Stinky workout clothes?

[riceflowers]

Hi lurker here and need a little help.

Cleaning our workout clothes has becoming a major budget buster for us. Dh and I work out about 5/6 days a week and have stinky workout clothes.

We've only been wearing these clothes for about 2-3 months. I have tried Arm and Hammer, Win and Kirkland brand with little results. I've recently started using Borax and Washing soda in an effort to help combat the funk

Any budget friendly recommendations on a detergent that will clean and eliminate odors in workout clothes?

 

[zscfan]

Tide plus Febreze Freshness Sport Liquid Laundry Detergent

 

[cepmom]

try using white vinegar in place of fabric softener. I use it all the time to get the funky smell out of wet towels that have sat around too long.

 

[ChrisinNJ]

Definately white vinegar. I had a lint fire in the dryer, and the smoke smell wouldn't come out of the clothes. 1 cup of vinegar in the wash cycle solved the problem!!

 

[NYCDiane]

Don't just toss your workout clothes in the hamper. When you're done with your workout, hang them up to let the sweat dry out. When you're ready to wash them, do a pre-wash. In the regular wash cycle, add 1/2 of a 16 oz box of baking soda when you're putting the detergent in. It gets rid of the odors and it boosts your laundry detergent. No need to use expensive additives or detergents.

 

[dispor]

I know you say you've tried Arm and Hammer, but have you tried Arm and Hammer Super Washing Soda? Add a little with your regular detergent. Let soak if possible, then wash as usual.

I am very sensitive to smells, and it works great to get out the small of fabric softener in hand-me-downs.

 

[MEM]

try using white vinegar in place of fabric softener. I use it all the time to get the funky smell out of wet towels that have sat around too long.

I use white vinegar for DD14's stinky soccer clothes (that have sat around in her gym bag for 6 days between games)

 

[vicki_c]

Quite a few years ago, I used to use Surf detergent (I think that was it) for DH's stinky work out clothes - it seemed to be the only thing that would get out the smell. Not sure if they still make that or not.

 

[Sadie22]

Don't just toss your workout clothes in the hamper. When you're done with your workout, hang them up to let the sweat dry out.

Alternatively, wash the clothes the same day.

If over a period of time you have been tossing the wet clothing into a hamper and letting them set for a few days, you may not be able to get the odor out of those items.

 

[sunlover13]

I had this same problem and got some recommendations from the DIS. I sprayed my clothes with Febreeze Antibacterial spray. Make sure it says Antibacterial spray on it. Then, I washed them with Oxyclean detergent. It worked. My clothes no longer smelled.

 

[Soben]

I've found that ammonia will get out any stink. It's cheap, too. I don't know how it works since it's so darned stinky itself, but it does.

 

[Mickey1Fan]

It is bacteria that smells. We learned from our local hockey shop that the best and least expensive thing to use is rubbing alcohol. Spray it on everything and let it dry. It kills the bacteria while not harming the fabric. Then wash as usual.

 

[Sadie22]

I had this same problem and got some recommendations from the DIS. I sprayed my clothes with Febreeze Antibacterial spray. Make sure it says Antibacterial spray on it. Then, I washed them with Oxyclean detergent. It worked. My clothes no longer smelled.

My son complained that his favorite Tshirt smelled bad. He had exercised in it, getting it soaking wet, and then tossed it into a ventillated hamper to which he added other clothing for three or four days until he had a washerload worth of laundry. He couldn't figure out why the Tshirt continued to smell bad through several launderings with Oxyclean and Wisk. It was bacteria and probably mildew smell since it was essentially put away wet. The shirt has been laundered seven or eight times now with various additives such as vinegar. The odor is almost gone but not quite.

The same thing happens when my husband washes washcloths, takes them out of the dryer too soon, folds them up and puts them in a basket for use. When water is applied for use, they smell sour. I have to rewash them, add vinegar, and be careful to get them thoroughly dry before folding them and putting them into the basket. Of course he can't smell anything bad.

 

[bonkos6]

How much vinegar do you use for 1 load of laundry? I am going to try this with my towels. My bathroom is very small and it doesn't have a window so it does not have great ventilation. I have a hard time getting my towels to dry before the next shower.

 

[MarilIncredible]

Add one cup of Arm & Hammer Baking Soda (in addition to your regular detergent) to a full washload. I do this for DH's yard work clothes and it always works to get rid of the funky, musty smell. We buy the huge, 13 lb. bag of A&H Baking Soda at BJ's instead of the small boxes at the regular grocery.

 

[Sadie22]

How much vinegar do you use for 1 load of laundry? I am going to try this with my towels. My bathroom is very small and it doesn't have a window so it does not have great ventilation. I have a hard time getting my towels to dry before the next shower.

I put a cup of vinegar split between the bleach and fabric softener dispensers (neither of which get used much) per load along with my normal liquid high effiency detergent. We have an old Sears Calypso washer.

 

[Chloesmom]

As the GF of a hockey player I have had the daunting task of cleaning hockey gear that has been shoved in a bag and sitting in a trunk for a week.. there is no stink like this stink... I used vinegar in the wash to get it out. A cup to the load. Some things I would have to wash twice because they would actually have mold growing on them and it would take 2 washes to get the mold and the smell off...I would just add the vinegar to my regular detergent.

 

[digitalsiren]

I vote to try white vinegar too.

 

[englishteacha]

Chloe's Mom...there really is no stink like hockey gear, is there? Blech! My high school sweetie was a hockey player. Loved him, but man was his gear gross.

I find vinegar does wonders in my laundry when things are musty or smell gross. I also use oxyclean if things are stained and it works pretty well to use 2 scoops in a load when things are looking really grungy.

 

[shortbun]

Look, no way your clothes are as dirty and perfumed as my husbands work clothes. I wash them with Tide, then Arm and Hammer, both with vinegar. In the summer, I hang them in the sun to dry to kill more bacteria.