When I exercise I sweat a lot. And with that, my exercise clothes get pungent. I mean bad enough they even smell bad to me as I'm still wearing them. I wash them with the regular detergent (All) I use, but am thinking there may be something better. So, what do you all use for your exercise/work clothes that really take a beating?

A cup of white vinegar along with regular detergent.

Sportwash gets the funk out for me. It's also the only thing I've found that gets cologne out of Under Armor.

My brother used to be a personal trainer & amateur bodybuilder (i.e. wore moisture wicking synthetic fibers pretty much every day) and I asked Sigforum this very question on his behalf. Several people responded not to use fabric softener on the moisture wicking synthetic fibers. It plugs up the moisture wicking ability and then mold, bacteria, funk, etc. get hung up in the fabric.

It's been at least 5 years, but someone posted a link to all of the uses for vinegar around the house. One of them is to use it as the fabric softener in the washing machine. I've been using it exclusively on all of my clothes and not only is it incredibly economical (I buy 1 gallon jugs), but there is zero carry through of the vinegar smell. When I get home from the gym, my moisture wicking gear is hung until dry and then goes into a hamper for a week or two. I use vinegar as the fabric softener on my moisture wicking synthetic fibers and despite that my moisture wicking clothing is inexpensive there is zero mold, bacteria, funk, etc. in my workout clothes.

In other words, I've combined the recommendations from two separate Sigforum threads and having excellent results and saving money.

On another note, you mentioned using All for your laundry detergent. It is not one of the recommended laundry detergents from Consumer Reports' testing, but it is rated as very good for body oil. They seem to test laundry detergent every 2 or 3 years so I switch to their recommended products every 2 or 3 years. I've been using Persil ProClean Power Liquid 2 in 1 which they rate as excellent for body oil. The latest test is out and there are only only 2 recommended laundry detergents with Tide Plus Ultra Stain Release (also rated excellent for body oils) being the highest rated and Persil ProClean Power Liquid 2 in 1 being second. Those are both liquid laundry detergent and the pods rate slightly worse than your All and zero pods are recommended.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: tatortodd,

I use ALL detergent for all of my work clothes and never have any smell on them, no matter how much I sweat in them.

A friend of mine fills a 5 gallon bucket with water and a handful of oxyclean powder and throws his soiled clothes in there for up to 4 days before he washes them and that takes the funk out too and doesn't seem to hurt the clothes.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: jimmy123x,

I do Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, so I know exactly what you are talking about.

Tide Sport does a great job getting the funk out - it’s almost too strong.

Odoban in the rinse cycle is supposed to really help too. https://www.amazon.com/OdoBan-...words=odoban+laundry

I think the key is to not let the workout gear sit for too long before washing.

Try adding vinegar to whatever you’re using now.

quote:

Originally posted by Kenpoist:
I think the key is to not let the workout gear sit for too long before washing.

This.

I'm a fairly heavy sweater, but I've never needed any tricks to get my stuff clean with regular Tide. I just wash it as quickly as possible, rather than throwing it in a hamper or gym bag and letting it sit for days.

ime - hang dry the really sweaty stuff when you take it off - at least drape it over something so it can air dry

if you drop it in a clothes basket / closet / hamper or whatever and just let it sit and dry in a pile in the dark you are really upping the stink / funk factor that washing can't solve

when i was in the army - we would have to stuff smelly worn filthy t-shirts in our rucks to be washed later - days later - when we were able ---- those t-shirts after awhile would NEVER smell clean they were definitely limited life / replacement items

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quote:

Originally posted by Kenpoist:
I think the key is to not let the workout gear sit for too long before washing.

If it's performance fabric, simply rinse it in cool water and hang it. Then throw it in the hamper when it's dry.

Some guys will even rinse their stuff out at the gym.

I don't even have to rinse my stuff. I just hang it to dry immediately when I get home and it's good.

Gain gets the workout funk out of my clothes no problem. And as was stated above, fabric softener is a no-no for moisture-wicking clothes. Most of them even state this on the label. It can lock in the stink and also makes it harder to get anti-perspirants out.

Sometimes the challenge is getting a good detergent that is fragrance free. I’ve been using All HE with satisfaction but may try the Tide recommended above if there is a fragrance free version. But I always use bleach so maybe that’s been helping.

Add Borax to the wash with the detergent. It will get rid of the funk.

ARman

I wash all my police gear, vest carrier, undershirts and such in hot water and use a sport wash detergent, but I also use Oxyclean. I hang dry them after. It keeps them fresh.

I’ve always heard the vinegar thing, even use it sometimes, but have never read anything that scientifically supports it’s use. Same for baking soda in the laundry. If anyone can explain either I’d appreciate hearing it.

Just add Borax to the load. 20 mule team Borax will rid the mildew smell from your clothes. Trust me.

LYSOL Laundry Sanitizer

quote:

Originally posted by konata88:
Sometimes the challenge is getting a good detergent that is fragrance free. I’ve been using All HE with satisfaction but may try the Tide recommended above if there is a fragrance free version. But I always use bleach so maybe that’s been helping.

CR tested 8 sensitive skin formulas and the best was Persil ProClean Power-Liquid Sensitive skin. Still excellent on body oils & dirt, but falls to just good for blood, wine, tea, and chocolate ice cream.

Second best and half the money was Kirkland's Ultra Clean Free & Clear. It falls to very good for body oils & dirt but is the same as Persil for grass stains, blood, wine, tea, and chocolate ice cream.

the neighbor uses ammonia on her daughters volley ball, soft ball and track cloths.

and hangs them on the cloths line , in the sun to dry

When I finish playing tennis, I hang my shorts and shirt (wicking type material) to air out. When it gets washed, I just use whatever detergent is in the cabinet, usually Arm & Hammer. I DO NOT use fabric softener on my moister wicking work-out clothes per the label instructions. I smell fresh as a field of daisies.

quote:

Originally posted by tatortodd:
CR tested 8 sensitive skin formulas and the best was Persil ProClean Power-Liquid Sensitive skin. Still excellent on body oils & dirt, but falls to just good for blood, wine, tea, and chocolate ice cream.

Second best and half the money was Kirkland's Ultra Clean Free & Clear. It falls to very good for body oils & dirt but is the same as Persil for grass stains, blood, wine, tea, and chocolate ice cream.

Thanks. I'm not sure I've ever seen Persil. Kirkland's sounds good and easy to get. Any idea makes it (Kirkland stuff is usually just re-branded products with some tweaks?)? Wonder if it is basically All?