I pretreat the armpits of my blouses with detergent, but when I wash and iron them, they still smell bad (especially ironing). I've also tried baking soda and vinegar as a pre-treat, and it helps, but doesn't get rid of it.
Anyone have the magic formula? I was even thinking about Natures Miracle!
I have started adding borax to my laundry, and it smells SOOO much better! I was having a hard time with my husband's socks; they still smelled after a hot wash with bleach. (He uses a prescribed foot powder that really doesn't like to wash out.) the borax has made a huge difference, and I use it for regular loads now too. :)
Put vinegar on your fabric softener dispenser. And put a few tablespoons of Borax into your detergent dispenser.
I found that Dawn dish soap worked on a pair of pajamas I had that got a little gross. Soaked and scrubbed the spots with the dish soap in the sink, rinsed the shirt out then ran it through the normal wash. I don't use any fabric softener or dryer sheets which leaves a film on your clothes, thus locking the ick in. I use a small amount of no dye, no perfume liquid detergent and vinegar that I put in the fabric softener dispenser.
The dish soap broke through the oils that were set in to the material that were causing the smell.
I was about to throw out the pair of pajamas but tried this because they are my favorite ones. It really did work!
try some ammonia. The wax, etc., that is used to make deodorant builds up in the material and doesn't wash out, that's why your pits stink! I'd spray the pits with the ammonia then either put in a ziplock bag and let sit overnight, or just spray and chuck in the machine. If spraying and chucking doesn't work, then try the ziplock method! good luck!
Hi Sally, I use to have that problem too. I started using a laundry detergent that is made with enzymes and high grade tea tree oil. It breaks down the bacteria that causes the odor and rinses it down the drain. Haven't had a problem since I started using it. You can also prevent the bacteria from getting on the blouse to begin with if you use a deodorant that also contains these properties. Most people don't understand how much this makes your life easier!
Regards,
M.
Thanks for asking this! I was wondering this too. Especially since I just went treasure hunting at a thrift store and bought an adorable shirt. But...after washing it then ironing it I smelled b.o.
YUCK...my lingering b.o. is bad enough...I don't need lingering second hand b.o. That = P. U.
Thanks for asking this and thank you ladies for all your tried and true remedies!
They smell because there is still bacteria in/on the fabric. You can deal with this in a few ways. First, try color-safe bleach (like Clorox 2). Or, if your washing machine has the setting (and the fabric can tolerate it), use the steam wash/sanitize setting on your washer. That will do the same thing as the color-safe bleach, but instead of chemically killing the bacteria, you're killing it with heat. Either way will remove the smell from your clothing. (PS: This also works with towels when they get musty smelling.)
Soak them before washing.
My answer is the dry cleaners! We don't have an issue with excess sweat but they do a great job with getting the clothes clean.
Even if you splurge and do it once you'll be ahead!
Pretreat with Spray N Wash.
When you iron, is the steam on? Water in it?
Try cleaning your iron.
Mine has a cleaner button thing on it.
And if that water is stale in there, in the iron, it can seem to make the clothes smell as you iron.
I think its your iron.
Another vote for Borax- I use this all the time. My husband travels for work a lot and works out at the hotel gyms. He then shoves his sweaty clothes in his suitcase and brings them home. Don't even get me started. Vinegar has helped for sure. But for serious smells, I add Borax and let it soak as long as possible.
