smelly gym gear!

utkik

Hi folks,
I'm looking for a simple answer to a bit of a problem I have.

Long story short, I sweat a lot in the gym, especially, obviously, while doing aerobic stuff. I train for about 70 minutes, 6 days a week, and pretty full-on. Every evening, I wash the gear as soon as I get home.

The problem is that after a month or two, whatever I'm wearing starts to give off a bit of a stale sweat stink once I warm up! Now I could be paranoid, and maybe I'm the only one who can smell it, but then again, maybe not! :eek:

So, I don't want to have to fork out for five new tops every couple of months or so (especially as I wear the wicking tops, which are more expensive), so I'm wondering is there anything I can do to stop the smell?
I drink a lot of water, and have a pretty good diet, so I don't think there's much I can do there. I always wash at 60 degrees, to properly clean the tops, and I only wear each one once a week.

Does anyone know of any product, like the equivalent of odour-eaters that could help? Or is there anything else I can do, bar increase Nike's coffers every month?

Yeah in the big scheme of things, I know it's not a big deal, but I'd prefer not to have people running from me as soon as I warm up.....

any advice appreciated....

Mr E

How do you wash your gear?

I use Lenor or Persil concentrated liquid fabric softener in the Machine drawer, as well as the usual Bold/Ariel stuff in the drum, and that does the job...

rubadub

Sweat doesnt smell, bacteria from sweat does. Bleach will kill all the bacteria. Wash immediately and dry completely.

When I was fatter I used to sweat a lot in the summer I found a antiperspirant recommended online called drichlor, you get it in boots or any chemist. It is the same stuff as in normal cans, but REALLY strong. One application can last me 1 month! other advantage is that it has no residue so you get no white armpits. And no fragrance which women might like as it doesnt overpower perfume, (or ruin armpits on expensive clothes). It works out cheap as 1 application lasts ages, so is a winner all round.

ONLY downside is applying, read the instructions you must be BONE dry, and leave it dry BONE dry, this is important, otherwise it burns like the fires of hell and leaves a big nasty rash. Do not shave armpits and apply either, so I hear women online say.

Khannie

I noticed this with my Dublin jersey. I'd say try washing it on a higher temperature and with more washing powder / liquid. If it's reached the point where you're gonna chuck it, you've nothing to lose.

Celticfire

Go to the supermarket, in the baking section get a packet of breadsoda. Throw all your gear in the bath add water and breadsoda, for super smelly gear soak overnight. Then wash in the machine as normal.

After that just add some breadsoda to each wash in the machine.

Roper

Just smell man. Everyone smells when they're training. If people are bothered by your smell and they say something, just tell them that they smell great, why aren't they working harder?

kmick

Buy 3 white cotton tshirts in Dunnes and throw them away after use. They cost about a fiver for 3. Thats 20 euros per month or 240 euros a year. Problem solved and no more washing.

utkik

Thanks for all the advice people, some good tips there. I'm currently blitzing the persil & comfort combo at 60 degrees, and I'll throw a bit of breadsoda into the mix to see what happens (cheers Celticfire).

rubabdub - I'll look out for that anti-perspirant and give it a go, cheers. I sweat like a maniac though, so I'm not even sure Turbo-Sweat-B-Gone would have much of an effect. Worth a try.

Roper - yeah you have a point, people sweat in gyms, it's just a fact. I genuinely don't think I hum enough for people to notice, as nobody sticks their face in my armpits. Still no-one likes to smell...

thanks again

pwd

your washing machine might be crap, or you might be putting too many things in at once. Your clothes shouldn't smell after a wash

cowzerp

As said before, sweat does not smell, bacteria does-if you and your clothes are clean before training the sweat will be odourless, i think your been paranoid, if not then make sure your clothes are getting washed o'k-60 degrees should more than do it along with sum persil or daz or whatever else you use!!

ali.c

Whats a wicking top? If it is along the lines of a thermal top like the "dry flow" tops (they remove the sweat from your body while keeping you warm) they stink like help after a while alright. Cant say i heard of much to stop it happening tbh, though i have found a liberal spraying of febreeze to be helpful at times.

Pherekydes

How do you dry your clothes? You should dry them immediately after washing. Leave them overnight and pay the price.

rubadub

utkik wrote: »

rubabdub - I'll look out for that anti-perspirant and give it a go, cheers. I sweat like a maniac though, so I'm not even sure Turbo-Sweat-B-Gone would have much of an effect. Worth a try.

It will, heed my warnings though, bone dry when applying. Great for feet too, my feet sweat a normal amount but I used to get deramtitis when sweaty so used it on them in the summer too. little goes a really long way.


Breadsoda works well. it is simply sodium bicarbonate, used as baking soda/powder, but also cleverly branded by scholl as shoe neutraliser, at about 20 times the price per gram of bread soda with no extras! (no joke). It is also commnoly found in ant-acid pills, again at huge extra costs, most antacids are calcium carbonate, but this works as well.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodium_bicarbonate


Leave a small eggcup or it in the fridge to remove smells too.

How do you dry your clothes? You should dry them immediately after washing. Leave them overnight and pay the price.

Yep, I mentioned that but without reason. Damp clothes are an ideal breeding ground for bacteria, they have air an moisture readily available.

Bleach is still number one, kills all smelly bacteria, buy white tees, some synthetics will not whiten with bleach anyway.