As I mourned the loss of another favourite t-shirt, I decided enough was enough: there had to be something I could do to save those smelly shirts!
Have you ever worn a shirt and suddenly realised you smell something … stinky? Cautiously you lift your arm and sniff … no! It can’t be!
But unfortunately it’s true. The odour is coming from your own armpit area!
And worst of all – if you can smell it – then maybe everybody else can too?! Quelle horreur!
Despite my best efforts, I must confess this has happened to many a shirt of mine. It particularly seems to be a problem with t-shirts; the smell must get trapped in the synthetic fibres.
And if anything, washing just makes it worse!
I’ve tried pre-wash sprays, I’ve tried soaking, I wear antiperspirant, I’ve scrubbed. And nothing has helped.
I’ve lost count of the times I have regretfully binned a favourite top or dress because it was beyond redemption.
Until I decided enough was enough.
It was a little embarrassing but I put the call out on Facebook to see if anybody could help, and the suggestions flooded in! I studied them all carefully, and even held my own clinical trials 😉 .
How to Save Those Smelly Shirts
- One suggestion was to wash with hot to warm water. Unfortunately, I don’t have hot water connected in my laundry (don’t ask!) so this was not something I could try at home but you might like to give it a whirl and let me know how you go.
- Another idea was to rinse in cold water first before washing, as the soap in the wash seems to set the smell. I suspect this might work if you have a new shirt, but if the smell has already set in, it doesn’t do much.
- Add half a cup of white vinegar in with the rinse water. You’ll be pleased to know, this did seem to work. I tested it on a mega-smelly shirt that was only fit for landfill, and after about 4 washes (no wearing), it actually passed the sniff test, and also when I wore it one day. Hooray!
- Four washes seemed excessive, so I moved onto the next tip: soak in Napisan Vanish Oxi Action* for a few hours. I haven’t had nappies or Napisan in the house for years, but decided it was worth a try. Ladies and gentlemen, we have a winner! Soaking for a couple of hours in Napisan really did seem to do the trick, and get rid of those smelly sweat stains. As a bonus, it also helped to lift the deodorant stains that had built up under the arms of the hubster’s business shirts. It didn’t completely remove them, but I’m hopeful that a few more treatments will bring them up like new:
I for one am very pleased that I can continue to wear my favourite t-shirts, without fear of offending. I’ve given a heap of my shirts the treatment before our trip, so that at least my shirts will smell clean and fresh, even if *I* don’t (after approximately 36 hours en route!).
One of life’s little problems solved …
What is your top tip to save those smelly shirts?!
*These items have been gifted to me for editorial consideration, in accordance with my disclosure policy.
Linking up with Mystery Case for I Must Confess.