor-fighting laundry detergent
Baking soda
White vinegar
Water
Tools
A washing machine
A container or sink for soaking
A soft brush for spot treatment (optional)
1. Let sweaty clothes dry before they go in the hamper
Let sweaty clothes air dry alone before tossing them in the hamper. Smelly, damp clothes tossed into a pile with other clothes may only start to smell worse, and can also make the clothes piled around them smell as well. Instead, hang garments up to dry until you can wash them.
2. Wash odor-prone clothes as soon as you can
The longer sweaty clothes sit, the more odor can set in. Wash sweaty clothes as soon as possible to help prevent lingering smells. If you can’t wash them right away, be sure to separate them from less soiled dirty clothes (don’t toss them in the hamper) and let them hang to dry outside or in a well-ventilated area until space clears up in the washer.
3. Turn clothes inside out before washing
Washing clothes inside out helps remove odor from the inner layers where sweat and smells tend to concentrate, including the underarms and necklines of shirts.
4. Pre-treat with baking soda or vinegar
Because baking soda is alkaline, using it to pretreat clothing can be ideal for brightening, deodorizing and spot cleaning stains like grease and oil, dried paint, makeup and more. To help break down tough odors, make a paste using equal parts baking soda and water. Apply it to the most affected areas, like the underarms and neckline of the garment. Use a soft-bristled brush to gently scrub the fabric, then let the paste sit for 30 minutes before washing.
Vinegar can be helpful for whitening clothes, removing sweat stains, removing deodorant stains and deep cleaning bras. Avoid frequently pretreating delicate fabrics or items containing elastic, like fitted bed sheets, as vinegar’s acidity can degrade fabrics. Keep in mind that vinegar should never go in the washer, so rinse your clothes thoroughly before washing in the machine.
For a vinegar pre-treatment, mix one cup of white vinegar with four cups of warm water in a basin or sink. Soak the clothing for at least 30 minutes. Rinse thoroughly before transferring to the washer, ensuring all vinegar has been rinsed out.
When short soaks don’t do enough to tackle stains or odors, you may need to soak items for longer. This can vary depending on the type of stain and fabric, so be sure to reference your clothing’s care tag before soaking.
5. Choose the right water temperature and cycle
For cottons and natural fibers, use warm or hot water to help break down sweat residue. These water temperatures can help clean clothes without damaging them. For synthetics, stick to cold water to help protect the fabric. Use a heavy-duty or deep clean cycle to encourage best results. Always check your care tags first, as this can tell you what each specific fabric type can handle during laundering.
6. Dry clothes completely
Let clothes dry fully after washing, either by air drying, using a dryer or drying in the sun. If the smell still lingers, don’t put the item in the dryer. Instead, try running it through another cleaning cycle. Don’t store clothing until it’s completely dry.
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How to get a lingering sweaty smell out of clothes
If clothes still smell sweaty after washing, skip drying afterward and try again for a deeper clean. Before rewashing, be sure you’re using odor-fighting detergent in the right quantity for your load, and check your washing machine to see if it needs cleaning. If it’s been a while since you’ve done so, it may be wise to clean your washer before another attempt at washing your garment.
There are also other treatment methods. Try soaking the items in a solution of one part distilled white vinegar to four parts warm water for a few hours or overnight. Then, rinse thoroughly before rewashing.
You can also try making a baking soda paste using equal parts baking soda and water, applying it to the smelly areas and letting it sit for 30 minutes or more, then rinsing and washing as usual.
If the fabric allows, washing with warm or hot water can help break down odors and body oils. It may also be helpful to adjust your washer’s cycle length and soil level, avoid overloading the machine, use an odor-fighting detergent and ensure clothes are fully dry before storing.
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Smelly clothes FAQs
Whether you’re wondering how drying your clothes can impact odors, or how to keep them from building up to begin with, the answers to some frequently asked questions below can help you keep your laundry smelling fresh.
Why can clothes still smell after washing?
Odors can linger in clothes even after washing due to sweat and body oils that cause strong smells. These pungent odors may stick around if too little detergent is used, the washer is overloaded, clothes aren’t dried thoroughly, or if the washing machine itself needs cleaning.
You may also notice clothing smelling right out of the washer if it sat too long in a soggy heap before being transferred to the dryer. In some cases, removing odor may require more than a standard wash. Certain items—especially those worn during heavy activity—may need to be washed more frequently or with targeted odor-fighting techniques.
Can heat from the dryer lock in body odor smells?
Dryer heat can set odors if they weren’t fully removed in the wash, making smells harder to lift later. If odor-causing residue is still in fabric, heat can intensify or “bake in” the smell, so it’s best to rewash clothes before you toss them in the dryer if odors are still lingering.
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Industry-first UV Clean Technology
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How do you prevent body odor from building up in clothes?
Your clothes may hold onto body odor when sweat, oils and bacteria linger too long in the fabric, so it’s best to wash sweaty clothes as quickly as possible. Using the right detergent, like those specifically designed for odor-fighting, can also help prevent odor buildup.
Can body odor be permanently removed from clothing?
With the right treatment, you can often get rid of odors in clothing. Stubborn odors may be more difficult to remove, and may require boosters like baking soda, vinegar or enzyme detergents, and sometimes multiple washes.
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