Welcome to a new post of the week. We are still talking about Hacks to Beat Bod Odour So let’s come along.
Wash regularly
Proper cleaning can go a long way. If you are prone to B.O., wash more frequently, particularly in the offensive areas.
While you’re at it, think twice before putting that T-shirt back on. Not all clothes need to be washed after each and every wear, however, if you have a tendency to perspire heavily, you might also need to wash more frequently.
Shirts and other clothes that touch the armpits must be washed after each and every wear if you are experiencing B.O. Wear a base layer like a short-sleeve T-shirt to cover your armpits and stop sweat and microorganisms from spreading to sweaters and outer layers. If you do, you won’t have to wash them as frequently. Also, you and your sweater will smell better.
Go au naturel
With fabrics, that is. The fabric you put on matters a lot. A recent study confirmed that your fancy gym clothes and different man-made fabrics like polyester and spandex are microorganism heaven. The unnatural fibres are breeding grounds for bacteria. You’re better off with a natural fibre like cotton, linen, or wool.
Spike the laundry
If your clothes smell like the bottom of your gym bag, don’t worry. Add a cup of vinegar to your laundry, and they will come out smelling fresh. You can additionally use up to 1 cup of baking soda or washing soda to beat the stink. Just don’t combine the vinegar and the baking soda/washing soda, as they will cancel each other out.
For really sticky situations (like the clothes I forgot in my hot car, or dripping leggings post-hot yoga), I presoak my clothes in 1-2 cups of vinegar per two gallons of warm water before washing. You can do this in your washing machine on the “soak” setting, or in a bucket before washing.
Pro-tip: Turn your clothes inside out before washing them. This makes it less difficult to get the oils and sweat out of the fabric, and your clothes will appear new for longer.
For really smelly clothes, and all technical fabrics, skip the dryer. It will “bake in” the odour and make it tougher to get rid of.
