Stinky clothes can be a real problem! Simply washing the clothes alone seldom removes the odor. Many people, myself included have struggled with removing body odor from my workout clothing during the laundering process. With all the falls sports programs just getting under way I was thinking about this problem that has plagued many moms and dads as well as everyone else who continue to stay active and enjoy a healthy lifestyle through exercise. I did some research and put together a compilation of helpful laundering suggestions to assist all those who have to deal with this smelly clothes issue. I have added the sources for the information if you would like to do more research for yourself but I think the tips I’ve included should solve the majority of odor issues in your athletes laundry.
From Lance Armstrong’s LiveStrong.com site:
Step 1 Place the affected clothing in the washing machine and turn it on allowing it to fill up with warm water.
Step 2 Add 2 cups of white vinegar to the machine.
Step 3 Allow the clothes in the washer to agitate for 5 to 10 minutes before turning it off.
Step 4 Allow the clothes to soak in the water for at least 4 hours.
Step 5 Turn the machine back on and add a bleach free detergent.
Step 6 Remove the clothing from the washing machine as soon as the cycle is finished.
Step 7 Hang the clothing outside to dry as the fresh air will help to kill off any lingering odors.
Tips and Warnings
• This method is safe for washable clothing. For wool or silk garments consult with a dry cleaner on how to eliminate the smell yourself or arranging for them to do it for you.
• Do not mix vinegar with bleach as the combination can cause harmful fumes.
Things You’ll Need
• White vinegar
• Bleach free laundry soap
Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/177851-how-to-eliminate-body-odor-from-clothing/#ixzz24T9xbAj5
These tips were posted by regular people who responded to a question posted on a forum on http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/laundry/msg11190721526.html?23
• Posted by xhappyx on Mon, Nov 16, 09 at 10:30
Take some plain old white vinegar in a spray bottle and spray into those areas and saturate the fabric. Then, put them into a plastic bag overnight and let sit. In the morning launder as usual and the perspiration odors and/or stains should be removed from those shirts.
• Posted by mara_2008 on Mon, Nov 16, 09 at 12:40
One thing I would recommend is NOT to put any clothes which still have odor in the clothes dryer. Instead, hang them to dry on plastic hangers if you cannot re-wash them immediately.
Dryer heat can “bake in” odors (and stains, OT for this thread), thus making it very difficult, if not impossible, to remove them in the next wash.
The vinegar tip given above is a very good one. I would also recommend that you use at least a half-cup of baking soda when you wash the light-colored shirts, in warm water, not cold, along with your regular detergent.
Let the clothes agitate for a few minutes, then press Pause on the washer to let them soak for at least an hour — perhaps even overnight. Then press Start on the washer to finish out the wash cycle.
White vinegar in the final rinse (about 1/2 – 1 cup per full load) can also help.
When the clothes are finished and you cannot detect any odor, you might want to hang them on plastic hangers and hang them outside in the fresh air to dry. Then check to be sure the odor is completely gone.
I have done laundry for guys who worked long hours outside in broiling summer heat, and I have had to do these things. They really worked!
I hope this helps you.
• Posted by happymomof2kids on Tue, Nov 17, 09 at 6:57
My Hubby is a garbage man. For really stinky uniforms, I soak them with a 1/2 to full dose of laundry detergent in a bucket with warm water. Let them soak for a couple of hours to overnight, drain, rinse, and launder as usual.
• Posted by patann on Wed, Nov 18, 09 at 16:08
I …
From Lance Armstrong’s LiveStrong.com site:
Step 1 Place the affected clothing in the washing machine and turn it on allowing it to fill up with warm water.
Step 2 Add 2 cups of white vinegar to the machine.
Step 3 Allow the clothes in the washer to agitate for 5 to 10 minutes before turning it off.
Step 4 Allow the clothes to soak in the water for at least 4 hours.
Step 5 Turn the machine back on and add a bleach free detergent.
Step 6 Remove the clothing from the washing machine as soon as the cycle is finished.
Step 7 Hang the clothing outside to dry as the fresh air will help to kill off any lingering odors.
Tips and Warnings
• This method is safe for washable clothing. For wool or silk garments consult with a dry cleaner on how to eliminate the smell yourself or arranging for them to do it for you.
• Do not mix vinegar with bleach as the combination can cause harmful fumes.
Things You’ll Need
• White vinegar
• Bleach free laundry soap
Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/177851-how-to-eliminate-body-odor-from-clothing/#ixzz24T9xbAj5
These tips were posted by regular people who responded to a question posted on a forum on http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/laundry/msg11190721526.html?23
• Posted by xhappyx on Mon, Nov 16, 09 at 10:30
Take some plain old white vinegar in a spray bottle and spray into those areas and saturate the fabric. Then, put them into a plastic bag overnight and let sit. In the morning launder as usual and the perspiration odors and/or stains should be removed from those shirts.
• Posted by mara_2008 on Mon, Nov 16, 09 at 12:40
One thing I would recommend is NOT to put any clothes which still have odor in the clothes dryer. Instead, hang them to dry on plastic hangers if you cannot re-wash them immediately.
Dryer heat can “bake in” odors (and stains, OT for this thread), thus making it very difficult, if not impossible, to remove them in the next wash.
The vinegar tip given above is a very good one. I would also recommend that you use at least a half-cup of baking soda when you wash the light-colored shirts, in warm water, not cold, along with your regular detergent.
Let the clothes agitate for a few minutes, then press Pause on the washer to let them soak for at least an hour — perhaps even overnight. Then press Start on the washer to finish out the wash cycle.
White vinegar in the final rinse (about 1/2 – 1 cup per full load) can also help.
When the clothes are finished and you cannot detect any odor, you might want to hang them on plastic hangers and hang them outside in the fresh air to dry. Then check to be sure the odor is completely gone.
I have done laundry for guys who worked long hours outside in broiling summer heat, and I have had to do these things. They really worked!
I hope this helps you.
• Posted by happymomof2kids on Tue, Nov 17, 09 at 6:57
My Hubby is a garbage man. For really stinky uniforms, I soak them with a 1/2 to full dose of laundry detergent in a bucket with warm water. Let them soak for a couple of hours to overnight, drain, rinse, and launder as usual.
• Posted by patann on Wed, Nov 18, 09 at 16:08
I …