How To Remove Sweat Smells From Clothes (7 Methods)

Working out feels great, but dealing with the aftermath? Not so much. Sweat has a nasty habit of sticking to fabrics, and sometimes that funk lingers even after a spin through the washing machine.

If your favorite gym shirt still smells a bit ripe, don’t worry. It is completely normal, and you don’t have to throw it away. We are here to show you exactly how to remove sweat smells from clothing so you can hit the gym (or the office) feeling fresh.

Key Takeaways

• Vinegar works wonders: Distilled white vinegar breaks down the oily buildup that traps odor-causing bacteria.
• Baking soda neutralizes: Its alkaline nature balances out acidic sweat smells to deodorize fabrics.
• Skip the softener: Fabric softeners coat fibers, locking bad smells inside rather than washing them away.
• Wash inside out: Since sweat and bacteria live on the inside of your clothes, washing them inside out cleans the source directly.

In This Article

• Causes of Body Odor
• Removing Sweat Smell
• Preventing Stinky Clothes
• FAQs
• Don’t Sweat It

What Causes Body Odor?

Body odor is a universal experience, but that doesn’t make it pleasant. Contrary to popular belief, sweat itself is actually odorless. The smell comes from bacteria living on your skin (1).

When your apocrine glands (found in areas like armpits) release proteins and lipids, bacteria feast on them. As these bacteria break down the proteins, they release the distinct scent we know as body odor. While you can use antiperspirants or probiotic deodorants to manage it on your skin, your clothes require a different approach.

Why Body Odor Sticks to Clothes

You might assume a standard wash cycle would banish the stench, but modern fabrics make it tricky. This issue is often called “permastink.”

The culprit is usually body sebum. This oily substance is sticky and loves to burrow deep into fabrics (2). While hot water can melt sebum away, most gym clothes are made of synthetic performance fabrics like spandex or polyester. These plastics repel water but absorb oil, meaning they hold onto the stink and cannot handle the high heat needed to melt it off.

Furthermore, if you wash clothes in a crowded machine with standard detergent, you might just be spreading the bacteria around rather than killing it (3). To truly get the funk out, you need to break down the oils trapping the bacteria.

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Tricks to Get Sweat Smell Out of Clothing

If your laundry hamper is smelling suspicious, don’t panic. You likely have everything you need to fix it right in your pantry. Here are the most effective methods to strip that sweat smell for good.

Pro Tip

Always turn the item inside out before treating. The bacteria and oils are concentrated on the interior fabric that touches your skin.

Distilled White Vinegar

Vinegar is the MVP of laundry day. The acid in distilled white vinegar cuts through the oily sebum that traps bacteria, releasing the odor so it can be washed away (4).

1. Mix one cup of distilled white vinegar with half a gallon of cold water in a bucket or sink.
2. Submerge your smelly clothes and let them soak for 20 to 30 minutes.
3. Wring them out and wash them in the machine as usual.

Don't Worry About The Smell

Vinegar has a strong scent, but it washes out completely. Your clothes won’t smell like a salad dressing once they are dry.

Baking Soda

Baking soda is a natural deodorizer. It works by bringing both acidic and basic odor molecules to a neutral, odor-free state (5). This is perfect for general sweatiness.

1. Create a paste by mixing baking soda with a small amount of warm water.
2. Rub the paste directly onto the underarm areas or wherever the smell is strongest.
3. Let it sit for at least 15 minutes (or overnight for tough smells).
4. Wash the garment as you normally would.

Lemon Juice

If you prefer a fresh citrus scent, lemon juice is a powerful alternative. The citric acid works similarly to vinegar to break down oils and neutralize odors (6).

1. Squeeze the juice of three lemons into two liters of warm water.
2. Let the mixture cool down slightly.
3. Soak the clothes for 30 to 45 minutes.
4. Rinse with cool water and wash or air dry.

Aspirin and Cream of Tartar

This is an old-school hack that actually works. Cream of tartar (potassium bitartrate) is acidic, while aspirin contains salicylic acid. Together, they target stains and smells (7).

1. Crush three uncoated white aspirin pills and dissolve them in a cup of warm water.
2. Stir in one tablespoon of cream of tartar.
3. Use an old toothbrush to scrub this solution into the armpits of the shirt.
4. Let it sit for 20 minutes before washing.

Washing Soda

Washing soda (sodium carbonate) is baking soda’s stronger cousin. It is highly alkaline and excellent for heavy-duty degreasing (8).

Safety First

Washing soda can be irritating to the skin. We recommend wearing rubber gloves when applying it by hand (9).

1. Sprinkle ¼ cup of washing soda over the smelly sections of the wet clothing.
2. Add a splash of water and rub the fabric together to work it in.
3. Let it sit for 30 minutes to break down the oils.
4. Wash the garment immediately to rinse out the soda.

Enzymatic Cleaners

Sometimes you need science on your side. Enzymatic cleaners (often sold as “sports detergents”) contain specific enzymes like protease and mannanase. These enzymes literally eat the organic matter (sweat and dead skin) that bacteria feed on.

1. Look for a laundry booster or detergent specifically labeled “enzymatic” or “for activewear.”
2. Follow the bottle instructions for a pre-soak or add it directly to the wash cycle.
3. This is often the best solution for synthetic gym clothes that cannot be washed in hot water.

Salt Soak

Salt has mild antibacterial properties and can help draw out sweat from fibers (10). It is a good gentle option if you don’t have other ingredients handy.

1. Dissolve ½ cup of salt in a large bowl of warm water.
2. Soak the sweaty areas or the whole garment for an hour.
3. Wash as usual.

Tips to Prevent Stink in Clothes

Removing the smell is step one, but preventing it from coming back is even better. Adjusting your laundry routine slightly can make a massive difference in how fresh your clothes stay.

• Wash ASAP: Do not let sweaty gym clothes sit in a hamper for days. The longer they sit, the more bacteria breed. If you cannot wash them immediately, hang them up to dry first rather than balling them up.
• Skip the Fabric Softener: This is crucial. Fabric softeners leave a coating on fibers. On synthetic activewear, this coating traps sweat and bacteria underneath it, locking in the smell. Use vinegar as a natural softener instead.
• Ditch the Heat for Synthetics: High heat can actually “bake” smells into polyester and nylon. Wash your gym gear in cool water, but use a high-quality sports detergent to do the heavy lifting.
• Use the Sun: UV rays are powerful bacteria killers. If you can, line dry your white or light-colored gym clothes outside in the fresh air and sunlight (11).
• Don’t Overload the Washer: Clothes need friction and water flow to get clean. If you stuff the machine too full, the water cannot circulate through the fabric to rinse away the sweat.
• Clean Your Machine: If your clean clothes smell musty, your washer might be the problem. Run an empty cycle with two cups of white vinegar and hot water once a month to kill mold and bacteria inside the drum.

FAQs

Why Do My Clothes Smell Immediately After I Wear Them?

This is called “rebound odor.” It happens when detergents mask the smell rather than removing the source. As soon as your body heat warms up the fabric, the dormant bacteria trapped in the fibers “wake up” and start releasing odor again. You need to strip the build-up using a vinegar soak or enzymatic cleaner.

Does Freezing Clothes Kill Bacteria?

No, freezing does not kill bacteria; it only makes them dormant (12). Once the clothes warm up against your skin, the bacteria become active again, and the smell returns. Washing is the only way to remove them.

What is the Best Laundry Detergent for Sweat Smell?

In our opinion, Win Sports Detergent is the best laundry cleaner for sweat smells. It acts as a solvent to remove oils from synthetic fibers, is great for sportswear, and contains zero fragrance and dyes.

Where Do You Put the Vinegar In the Washing Machine?

You can pour distilled white vinegar directly into the fabric softener compartment of your washing machine. This releases it during the rinse cycle, allowing it to strip away detergent residue and tackle lingering odors without interfering with the main wash.

Can Baking Soda Damage a Washing Machine?

Baking soda is generally safe, but using excessive amounts over time can cause clumping in the dispenser or internal pipes. It is often safer to dissolve it in water before adding it to the drum, or put it directly in the drum rather than the dispenser drawer.

Don’t Sweat It

Everyone deals with body odor; it is just part of being human. The good news is that you don’t need to retire your favorite gym gear just because of a little funk. Whether you choose the vinegar soak, the baking soda paste, or a specialized sports detergent, one of these methods will get you back to smelling fresh.

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