How to Remove the Smell of Sweat from Clothes

Sweat, besides staining clothes, also leaves an unpleasant odor. No matter the time of year, you'll appreciate knowing how to remove the smell of sweat from your clothes and also how to prevent it by using breathable fabrics. At Abanderado, we give you tips and remedies that will be your allies in preserving the pleasant aroma of your underwear.

Where does the smell of sweat come from?

When temperatures rise or we exercise, it's normal to sweat more, and this sweat permeates our clothing. But where does the unpleasant odor it produces come from? The true culprits of bad odor are the Staphylococcus hominis bacteria , which find their ideal habitat in the armpits. When we sweat, a decomposition process occurs that gives rise to the unpleasant odor we want to avoid.

How to remove the smell of sweat from clothes: 5 foolproof remedies

Fortunately, there are good remedies for removing the smell of sweat from clothes . These are formulas that we can apply using products we easily have around our homes. Check out these five effective solutions to get rid of the smell of sweat from your clothes:

To reduce the appearance of sweat, the key is to choose natural and breathable fabrics.

1. Baking soda, the best product to remove sweat from clean clothes

Baking soda is a powerful cleaner with numerous uses, including permanently removing the smell of sweat from clothes. You can use it in three ways:

Pour a tablespoon of baking soda into a glass of water and stir until the mixture dissolves. Apply it dry to the area of the garment affected by sweat and leave it on overnight.
You can remove the smell of sweat from clothes in the washing machine using baking soda directly. Just add a tablespoon of this ingredient to the detergent drawer. In this case, the effect is more general and less intense.
If you add a tablespoon of hydrogen peroxide to the water and baking soda mixture , you get a product similar to the famous activated oxygen. This formula is especially effective at eliminating that underarm sweat odor , which leaves an acidic aftertaste on clothes.

2. Vinegar or lemon: your allies to eliminate the smell of sweat from clothes

Two other natural products for removing sweat odor are lemon and wine vinegar, whose disinfecting and deodorizing properties are similar. Therefore, you can use them interchangeably:

Mix water and vinegar or lemon in equal parts.
Pour the mixture into a spray bottle.
Spray on the odor stain.
Let it act for 10 minutes .
Wash the garment as usual.

3. Chlorine to remove the smell of sweat from white clothes

Chlorine is a powerful cleaner, but it has bleaching effects . Therefore, it's a remedy that 's only suitable for use on white clothing. We recommend using it, for example, to remove stains and sweat from your white T-shirts . To do this, you have two options:

Mix water with a splash of dye. Soak the clothes for several hours, then put them in the washing machine on the usual cycle. Remember to only put white items in to avoid color loss or stains.
Add the bleach to the washing machine dispenser and wash as usual.

4. Mouthwash for less strong sweat odors

This remedy is best reserved for clothes with a mild sweat odor :

Apply directly to the smelly area.
Let it sit for 30 minutes and then wash the garment.

5. Aspirin: stain and odor remover

Acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin) is used to eliminate both the odor and the stains left by sweat on clothing . Just follow these tips:

You need two or three aspirins for every 100 ml of water.
The mixture should sit on the stain for 2-3 hours.
It works in effervescent and tablet form , as long as you make sure it dissolves completely in the water.

Wear breathable clothing and other tips to avoid underarm sweat odor

As they say, prevention is better than cure, and in this case, the truth is that sweating can be reduced, at least to a significant extent. The key is to choose natural, breathable fabrics. At Abanderado, in fact, we've designed thermoregulatory T-shirts to meet this need. Finally, along with the use of breathable fabrics, there are other habits that will help you prevent the smell of sweat in your clothes:

Dry your clothes in the sun to prevent the sweat odor from setting in. Using a dryer only increases the chance of those unpleasant odors setting in , in a closed, warm environment. That's why it's so important to air- dry your underwear .
Choose deodorants with antiperspirant properties, and always apply them after showering.
Try to avoid situations where you suddenly go from cool temperatures to very hot environments .
Don't leave sweaty clothes in the laundry basket . Not only does the smell penetrate the fabric, it also transfers to other clothes that didn't have a bad smell.
When washing, don't mix sweaty clothes with clothes that aren't too sweaty . Depending on the degree of soiling, each item will require a different wash program.
Using fabric softener on underwear is not effective in eliminating sweat odor and can also create a waterproof layer on the fabric that prevents perspiration.
Use the right amount of detergent : It is a false belief that the more you use, the better the results will be for your clothes.

We've shared the tricks that work best for removing the smell of sweat from your clothes, using affordable products that won't damage your garments. But at Abanderado, we especially recommend choosing clothing made with breathable fabrics that allow your skin to breathe and keep it dry at all times.