Remove the smell of sweat from clothes: tips and methods

The smell of sweat is a very pressing problem at any time of the year and for any wardrobe. Some people have especially increased sweating, which gets worse in the warm season or during emotional shock; there are many reasons that can be given - the result is the same. An unpleasant odor on clothes that does not disappear after regular machine washing. You put on a clean thing, and after a while it starts to smell unpleasant for no reason. It is worth remembering that it is not the sweat itself that smells, but the bacteria that begin to actively multiply in a humid environment. They also give the fabric a yellowish tint.

Prevention of unpleasant odor

How is it possible to get rid of an unpleasant odor? First of all, I would like to offer not “treatment”, but prevention. Here are some prevention methods:

Most often, the body sweats while wearing artificial clothing, that is, synthetics interfere with normal air circulation and a person sweats more than wearing clothes made from natural fabrics such as cotton. By choosing clothes for daily wear made from natural fabrics, you can prevent the appearance of sweat odor.
It is advisable to wash your underwear after each wear, wearing washed items every day. There is no need to wear clothes affected by the smell of sweat a second time. This item needs to be washed immediately. And be sure to remove it from the washing machine after finishing washing; there is no need to leave the laundry in the drum for a long time.
Deodorant must be used daily, in any weather and with any clothing.The personal care products market provides a huge selection of brands, textures and scents of this useful product. And if products from supermarkets do not help, then you can take advantage of the offers from pharmacies, there are also a lot of products there.
If you sweat profusely, you should use special underarm pads; they are completely invisible under clothes, thin and absorb sweat well, preventing it from settling on your clothes.
In challenging weather, you should opt for lighter clothing; it is better to take extra clothing with you than to be dressed too warmly.
The quality of food and drinks largely determines the amount of sweating and the smell from it.

Ways to remove odor and sweat stains

If it was still not possible to avoid damage to the item, is it possible to return it to its previous appearance and get rid of the unnecessary smell? Quite possible! Moreover, using tools that almost everyone has at home:

The most common way to combat the old smell of sweat is with simple salt, or rather, its solution. It is enough to dissolve a tablespoon in warm water and pour over problem areas on clothing. After this procedure, carry out normal washing. The smell will disappear.
Citric acid is no less popular. It is worth making a solution in the same proportions as salt (it can be thicker if the smell is very ingrained or the fabric is thick) and saturate the areas affected by the smell with it. After this, the item goes into the wash.
For white clothes, a mixture of ammonia and salt is perfect. But you should not use this method on things that may fade or fade.
Soda. The most versatile thing. Any housewife knows about this.Using soda, you can not only bake pies and clean surfaces, but also rid things of unpleasant odors! You just need to make a solution of soda in a glass of water and wipe the problem area with a napkin or sponge (preferably made of natural material) soaked in this solution.
If the item is completely stale, then before treating it with soda, you should soak it in a bowl of warm water and vinegar diluted in it (1/2 cup or a whole glass, no more is needed), and when washing in the washing machine, add a couple of tablespoons of soda to the washing powder. The clothes removed from the machine will be clean.
Boric acid powder in a one to ten solution with water should be applied to the fabric. And leave for half an hour, after which you put the item in the wash.
A simple laundry soap will also help get rid of the smell; you just need to wash the problem areas and leave the item for a couple of hours, then machine wash it.
Potassium permanganate has also more than once saved any housewife from economic troubles, and it will help here too. But only if natural fabric is processed. The method of application is as follows: you need to dilute potassium permanganate with water so that you get a strong solution. After soaking in the solution, the item must be washed.
Shampoo or dish soap is great for removing body odor. It is necessary to apply the products to the damaged areas of the fabric 15-20 minutes before washing. They will degrease the remaining deodorant and sweat.
If none of the above remedies are at hand, then cold will help save the damaged item. All you need to do is put the item in the freezer for an hour and wash it when you take it out. This is the most gentle method and is suitable for absolutely any fabric.
And sometimes more powder and double washing can get rid of the smell of sweat.Things must be soaked for half an hour before washing.

All of the above methods of combating odor, regarding the use of various products, must be applied carefully and left on the clothes from the wrong side for a short period of time! Otherwise, you can easily ruin your favorite thing!

Specialty chemicals

In stores and supermarkets you can find many chemicals that will help remove unnecessary odors from fabric. For example, any disinfectants that destroy germs are suitable for these purposes. But you need to use such products only from the inside out, and very carefully; it may happen that after cleaning the item can simply be thrown away. There are also specialized spray products that remove sweat stains and odors.

It is necessary to buy high-quality powders and fabric softeners. Bleach and stain removers will also help get rid of the smell.

How to dry things properly

You should also pay attention to drying. Drying in a room with closed windows and high humidity can only make the smell worse. It is better to give preference to drying on the balcony or just in the fresh air (or even better - the presence of sunlight), then the fabric will be well ventilated and dried.

What to do with large things?

If no methods lead to the desired result, or a large item (fur coat, coat) is saturated with the smell, you should take the help of professionals and take the item to the dry cleaner. However, for large items and outerwear there are a number of rules that will help keep them clean for a long time:

If the odor problem affects outer clothing, you can wrap it and stuff it with newspaper.Newspaper has the amazing property of absorbing moisture and odor.
Outerwear should be ventilated outside or on the balcony. The smells will go away quickly.
For leather items, you can use deodorant designed for shoes. Its main function is to neutralize foreign odors.
You can use the same soda to dry clean the back of the product; you need to rub the powder into the problem area and brush it off after a few minutes.

The fight against the smell of sweat on clothes is quite real and possible, which cannot be said about the impression of a person. Be careful, maintain hygiene and change your things on time.