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How do I get the smell of sweat out of clothes!

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  • soak in sterilising fluid.. best option defo.
  • Wimbledonpark
    Wimbledonpark Posts: 71 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    I am clean,honest,lol,but when ironing my shirts under the arms i have recently noticed they pong.I do my washing in a machine using bio detergent at 30d.Do you think i should wash at a higher degree? Any ideas how to get the smell out?Many thanks.
  • julie2105
    julie2105 Posts: 379 Forumite
    Ninth Anniversary Combo Breaker
    I have a similar problem on my bf shirts, i use 40c and it's still there, i have been using febreeze after ironing and letting it dry, it helps, but same problem next time i wash it
  • ragz_2
    ragz_2 Posts: 3,254 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    I had this problem with my re-useable nappies until I switched to washing at 60. Now they are fine. I also use biological detergent, this is important where things like sweat and baby pee are concerned because these things are biological themselves and are broken down by the enzymes in the detergent. However if you wash at over 60 the enzymes are destroyed. So switch to a higher temerature and see if that helps.
    June Grocery Challenge £493.33/£500 July £/£500
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  • aliasojo
    aliasojo Posts: 23,053 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    That's the problem with modern washing techniques, lower temps may wash the dirt out but they dont deal successfully with bacteria, which causes the smell.

    You need to wash at a higher temp to destroy all the bacteria.
    Herman - MP for all! :)
  • lostinrates
    lostinrates Posts: 55,283 Forumite
    I've been Money Tipped!
    ragz wrote: »
    I had this problem with my re-useable nappies until I switched to washing at 60. Now they are fine. I also use biological detergent, this is important where things like sweat and baby pee are concerned because these things are biological themselves and are broken down by the enzymes in the detergent. However if you wash at over 60 the enzymes are destroyed. So switch to a higher temerature and see if that helps.


    I thought biological things should be kept at lowish temps (40c) so the enzymes that are working don't die, like the bacteria?

    I can't use biological stuff so I put dh's shirts and anything else needing extra attention on a hotter wash, with non bio powder
  • calisto
    calisto Posts: 152 Forumite
    It's probably caused by all the lurgies growing in your washing machines drum and especially the door seal - pull out the rubber seal and I guarantee you will find loads of disgusting mould and bacterias growing there.

    This is all down to some looney EU directive on "climate change" which is nothing but a cynical tax grab and return to victorian era way of life. You will notice all modern washing machines only have a cold water supply. Quite how this insanity is allowed, I don't know, but the manufacturers also seem to be restricted in only being allowed to make machines that go up to 60 celsius max. Some of them can't even do that!

    Personally, I keep and maintain my old hotpoint hot/cold water machines. This allows ME to choose to use my MUCH CHEAPER GAS rather than ridiculously expensive ELECTRICITY in order to heat the hot water ready for my wash. (Using an EU climate approved condensing boiler of course!).

    That way I can run a 95 celsius wash on all the cotton whites which also kills all the bugs in the machine. It's much cheaper than running a 40 or 60 degree wash that has been heated up from freezing in the middle of winter with a cold only machine, that relies on an electrical heater only and can't use the houses central heating, but the EU beuraucrats and green party nanny state nutters know better than to leave it to simpletons like me.

    My advice is to run a service wash with bleach, etc at 60 degrees if that's all you can obtain, or else look out for an old fashioned dual hot/cold intake machine and keep it serviced.
  • pinky_p
    pinky_p Posts: 20 Forumite
    Hi

    I have sometimes found clothes still smelling sweaty under the armpits even after washing. I have found if you dampen the material and rub some washing liquid (eg persil) on the area and then wash again, that usually solves the problem. I have read that you can rub washing up liquid or shampoo onto shirt collars to remove staining, so I think that would work on the underarms too.
  • deborah64
    deborah64 Posts: 323 Forumite
    I have the same problems, my dd's school shirts. I have to use non bio as one has eczema, but what i do is use the green fairy washing soap, wet the area first and give it a good scrub with soap, then pop it into the machine, no troubles since using it.
  • snookey
    snookey Posts: 1,128 Forumite
    Hi try some white vinegar ,apply under the arms before putting the shirt in the machine. Vinegar also acts as a fabric softner.
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