Removing smells from clothes...

psychopathbabble

Hello all, I'm not sure if this is in the right place but I thought I'd ask...

I've noticed recently when I've been washing clothes that OH's tops still smell of bo/deodorant in the arm areas. I've tried rewashing them and used some of the vanish stain remover stick on them but I can't get rid of the smell. Also, some of his white shirts are going yellow in the same area.

Can anyone please suggest anything I could try to get rid of it?

Thanks

-taff

If you consistentyly wash clothes at a low temperature [30/40 degrees and with powder not liquid], you get this problem.
Make a paste of some powder or use neat liquid clothes washing liqiud and work it in before you wash it.
Bleach will take the yellowing away but you need to be careful using it.

Get him some spray on deodarant as well, if he uses a stick the problem will be worse.

psychopathbabble

He uses a spray, but the problem is he is allergic to everything so there is only one or two sprays he can use.

Yes, I use powder and generally 40! Will try getting some liquid to rub into them first... thank you!

maddeningly

This used to happen to my oh when he had to wear a uniform made of awful material, fortunately it was white so it just got soaked in bleach as a prewash.

Debran

Using vinegar in place of fabric conditioner usually gets rid of any sweaty smells on clothes.

babyshoes

If the deodorant itself leaves a white/yellow deposit - which ironically will trap the sweaty smell, there is a product called 'deo-go' which does seem to help, though it's quite a lot of work rubbing and repeating. I use it on nice tops but don't bother with cheapy t-shirts. Haven't seen it in any shops, but it can be found online.

Mojoworking

I get this in the summer and just soak my tops in soda crystals and water if I'm lazy - or make it in to a paste and scrub the pits before throwing it straight in the machine - no idea if it's the right thing but it seems to work for me.

psychopathbabble

Thank you for your suggestions everyone Will give them all a go... as much for my sense of smell when hugging him!

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

If my kids were anything to go by, leaving shirts in the washbasket for more than a couple of hours was a very bad idea, as well.

And subtle hints regarding more showers might have to be replaced with 'hello dear, nice day? The shower's running, just give me your shirt and I'll get that into the machine whilst you're in there..'

booter

Jojo_the_Tightfisted wrote: »

And subtle hints regarding more showers might have to be replaced with 'hello dear, nice day? The shower's running, just give me your shirt and I'll get that into the machine whilst you're in there..'

:rotfl:Subtle hints don't work here I'm afraid. If I tried that he'd think I was a Stepford Wife!! I generally go with the more direct approach "Oi, you stink, get in the shower, now!!" Being employed in heavy manual labour doesn't help however, so no matter how much anti-perspirant is used, the damage has already been done

OP, I've found the only way that works for me is to give the affected areas a good rub with normal bar soap and hot water, then throw them in a 40 wash. (I always wear rubber gloves for this - I have found, on occasion, that the smell has clung to my hands - eugghhh!) And I find it helps to dry clothes outside whenever possible. For yellowing bits, I use the Vanish pre wash treatment. HTH

Poppy9

I find some fabric are prone to it. DD white polo shirts from school, some of OH work supplied white shirts and DD white work uniform top does.

The plain white shirts and polo shirts I just washed on 60 degrees to stop (I use liquid tabs) with a scoop of vanish.

DD work top is a pain though as it has a navy trim so I have to soak the arm pits in boiling bio solution every other wash.

Some tips here