Key Steps
If you want to know how to keep clothes fresh without washing:
- 1
Baking soda, lemon juice or vodka can tackle both sweat smells and sweat stains.
- 2
Freezing clothes will kill bacteria.
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Sometimes your clothes just need a good airing out.
Sometimes your clothes look fine and feel fine; the only problem is the smell. You don’t necessarily want to give them a full wash, but you can’t walk around in them as they are. You need to know how to get sweat smell out of clothes, and we’re here to help. Here’s our guide to how to remove BO from clothes without washing.
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How to remove body odour from clothes without washing
A lot of methods for how to keep clothes smelling fresh without washing involve things you might find around the house, such as lemon and baking soda. Because these things aren’t technically designed to be used with clothes, you can’t always predict how your clothes will respond to them. Before treating an entire garment, test your chosen method for how to get rid of sweat smell in clothes on an inconspicuous area of your clothing to check for discolouration.
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1
Hang your clothes out in the sun
Just airing clothes out in the sunshine for a few hours is probably the simplest method for how to get sweat smell out of clothes without washing. Sunlight can fade dyed fabrics, so this may not be suitable for everything you own, but it can also kill bacteria.
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2
Sprinkle Baking soda
Because bicarbonate of soda has antimicrobial properties, it can remove odour-causing germs from your clothes. Mix up a paste of baking soda and a little water, turn your clothes inside out and work the paste into the areas that aren’t smelling their best. When the paste has dried, just brush it away.
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3
Spray a solution containing lemon juice
Like bicarbonate of soda, lemon has antimicrobial properties.Besides, it is a natural deodorant with a pleasant smell of its own, which makes it a great tool for how to remove musty smell from clothes without washing. Mix a tablespoon of lemon juice into about 200ml of water and put it in a clean spray bottle. Give your clothes a light spray all over and hang them to dry. It’s best to save this one for white clothes, on account of lemon’s mild bleaching properties.
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4
Use Vodka
Vodka kills the bacteria that’s to blame for the smell of sweat. Mix two parts vodka with one part water in a spray bottle, then spray the sweaty parts of your clothes. The vodka will quickly dry without leaving behind any smell of alcohol.
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5
Put your clothes in the freezer
Putting clothes in the freezer may sound like a strange method for how to remove sweat smell from clothes without washing but it works. Put them in a plastic bag and freeze them overnight to kill the bacteria causing that sweat smell.
While sweat is the biggest cause of complaints over the smell of clothes, it’s not the only one. Sometimes brand new, unworn clothes don’t smell entirely right. If you’re interested in how to get rid of new clothes smell without washing, the above methods can help with that as well.
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How to remove sweat stains from clothes without washing
Even if you’ve got rid of the sweat smell, you might still have sweat stains to contend with. Again, test your method on an inconspicuous area before you tackle the whole garment.
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1
Add Lemon Juice
onto the stain and leave it for a few hours, then rinse. Lemon juice can have a bleaching effect, so it’s best to use it on white fabric.
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2
Use hydrogen peroxide as an alternative
can be used in place of lemon juice in the above method. Again, it can bleach coloured clothes.
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3
Make a Baking soda paste
isn’t just for smells; it can also be used to tackle stains. Rinse the sweat stain, then use a little water to mix the baking soda into a paste and rub it gently into the stained fabric. Rinse it off an hour later.
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4
Use white vinegar
to the stain and leave it for half an hour, then rinse.
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5
Put diluted Vodka
can also help to tackle stains. Rinse after an hour.
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Tips on preventing sweat smells in clothes
While learning how to get sweat smell out of clothes without washing them is a useful life skill, it’s always easier to keep the problem from recurring. Consider the following tips:
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Shower regularly: If you’re prone to sweating, make it a habit to shower at least once a day. Also, instead of using body soaps with pleasant smells, opt for unscented options.
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Wash clothes before wearing them: Even if you feel clean and your clothes don’t look dirty, don’t wear your clothes without washing them. Don’t try masking the smell by spraying perfume on your garments because this will only make the odour worse.
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Wear deodorant: After showering and before wearing your clothes, apply an antiperspirant deodorant. This way, you’ll reduce the amount of butyric acid that your armpits produce.
Knowing how to keep clothes fresh without washing is a great way to save water and smell good. With clothes that look and smell fresh, you can walk out with confidence.
Read other articles from the Clothing Care category
Reasons your clothes smell after washing
What do the symbols on washing machines mean
How to remove static from clothes
How to make clothes smell good and stay fresh
References:
1. Drake D. (1997). Antibacterial activity of baking soda. Compendium of continuing education in dentistry. (Jamesburg, N.J. : 1995). Supplement, 18(21), S17–S46.
2. El, A. (2021). Comparative Antimicrobial Studies between Commercial Deodorants, Alum, Sodium Bicarbonate and Lemon Against Sweat Odor Bacteria. Cohesive Journal of Microbiology & Infectious Disease, 4(5). https://doi.org/10.31031/cjmi.2021.04.000597
Frequently asked questions about removing sweat smell from clothes
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What removes sweat smell from clothes?
If you have time to wash your clothes, you can get rid of the sweat smell by adding vinegar to your regular cycle. If your clothes still smell damp after washing, soak them in a solution of vinegar and warm water for 30 minutes before washing them as usual. -
Why do my clothes still smell of sweat after washing?
If your clothes still smell of sweat after washing, it’s likely due to the amount of detergent you used. Excessive detergent can leave residue on your clothes, which can also trap odours. As such, use a reasonable amount of detergent when washing your sweaty garments. -
How do you deodorise clothes quickly?
Sprinkling some bicarbonate of soda can quickly deodorise your clothes. The compound will neutralise and absorb the bad odours.
