How to Launder Fabric With Body Odor

Odor-causing bacteria cause perspiration smells to linger.

Body odor is caused by the odor-causing bacteria found in perspiration. When your perspiration is absorbed into the fiber of the clothes you're wearing, the body odor transfers right along with it. Smell caused by bacteria along with the proteins found in perspiration stains can cause body odor to linger in your clothing. When you take extra measures as you wash laundry with body odors, you can remove the substances that potentially cause the unpleasant odor to remain.

Things You'll Need

• Bowl
• 4 tbsp. baking soda
• Spoon
• Old toothbrush
• Laundry detergent
• 1 cup white vinegar

Instructions

1. Place 4 tbsp. baking soda in a bowl. Stir in enough water to make a thin paste.

2. Lay your fabric with body odor on a flat work surface. Dampen the areas with the unpleasant smell. Apply the baking soda paste to the fabric using an old toothbrush.

3. 

   Use an old toothbrush to gently scrub fabric.

   Scrub the baking soda paste into the fabric to work it into the fibers. Allow it to sit on the fabric for 15 minutes to absorb the smell.

4. 

   Rinse your clothing with cool water to avoid setting any accompanying stains.

   Flush the fabric with cool water to remove the baking soda paste.

5. Wash the fabric with body odor using laundry detergent and 1 cup white vinegar added to the wash cycle. Vinegar freshens the fabric and helps remove any perspiration stains.

Tips & Warnings

• Soak fabric with body odor in a bucket containing 1 gallon of cool water and 2 cups white vinegar to remove the smell. Leave the fabric in the bucket for 30 minutes then wash as usual.

• Substitute 1 cup baking soda for the white vinegar when you wash the clothes.

References

• Mrs. Clean USA: Tips on Removing Sweat, Perspiration and Deodorant Stains
• Good Housekeeping: How to Get Rid of Stains and Odors
• Vinegar Tips: 1001 Uses for White Distilled Vinegar