Feb 17, 2012 10:29 AM
Ew! My running clothes stink! HELP!
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I'm new on this site, and a relative newbie to running (actually I'd call what I do jogging...) since I only started jogging regularly about a year ago. Since I'm sort of new, I'm perplexed by how stinky some of my jogging clothes are after washing them. Sometimes I don't smell them until after I get them on and just start to get warm, other times I can pull them right out of the dryer and catch a whiff. Whew! I'd like to think of myself as a lady, but I guess my pits would say otherwise. So any suggestions for laundering sports bras, shirts, pants, shorts? I mainly run in polyester blend with moisture wicking properties - running and work out type clothes. Sometimes I throw on a cotton or old concert T. Do I really have to invest in Lululemon to keep my clothes from stinking? Most of the time I try not to wash my clothes (at least my sports bras anyway) on HOT cycle so as to make them last longer, but honestly I'm thinking now, what the heck may as well scorch the stink out if it'd work. It's that or throw them out! I've seen some sports detergents and wonder if htey are worth it? Ideas? Suggestions? Anything would be appreciated by me, nad anyone I may pass running! Thanks in advance!
add vinegar to your wash cycle. Make sure you wash your running clothes separate from your other clothes so the smell doesn't transfer.
a tablespoon or 2 or 3 has worked for me for years. But again, they are running clothes so eventually you may have to throw the really bad ones out ![]()
Training For: 50k Ultra Marathon (2nd)
Tide sports laundry detergent works great. Also, try hanging your work-out clothes above the shower or outdoors following the washing machine. (High heat from the dryer sometimes permanently sets in stains and odors). I seldom put exercise apparel in the dryer, or only for a few minutes...spray them with Febreze before and after the machine (or hand wash) and let them air dry naturally. Also, use a strong cream/lotion (one marketed for male althletes) and that will reduce the body odor transferred onto clothing. Same thing for body wash and deodorant...get a stronger men's version and then do a quick spray of light cologne underneath your arms (Adidas dynamic pulse or something along those lines).
Do not worry about smelling like a man...unscented versions are available, but honestly, even the harsh aroma of some brands is better than fresh perspiration.
Hope this helps!
Also Febreze sells a "laundry odor remover" that works pretty well. I use about half the recommended amount and it still works well.
Len
Len
Run it through a regular laundry cycle, then dry as usual, then put your stuff in the freezer for a few hours. The extreme cold will kill ALL bacteria that causes stink...great little trick there, and it won't prematurely wear out your clothes like harsh detergent or high heat.
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I put baking soda in the wash with my running/work clothes (I work with horses, those clothes sometimes smell worse than my run clothes)! I use about a 1/4 cup, you can use a 1/2 cup if they're really stinky. I buy a big bulk tub from Smart N Final, costs about $3 and lasts for a few months. Seems to work pretty well. I've also used baking soda to get rid of campfire/cigarette smoke smell in clothing, this sometimes takes a couple of washes. As an aside, I have noticed if I am not paying attention to my diet or adequately hydrated, my sweaty stink is noticeably worse. Hope this helps!
Suzy Meathrell
Suzy Meathrell
2010: 289 lbs.
2011: 3 5ks, PR of 24.54 (now 23.54!)
2012: 3 10ks, PR of 50.10
Gonna do a 1/2 in December 2012
2013: Wildflower Triathlon (Olympic Length)
I put vinegar in a downy ball and add a little bit of eucalyptus oil to the water as the machine is filling., I do this for all my laundry, not just running clothes. If I need to dry my running clothes, I use the low heat cycle. Most things dry on their own overnight but a few items need the dryer especially in the summer humidity.
Also, hang them out when you take them off. Don't pile them up where they can 'ferment'. I swear a few new life forms have spawned from balling up my work out clothes and letting them sit for several days. Or at least my wife believes it happened!
I wash mine in cold water, with a detergent I make myself (Ivory soap, baking soda, borax, and washing soda). Rinse twice, vinegar in the first rinse, and AIR DRY!! The heat of the dryer sets stains and odors! And this way, I have a shirt I've worn and washed probably 50 times this year and it still looks brand new.
I hand wash my socks to get the dirt out.
Also, consider your diet. Animal fats cause a particular odor in sweat. When I'm on one of my periodic vegan cleanses, my perspiration has almost no odor.
i always try to let them air dry before throwing them in the clothes hamper. If they stay damp for a while thats when bacteria really starts to grow on them. Anytime after a run my shirt goes up on a hanger or the corner of a door, basically anywhere to dry. Ive never had a problem with clothes stinking so it works for me!
+1 to allowing running clothes to air dry as a preventative measure. I've never had a problem with residual smells (after laundering), probably because I almost always let the clothes air dry. Otherwise they can become breeding grounds for mold and mildew. If I'm at the gym or on travel and have to pack running gear while it's still wet, I put it in its own little laundry bag and then take it out of the bag when I get to my destination. The same applies to running shoes.
"...I've learned that you shouldn't compare yourself to the best others can do, but to the best you can do....I've learned that you can keep going long after you think you can't..." --- author unknown
2013 highlights...
@ 5K: Ontario Mills 5K, Ontario, CA, 24:42
Heart of the City Run, Los Angeles, CA, 24:13
Bruin 5K Run at UCLA, Westwood, CA, 24:54
@ 10K: LA Chinatown Firecracker 10K, Los Angeles, CA, 51:42
The Great Race - Old Agoura 10K, Agoura Hills, CA, 51:12
If the odor is particularly bad, you can soak your clothes in a bucket with baking soda and water prior to washing. Definitely air-dry them, rather than wadding them up and tossing them into a hamper. I am really careful to air-dry my and my DH's socks before tossing them in; otherwise, eveything smells like feet when it comes out of the washer! :O
If your shoes get really squishy after a run, try a shoe dryer. That has helped our shoe-funk considerably.
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