Clothes steaming, good to get rid of minor smells/damp and how safe?

Akaaka

I have a handheld steamer I have never used so been sitting in cupboard over a year, I am quite a clammy person(everyone who shakes my hand notices it, but maybe as I am a little nervous) Even on a spring day I get a little clammy, not pouring with sweat but enough to give a little smell on clothes, which normally if I air the clothes seems ok, but if I sweat any more its noticable(but not overpowering)

Anyway I was wondering would the steamer get rid of the smell, and how damaging is it for the fabric? I may use it on jeans too around the main areas lol.

phill99

If you've sweated in your clothes, put them in the wash.

And what is a 'main area'?

rich13348

I think steaming the clothes would not get rid of the smells too much but no damage to clothes as a lot of clothes shops use them but mostly to get creases out.

Akaaka

Well its not full on sweat more just clammy skin for the most part so its not a strong smell at least not at first unless I keep wearing it and it continues, so if I catch it in time it wont get bad.

So if I catch it early and let it air out the smell is almost non existant and if I put spray on its fine or if I wipe the area with soap and damp it the smell is gone etc(just hate doing that as it makes the skin itch)

phill99

Akaaka wrote: »

Well its not full on sweat more just clammy skin for the most part so its not a strong smell at least not at first unless I keep wearing it and it continues, so if I catch it in time it wont get bad.

So if I catch it early and let it air out the smell is almost non existant and if I put spray on its fine or if I wipe the area with soap and damp it the smell is gone etc(just hate doing that as it makes the skin itch)

Thats a disgusting approach to personal hygiene. Put your clothes in the washing machine and don't be so skanky. God help anyone that has to stand within 5 feet of you.

Akaaka

phill99 wrote: »

Thats a disgusting approach to personal hygiene. Put your clothes in the washing machine and don't be so skanky. God help anyone that has to stand within 5 feet of you.

No you have just assumed something of me that is totally wrong, did I say I dont put clothes in the washing machine, did I say I wear dirty clothes? Get off your high horse.

I am talking about minor smell, so minor that you would have to know it was there not clothes soaked through with sweat just a few drops when rubbing against clammy skin and I never said I what I would do when wearing the clothes, I planned to just wear them in house or to corner shops, anything formal and its fresh clothes.

And FYI have long showers every day, and its quite wasteful to chuck something in the machine when it barely has a few minor damp marks in it and otherwise fresh otherwise I would just do quick washes of clothes everytime I used them I just want a way to make clothes last longer so I dont use electricity that affects the enviroment, indoors I mostly dont even wear a t shirt unless its cold.

dander

Sweat smells are caused by the bacteria and its just not something you can air out like cigarette type smells. Logically l would have thought steam should work because heats a damn good way of killing bacteria, but you could damage the clothes, I guess ironing labels could tell you what's safe - if it says its OK for a hot steam iron, then that's much the same as just steam. I'm sure jeans would be safe - I'd be wary of anything man made fibres that might melt and anything where I'm nor confident the dye won't run.

MadelinesMum

Hi, I don't think steam will work because in essence it is hot water so will still be slightly damp.

Has anyone actually commented of an odour from you? Everyone has their own smell and it could be that you're sensitive to it and think you smell when you don't.

Your best bet would be to buy lightweight clothes that you can wash / dry easily and changing when needed. I wash at 60, with a bio washing powder or I find armpits still smell slightly of sweat. Larger items (coats etc...) can be hung on the washing line to air (without washing).

Also, I find man made fibres make smells worse. My daughter has to wear a horrible polyester uniform for her hairdressing course which has to be washed at 60 or it still smells.

Akaaka

Not recently but when I was younger I was always called smelly even if I was minutes out of a shower, but other people have smelt nothing so it could just be the ones that did were more sensitive.

I also dont use fabric conditioner, thinking about it its more of a damp smell than a sweat smell, and what I meant by steaming it was more to freshen it up a little before the smell got worse rather than to replace washing it, I would at most wear it 2 days if I went out or as little as one day if not a hour or two if its a hot summer day.

Could be onto something with the fabric, I normally just wear jeans and t shirt, jeans never really smell unless I have been doing something active and even then its almost unnoticable, but the t shirts are ok, but I never wear regular shirts as they make me pour with sweat and stink.

catterlen

Sounds odd but freezing clothes in the freezer inside a plastic bag overnight will get rid of some smells... I have only used this for cigarette smell for my clothes ( long story broken washer!) and it did work. Supposed to also work for mild sweat smells too but never tried for this. Depends if you want t shirts In with your sausages....