Let's be honest: sometimes your favorite old sweater stinks and normal washing fails to get rid of the smell. If normal washing doesn't produce the desired results, you may need to take a different tack to get rid of this stubborn odor. Use one of the following methods to get rid of bad odors from your clothes once and for all.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Soaking your clothes
Step 1. Sort out clothes as usual
Remember to separate light and dark colored clothes and separate fine and coarse fabrics. This method will require you to use warm water, so if your clothes can only be washed in cold water, you may have to use another method to remove body odor from your clothes.
Step 2. Soak the clothes in warm water mixed with baking soda
Put clothes in a basin, bucket, sink, or tub. Add enough warm water until the clothes are completely submerged. Add two cups of baking soda to the bowl. Stir briefly so that the baking soda is dispersed in the water. Leave it for at least a few hours, if possible overnight.
You can also soak your clothes in the washing machine. Put your clothes in the machine and turn it on so that the washing machine drum starts to fill with water. Once the jar is full, add two cups of baking soda to the jar and turn off the engine. Let your clothes soak in the water and baking soda for a few hours
Step 3. Wash clothes by hand, or restart your washing machine
Baking soda should be removed from your clothes after soaking. If you wash by hand, use a normal amount of detergent. You may need to change the water several times to remove any remaining soap and baking soda. If you are using a washing machine, just turn it on again and add detergent as usual.
You can also try this method with vinegar. Add a cup of vinegar to your laundry and let the clothes soak for a few hours. However, after soaking your clothes in a mixture of water and vinegar, you should wash them in a bleach-free detergent. Combining bleach and vinegar will produce toxic fumes that are harmful to your health
Step 4. Hang outside, if possible
If that's not possible, you can spread your clothes out on a towel to dry. Squeeze the clothes so the water doesn't drip and spread them evenly on the towel. Let the clothes dry for 24-48 hours.
Hanging or spreading your clothes out on a flat surface to dry will help reduce your utility bills and laundry costs. If you can't get rid of body odors that stick to your clothes during the washing process, the dryer tends to lock the odor in place
Method 2 of 3: Prehandling Your Clothes
Step 1. Investigate where the odor is coming from on your clothes
This method of treating body odor on clothes is called spot treatment, so you should focus your work on a specific area. In most cases, the odor usually comes from the area around the armpits of a shirt or the groin of pants.
Step 2. Perform on-site treatment of the smelly area
There are many commercial products that you can buy at the store, but using your usual detergent can also provide the desired results.
- You can also try making a paste from a mixture of baking soda and water. Make the dough thick, but not so thick that it is difficult to spread it out. Apply the paste to the area that emits the most pungent odor.
- Some suggest pounding uncoated aspirin and rubbing it on smelly areas of clothing. The salicylic acid in aspirin should help get rid of the lingering body odor.
Step 3. Wash as usual
Remember to separate clothes by color and type of material. A warm water wash cycle may help remove odors more effectively, but always remember to follow the washing instructions on the label on your garment.
Step 4. Hang outside to dry, if possible, or spread on a towel to dry
Avoid using a tumble dryer if you're not sure if the smell is gone. The dryer can lock in odors, making them even more difficult to remove the next time you wash your clothes.
Method 3 of 3: Dealing with Odors Without Washing
Step 1. Find out where the smell is on your clothes
This method of dealing with clothing odors is called on-site handling, so you should focus your work on a specific area. In most cases, the odor usually comes from the area around the armpits of a shirt or the groin of pants.
Step 2. Spray vodka on the smelly area
Just pour pure vodka into a spray bottle and spray it directly onto problem areas. You'll need to wet the area completely, as a light spray won't give the desired result.
- This is an excellent method of getting rid of odors on clothes that are labeled dry clean only. You don't always have time to take your clothes to the laundry and they can be really expensive. Spraying only the areas you want will allow you to wash your nice clothes less often.
- You can also use isopropyl alcohol, vinegar, or hydrogen peroxide, but vodka has been used to remove various odors from fabrics. Vodka is odorless and evaporates quickly from your clothes, so you don't always need to wash your clothes after spraying, unlike if you use vinegar.
Step 3. Allow the sprayed area to dry before putting your clothes back on
Once dry, the smell should go away. If the smell doesn't go away completely, try re-wetting the area with vodka spray. It may take several treatments to get rid of the very strong odor.
Tips
- Don't wear clothes for more than two days without washing them, even if you can, don't go more than one day. Body odor will build up on your clothes and will be harder to remove the more you wear them before washing them.
- Try showering every day, but if that's not possible, change your clothes and splash water on your armpits to reduce body odor.
- Use antiperspirant deodorant to stop body odor as a first step.
- Try changing your diet if you experience excessive body odor. Some drinks and eating can cause it, including alcohol and strong spices. If your body odor changes drastically, you may need to consult a doctor, as this could be a symptom of a bigger health problem.
