Getting ingrained BO smell out of t shirts

[MrCurry]

Ok, not the most pleasant of subjects, but maybe someone knows how to deal with T shirts which have taken on a persistent BO smell which doesn’t shift with normal washing? I have a few which probably got worn too long before getting washed and now even fresh from the wash they will stink around the armpit area by the end of the day.

I’ve tried a hot wash, but my washing m/c only goes up to 60C and that’s not helping. Tried special “stain shifter” stuff you apply before the wash and that hasn’t touched it. So do I dump them in a bucket and pour a couple of kettles of boiling water on and just leave them, or is there some other thrifty tip you have for me?

I’d rather not bin them as they’re still decent shirts with life still in them.

 

[JimW]

Presoak for a while with a bit of vinegar or baking soda in the water.

 

[Epico]

Presoak for a while with a bit of vinegar or baking soda in the water.

^ This.

 

[MrCurry]

Thanks both. I’m sure my machine lets me do a soak programme, so maybe I can just add a cup of vinegar to the drum at the start of wash and see how that goes? But it won’t dissolve the clothes, right?

 

[Epico]

When I have done it I've soaked the clothes in a mix of white vinegar and water in a bucket or bowl for several hours or overnight - then work soda into a paste and apply over the affected area & then wash as normal.

 

[dessiato]

Here I can get cleaning vinegar, which is a slightly stronger vinegar than condiment vinegar. Is this available?

 

[Epona]

BTW use either/or vinegar or bicarb, not both. While that might be ok for unblocking drains, mixing them might damage your t-shirt!

 

[Yu_Gi_Oh]

I soak my gym kit in the sink with Dettol and water and that seems to mean I can then stick them in a 30 C wash without them smelling.

 

[Edie]

Use tongs to throw them away.

 

[High Voltage]

There's a humorous meme that often gets used in situations like this. I believe it involves "taking off" and the use of a medium sized thermo nuclear devise

 

[JimW]

This was a popular technique in Prisoner Cell Block H, which is why they called her vinegar pits.

 

[MrCurry]

Here I can get cleaning vinegar, which is a slightly stronger vinegar than condiment vinegar. Is this available?

Doubtful. But I have standard white vinegar and a 1:4 vinegar to water ratio seems to be recommended online, so I’ll try that.

 

[weepiper]

Use antibacterial hand soap. Wet the t shirt and give it a good squirt in the pit area and rub the cloth together a bit. Then wash in the machine as normal with bio powder. This really works.

 

[magneze]

Tie garlic to your underarm hairs.

 

[MrCurry]

Use antibacterial hand soap. Wet the t shirt and give it a good squirt in the pit area and rub the cloth together a bit. Then wash in the machine as normal with bio powder. This really works.

That’s a good tip, thanks

 

[geminisnake]

Use white vinegar, not malt. White vinegar will help keep your machine clean as well as your clothes.

 

[gentlegreen]

I'm curious .. who has determined that the clothes smell ? I haven't had a washing machine for years and just soak clothes in my used bath water with washing up liquid ...

 

[MrCurry]

I'm curious .. who has determined that the clothes smell ? I haven't had a washing machine for years and just soak clothes in my used bath water with washing up liquid ...

Me and my nose. It’s a quite fruity, bad BO smell. Distinct from normal stale sweat odour. I’m sure these particular shirts have got infested (possessed?) by some strain of bacteria which is doing bad things. Certainly the smell shows up double quick when I wear them, in contrast to normal clothes which can take some wearing when clean before they would need a wash.

So I’ll try exorcising the demons with some holy vinegar.

 

[gentlegreen]

Maybe I have friendly bacteria ...
I don't bathe much, but I only wear cotton ...

 

[JimW]

Start smoking and they'll stink of stale baccy instead.

 

[gentlegreen]

MrCurry weren't you worried about diabetes a while back ?

 

[MrCurry]

MrCurry weren't you worried about diabetes a while back ?

I don’t think it’s related to that tbh.

 

[Carvaged]

To get rid of the stink in 30 seconds, just wet the armpit area and (assuming the garment is mostly cotton) microwave it for 30 seconds on full power. Cooks/kills the offending bacteria.

 

[gentlegreen]

Maybe what's needed is more friendly bacteria ?

 

[MrCurry]

To get rid of the stink in 30 seconds, just wet the armpit area and (assuming the garment is mostly cotton) microwave it for 30 seconds on full power. Cooks/kills the offending bacteria.

That sounds even easier than vinegar. I’d better make sure they’re not polyester though!

 

[MrCurry]

Maybe what's needed is more friendly bacteria ?

I’ll offer them afternoon tea and see if we can come to an accommodation

 

[gentlegreen]

I push these things to the limit.
I went for 8 weeks between baths recently - wearing the same 3 tee shirts (worn at the same time) which were then barely washed ...
I got a bit stinky, but not unbearably so and I don't get within smelling distance of other people ...

 

[Carvaged]

That sounds even easier than vinegar. I’d better make sure they’re not polyester though!

Yeah I've tried citric acid, vinegar, bicarb and 70% alcohol soaks over the years but a good blast in the microwave has proven to be the most consistently successful and by far the quickest and easiest. Sometimes you might need a minute on full power - depends on the strength of your microwave.

 

[dessiato]

“CAUTION: Putting large items like shirts, jeans and bed sheets in the microwave causes electrical fires. It is not recommended. If you choose to ignore this advice, then please be careful to avoid steam burns when you open up the microwave after using it to dry something.”

I think I’d stick with vinegar etc if I were you.

 

[Saffy]

Use antibacterial hand soap. Wet the t shirt and give it a good squirt in the pit area and rub the cloth together a bit. Then wash in the machine as normal with bio powder. This really works.

I do this on my teenage son's shirts. It really works.