Who else hates it when stinky pit stains just won't quit ruining your favourite shirts? No matter how often you give it a good wash, you can't seem to remove that underarm body odour. Now, you likely start hiding away your favourite clothes at the bottom of the drawer because the smell won't budge.
Great news! We are here to save the day with a few helpful tips and tricks on quickly removing underarm odour from clothes using easy-to-find items you already have in your home. You'll be surprised at how well these homemade remedies, from lemon to white vinegar, can step in to be the hero with a cape for your favourite clothes. Want to save those shirts and stunning dresses? Keep reading!
Table of Contents:- Part 1: What is Underarm Odour?
- Part 2: Pre-Treatment Steps
- Part 3: Effective Methods for Removing Underarm odour
- Part 4: Additional Tips and Precautions
Part 1: What is Underarm Odour?
Now that we've got your attention let's look into what caused that nasty underarm smell in the first place.
Like most things, there's a scientific name for underarm odour, known as bromhidrosis, which drags out the two culprits for the underarm odour in your clothes: sweat and bacteria. So that odour has much to do with you, just as it does with bacteria, and here is how it happens.
As we go about our daily activities, we sweat, and this is because our sweat glands work very hard around the clock to keep us cool. As they do this, the sweat produced from the glands contains a chemical known as ammonia that can smell unpleasant when it comes into contact with odour-causing bacteria on our skin. So, these bacteria love to feed on sweat and, as a result, are present in sweaty areas of our bodies. When they break down components of sweat, they release byproducts like acids that make your underarms funky.
All that sweat and bacterial action wouldn't be so bad if it stayed in our pits. But as sweat soaks through your shirts, it brings those smelly bacteria right along for the ride. Once they come in contact with your clothes, they leave stains, and these pit stains, alongside the nasty odour, can linger on your clothes long after washing.
Now we know the culprits. Time to learn the best way to get rid of it!
Part 2: Pre-Treatment Steps
Yes, we want to remove the nasty odour from your clothes, but at the same time, we need to ensure your clothes remain in perfect condition. To do this, we need to take our clothes through some pre-treatment steps to get them prepped for scent surgery. Here is just what you need to do to ensure total odour removal success:
Take Quick Action
The moment you notice a funky smell on your clothes, you need to take immediate action. Why? When left for too long, the bacteria can burrow deep into the fibres of your clothes, leaving a nasty odour and an unappealing stain on your clothes that can be even tougher to get out. For best results, try to address the issue within 24 hours of catching the odour in your clothes, and you will stand a better chance of getting rid of the smell completely.
Separate Affected Clothes
We already know bad smells are very hardworking when it comes to spreading, and the last thing you want is for the stench on one outfit to get buried in another. When you spot an underarm odour on your clothes, remove them from your other garments before washing them. You do this for three reasons: to prevent a spread, to focus on the stains, and to save other clothes from odour-removing chemicals they are not prepped for in the wash.
Check The Labels
Before trying on any of the steps, check the clothing label for specific instructions, especially for fabrics like silk or wool that require extra special care. Labels come with washing instructions and warnings against certain types of chemicals. Keeping this in mind helps avoid damage during the pre-treatment phase. We advise you to spot test treatments on a hidden area to prevent nasty surprises.
Taking these simple steps upfront helps loosen and lift odour compounds before they bond tightly to your favourite clothes. Taking these steps helps ensure the stench is eliminated right at the source.
Part 3: Effective Methods for Removing Underarm odour
Now that we have got the clothes all prepped and ready to be treated, it is time to try out these proven methods to remove the underarm odour from your clothes:
Vinegar Solution
Mix 1 part white vinegar with 1 part water in a spray bottle. Since bacteria are the primary culprits of odours, white vinegar is a good fix as its acetic acid cuts through bacteria and breaks down the odour compounds. Spray directly onto stains and affected garments and leave to sit.
Baking Soda Paste
A versatile household item, baking soda is featured in this guide as an effective odour neutraliser. Make a paste using baking soda and water until you get a spreadable consistency. Gently rub the stains onto the affected area, let it sit for a few minutes, and then wash out.
Lemon Juice
Easy to get, easy to use: freshly squeezed lemon juice can be rubbed directly to the pits to eliminate that nasty odour; it can also be a solution mixed with some water in a spray bottle. The citric acid in lemon juice kills bacteria and removes stains from your clothes.
Enzyme-Based Stain Removers
Look out for formulae with enzymes that eat proteins in sweat stains. You can find them at your convenience store. These formulae break down the odour right at the source. Spray or soak the clothes in them for a few minutes before washing.
For particularly stubborn cases, you can layer treatments or let solutions soak into the fabric longer before washing as usual. With some patience, you'll have clean clothes without any underarm odour in no time!
Part 4: Additional Tips and Precautions
To improve your odour removal methods for the best results, here are some of the tips and precautions that you should keep in mind:
Proper Washing Technique
If your clothes are heavily stained with too many odours, the best thing to do is wash them by hand after applying a treatment solution. Try as much as possible to immerse the solution into the fibres and increase the cycle of your washing machine.
Laundry Additives
Make baking soda and white vinegar regular additives with your detergent when doing your laundry. It reduces the chance of an odour buildup, saves your clothes, and helps you get through trouble over time.
No Harsh Chemicals
While chemicals may pack the strength you need to remove that nasty odour, try to avoid harsh ones, as they will remove more than just the stain and odour from your clothes. Gentler is always better!
Test Treatments First
Before applying any chemical or formula to your clothes, always test first on a hidden area of your fabric. It will save your clothes from damage if the fabric is too delicate or the formula concentration is too strong.
With some extra care, your clothing can withstand multiple treatments until every last whiff of body odour is banished for good. You can keep your wardrobe smelling fresh with minimal fuss or expense by learning effective remedies and proper laundering techniques.
Conclusion
We have come to the end of the article, bringing answers to your questions on removing underarm odour from clothes. You should know what underarm odour is and how to get it out.
What is the next step after understanding the details around underarm odour? Well, using the methods we have brought you to get a better scent for your clothes is essential. So, hop on these solutions and let us know about your experience getting odour out with them.
