How To Get Sweat Smell Out Of Your Clothes?

How To Get Sweat Smell Out Of Your Clothes?

We go out, work out, earn and run around, leaving clothes less than fresh. If you’re a sweat prone person or if you break out in a sweat exercising daily, you may find that your clothes can take on an offensive smell and even stains from sweat. Believe it or not, you can also end up with sweaty clothes simply because of the type of material you’re wearing.

No matter how it’s caused, sweaty and smelly laundry is never a fun task to clean. It can also prove difficult to remove the trace of bad odour which is left lingering on the clothes after a busy day.

This article explains what causes sweaty clothes, why it’s important to get rid of the stink immediately, and how to do it effectively.

Which fabrics absorb more sweat?

Everybody sweats, it’s a normal human body function – especially when the heat and humidity rise. Despite this, it can prove to be annoying and often embarrassing when you’re left with sweat-stained clothing. Have you also noticed that you tend to sweat or smell more when wearing particular items of clothing?

This is because different fabrics can absorb sweat, causing moisture to pool and gather. On the other hand, there are also certain materials that repel sweat and moisture. Knowing which fabrics repel or trap sweat can help you to avoid these items of clothing or learn the best way to wash them after you find yourself with wet and smelly clothes by the end of the day. The following materials are moisture-attracting materials that are prone to making you smell and perspire more:

Polyester

While polyester is one of the most commonly used synthetic fabrics and often comes with a ‘water-resistant’ label – don’t let it fool you! Especially if you’re sweat-prone. This is because water-resistant fabrics, like polyester, don’t absorb moisture.

Instead, it repels moisture causing your sweat to accumulate and create a swampy smelly pool under your armpits. If you want to avoid a big sweaty mess, opt for breathable lightweight cotton that absorbs the moisture instead of repels it.

Rayon

Another synthetic material that repels water. While rayon is good for trapping heat due to it being lightweight, its synthetic fibres have a tendency to be too durable, which means zero absorption of perspiration. Instead, choose a lightweight linen that is super absorbent with a fast drying time.

Denim

Denim is a staple for most of us, but it isn’t a great Singapore’s hot humid weather. The heavy fabric has no breathability making it easier to overheat and sweat while wearing. Instead, choose a chambray material that has the look of denim but is far more breathable.

Cotton/spandex blend

Many cotton and synthetic blends such as cotton/spandex or cotton/lycra may be comfortable to wear, but it doesn’t do a great job keeping sweat at bay. The heavier weight cotton limits breathability, trapping heat and moisture. Cotton pants are a better alternative for both comfort and sweat protection.

How to get the sweat smell out

Sweat and body odour often go hand in hand. Odour in clothes is mostly caused by the buildup of sweat, sebum and skin cells from the body, yet how you wash and store your clothes can also influence the lingering smell. If you find yourself struggling to get that sweaty smell out of clothes, even after putting them through the laundry, the following tips may help you.

1. Turn clothes inside-out

Prior to washing, make sure you turn your clothing inside-out. Since sweat and odour from your body accumulate on the inside of the clothing, turning them inside-out will allow your Laundry Detergent to penetrate stains more effectively.

2. Wash clothes as soon as possible

If you’ve come straight home from the gym or work with sweaty clothes, make sure to take them off and put them in the wash straight away. Doing so will prevent further staining or odours and will allow your Laundry Detergent to do its magic.

3. Avoid fabric softener

Instead of making clothes cleaner, fabric softener and bleach products can create an artificial barrier that traps smell and bacteria in clothes. Instead, use natural laundry detergents like the ones made by bio-home. The PH-balanced formula of bio-home’s natural laundry detergents removes sweat and sebum gently and smells effectively.

4. Use the correct amount of Laundry Detergent

Using more detergent than required can make it harder for clothes to rinse clean. Too much laundry powder or detergent will build-up on the clothes leading to more odour and bacteria. Always use the required amount as stated on the detergent label, never more. Read our guide ‘How Much Washing Detergent Should You Be Using?’ to discover more.

The benefits of natural laundry products

Instead of creating a barrier like most traditional detergents and trapping smells in, natural laundry products penetrate material fibres to draw stains and odours out. Natural alternatives like baking soda are always effective at removing smells because it’s a known deodorizer that absorbs moisture and bacteria-causing odours. Lemons are also a natural alternative to fighting sweaty, smelly clothes.

The citric acid breaks down oils trapped in material, leaving them bacteria and smell-free. Natural laundry products are suitable for all types of fabrics, whether they’re made of synthetic water-resistant fibres or natural material.

There’s also no need for fabric softeners since the PH balancing ingredients found in products like Bio-Home’s Natural Laundry Detergent help to restore and support your skin’s natural moisture barrier, making clothes more comfortable against the skin.

Get rid of sweat stains and smells the natural way

Everybody sweats; that’s a part of an active lifestyle. And depending on what type of material you’re wearing you may find yourself sweating and smelling even more. There are a few ways to combat this including swapping water-resistant fabrics to natural, breathable materials like cotton as well as using natural laundry products to effectively draw sweat stains and odours out.

Take care of your health and your home by using natural products from Bio-Home. The Laundry Detergent Regular and Laundry Detergent Delicate from Bio-home do not contain any harsh chemicals and are 100% plant-based, providing a natural wash for your sweaty clothes.