[Kerrilyn]

How do you deal with sweat smell in synthetic fabrics? Mostly I have dealt with it by using all natural fibres but my daughter was given a dress and really likes it but it has a sweat smell to it despite being washed. Is there any way to get rid of it?

Thanks for your time. 🙂

[Liesl Gibson]

Sure–man-made fibers like polyester are hydrophobic, which makes it difficult to eliminate odors because water is repelled by the fabric. This is true of a lot of athletic clothing as well. Two suggestions: soak it in a water-vinegar mixture first. Then add some baking soda to the washing machine. Both of these methods will help get rid of odors easily!

• This reply was modified 4 years ago by Liesl Gibson.

[David Johnston]

It is true that weat-infested polyester smell far worse than cotton. Here are some tips to get rid of the odor:
• Turn your clothes inside out before washing so the inside, sweaty part is more easily cleaned.
• Add a cup of baking soda to the washer as it fills along with detergent. Baking soda is a natural deodorizer, but it works best in conjunction with detergent.
• Add a cup of vinegar to the rinse cycle to help get rid of soap build-up and odors. You can also try pre-soaking clothes in a vinegar-and-water solution before laundering.
• Give clothes the sniff test before drying. If they still have an odor, re-wash.