The Comprehensive Guide for Removing Sweat & Body Odor From Workout Clothes
Physical exercise can be an important component of maintaining a healthy lifestyle. But getting ready for your morning run might sound less appealing when you still smell the stink on your shorts or leggings from last week’s jog. That’s why it’s important to understand how to remove sweat smell and body odors from your clothes.
You might be someone who runs marathons. Perhaps you’ve joined a CrossFit gym and love to put yourself through rigorous full-body workouts. Or, maybe you enjoy a nice hot yoga session every now and then. Regardless of how often or how hard you work out, we’re going to give you the inside scoop on removing sweat odors from your workout clothes and ways to limit sweaty-smelling workout clothes in the future.
Does Sweat Smell?
Contrary to what you might think, sweat itself does not smell. Rather, body odor occurs because bacteria on your skin mixes with the apocrine sweat glands. Sweat can have a bad smell when it comes into contact with your skin for various reasons, including diet, hygiene, and genetics.
Apocrine sweat glands open up into the hair follicles and are most commonly found in the armpits and groin area. That might also help explain why your armpits smell or why that area tends to be sweatier than the rest of your body! You might also be interested to learn that the apocrine glands do not start working until puberty, which is why young children typically don’t have body odors.
Why Do My Workout Clothes Smell When I Sweat?
Your workout clothes (and all other clothes, for that matter) absorb your sweat. So, if the mix of sweat and bacteria produces a certain stink, that odor will – in essence – transfer to your workout gear when the sweat components break down.
Remember, sweating is a perfectly natural and healthy process. It regulates your internal temperature and cools the body down when you exercise. Still, if you have “sweat smell” on your clothes, those odors can also build up over time. Thus, it’s important to know exactly how to wash workout clothes so your gym bag isn’t full of stinky items.
Why Does My Sweat Smell Like Vinegar?
Your sweat might smell like vinegar for a variety of reasons, including diet, hygiene (or lack thereof), and genetics. Your genetic makeup could partially inform why you sweat more when you engage in physical exercise – and lots of sweat on the skin could give off a vinegar scent.
Sweating is perfectly normal, and vinegar-smelling sweat isn’t out of the ordinary. However, if you notice a drastic or sudden change in body odor when you sweat, you may want to consult a doctor.
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How to Get Sweat Smell Out of Workout Clothes
Is your snazzy cutoff shirt or favorite pair of yoga pants starting to stink? Follow these steps to effectively remove body odor and other stinky smells from your workout clothes.
1. Wash Your Items Sooner Rather Than Later
It’s probably tempting to throw your workout clothes into your hamper or gym bag after a grueling and sweaty workout. But letting them sit there with the rest of your dirty clothes isn’t a good idea. As we discussed, the buildup of sweat and body oils can build up on your clothes over time and make it harder for you to squash the stink.
As a good rule of thumb, you should try to wash workout clothes together and wash them more regularly. If you don’t have the time to wash them immediately, you may want to let your clothes air-dry before throwing them in the hamper—make sure you fully lay out all your workout clothes in an area with good airflow. Avoid crumpling your clothes and stashing them in enclosed spaces, as this will help limit exposure to the things that exacerbate bad odors.
2. Sort Workout Clothes by Fabric Type
Many gym clothes have sweat-wicking or elastic properties that pull sweat away from the skin and dry quickly – helping you feel drier when you’re working out! To maintain the integrity of your workout clothes, sort them by fabric type. This way, you can pick the right wash cycle and temperature for your clothes without worrying about the potential for damaging any of the items.
3. Turn Clothes Inside Out
When you sweat, moisture, oils, and bacteria build up inside your workout clothes. Targeting these areas, which are likely the source of unpleasant odors, is the most effective way to eliminate the smell when washing.
4. Choose an Odor-Fighting Detergent
While the above steps are all important pieces to effectively removing the sweaty or “BO” smell from workout clothes, you also want a laundry detergent that can do some of the heavy lifting. That’s why you should turn to ARM & HAMMER™ Plus OxiClean™ with Odor Blasters™.
These odor-eliminating liquid laundry detergents are specifically formulated to target body odors and sweat. ARM & HAMMER™ Plus OxiClean™ with Odor Blasters™ is formulated with 3X powerful odor fighters in every load vs. the leading value detergent, powering out stinky odors and employing a triple power action to help remove stains, as well.
Finally, ARM & HAMMER™ Plus OxiClean™ with Odor Blasters™ works in all washing machines (including HE washers) and all temperatures. It also comes in Fresh Burst™ and Fresh Botanical™ scents you’re sure to enjoy.
5. Try Using a Laundry Scent Booster
Laundry scent boosters are additives that can help extend the fragrance on your clothes. These dissolvable beads or crystals are also safe to use on all fabrics. Try ARM & HAMMER™ In-Wash Scent Boosters, which feature scents like Clean Meadow and Purifying Waters™.
You can also opt for the ARM & HAMMER™ Odor Blasters™ In-Wash Scent Boosters, which have tiny crystals that work as odor eliminators and can squash sweat smell or stink from body odors and musty towels. Or, if you have sensitive skin, try ARM & HAMMER™ Light In-Wash Laundry Scent Boosters. Made from just four essential ingredients, these scent boosters do not contain phosphates, parabens, dyes or heavy perfumes.
No matter what option you pick, find a laundry scent booster that can enhance the fragrance on your workout clothes.
6. When Adding Clothes: Opt for Smaller Loads
You should always avoid overstuffing the washer if you can. Doing laundry in smaller loads is one way to help your garments smell fresh – the same goes for workout clothes. Smaller loads mean your clothes have more room to move around in the wash while also providing space for the water and detergent to mix more effectively and ensure optimal stain- and odor-fighting power.
7. Wash on Proper Cycle & Water Temperature
Before you wash, make sure to double check the fabric care label for each garment. This is why sorting your items by fabric type before washing is important – similar fabrics often require the same water temperature and cycle for washing.
Most workout clothes will likely require a cold-water wash on a delicate cycle because hot water and strong agitation can damage the fibers of some workout clothing or enhance shrinkage. However, it’s imperative to follow the steps on your items’ fabric care label.
8. Air-Dry Workout Clothes
You might be able to tumble dry some of your workout clothes on low heat or a “fluff air” setting. However, machine drying may actually set lingering sweat or body odors on clothes if they remain after the initial wash (more on this shortly). Air drying is more likely to preserve the look and feel of your workout clothes. Lay your items flat or hang them up and make sure you are air drying in a place without exposure to direct sunlight.
Why Do the Armpits of My Shirt Smell After Washing?
If the armpits of your shirt still smell after washing, it could be a result of sweat accumulation in that area making the body odors harder to remove. Since the apocrine sweat glands are most commonly found in the armpits (among other areas), sweat smell and other stink may be more prevalent here.
User error may also play a role in your clothes continuing to smell malodorous after washing. You may have overloaded the machine or used too much laundry detergent – which can actually serve as an environment for breeding bacteria and yeast. It’s also possible you need to clean your washing machine!
Take care to follow the above steps for washing workout clothes and make sure your washer is clean so you can more effectively remove odors from your workout clothes.
How to Strip Workout Clothes
Deep cleaning workout clothes is a great way to give them a reset and remove especially tough or old odors on these items. In this regard, you might want to try laundry stripping. Follow these steps if you’re wondering how to strip workout clothes:
- Fill a bathtub or bucket ½ to ¾ full of the warmest water recommended by the fabric care label.
- Add ¼ cup Borax, ¼ cup ARM & HAMMER™ Super Washing Soda and ½ cup ARM & HAMMER™ Plus OxiClean™ Powder Laundry Detergent or 2 teaspoons of ARM & HAMMER Plus OxiClean™ with Odor Blasters™ liquid laundry detergent (less for smaller loads).
- Gently stir the water to mix the ingredients.
- Add workout clothes – fully submerge them into the water and swirl them around in the tub or bucket. Let the items sit for 4-5 hours.
- After 4-5 hours have passed, remove items from the tub or bucket and wring out any excess water. Place directly into the washing machine. Do NOT add more detergent or any additives.
- Run a rinse cycle on your washer.
- Leave items out to air-dry or, if permitted, tumble dry on low heat.
Aside from workout clothes, you might also consider laundry stripping your sheets, towels, and other items!
Tips to Help Prevent Sweat Smell on Workout Clothes
Now that you know how to get the sweat smell out of your clothes, what about some ways to help reduce body odor?
- Wear moisture-wicking fabrics: Cotton and some other fabrics may absorb more sweat and leave your clothes smelly and heavy. Conversely, moisture-wicking materials found in activewear items can help pull the sweat away and help it evaporate.
- Wear antiperspirant over deodorant: Whereas deodorant merely masks odors, antiperspirant helps reduce underarm sweat. Try the ARM & HAMMER™ ULTRAMAX™ line, which offers a variety of scents (plus an unscented formula) and can also help reduce underarm sweat due to stress.
- Remove clothes immediately after working out: You should remove your workout clothes after any physical exercise to avoid increased contact with your skin and reduce the mingling of sweat, oils, and bacteria. If you can’t wash the items immediately, air them out in a place with strong airflow. And remember to shower!
Taking some of these simple steps can help you squash the stink and get rid of any lingering body odor on your clothes on the first wash!
Sweat & Body Odor Don’t Stand a Chance Against ARM & HAMMER™ Laundry Detergents!
Sweat smells and body odor (at least in some capacity) are to be expected after a heart-pumping workout! What matters is taking the necessary steps to remove any stains and odors so you can keep your favorite activewear items in the rotation. Turn to ARM & HAMMER™ Plus OxiClean™ with Odor Blasters™ liquid laundry detergents and try an in-wash scent booster to extend the fragrance of your items so you can look and feel your best before your workouts!
