The key points

• Household products such as white vinegar, bicarbonate of soda or citric acid are suitable for pre-treatment of smelly laundry. However, you should bear in mind that some household products can have a bleaching effect.

• Special detergents for removing sweat odour have an antibacterial effect and are ideal for sportswear.

• Prevention is the best protection: choosing breathable natural fibres, airing out your clothes and making sure they dry quickly can help prevent stubborn odours.

Pre-treating your laundry: the best household products to combat unpleasant odours

How do I get the smell of sweat out of my clothes? Before you turn on the washing machine, you can pre-treat your clothes using simple household products. This is a way to ensure that your laundry is thoroughly clean and smells fresh with little effort and minimal investment.

White vinegar safely removes sweat odour from coloured laundry

There’s one household product that’s considered to be a real all-rounder – white vinegar. Thanks to its cleansing, antibacterial and disinfecting properties, it’s also the go-to product for removing the smell of sweat from coloured clothing – since, unlike many other household products, vinegar doesn’t bleach your clothes. On the contrary – it brings out vibrant colours! Simply put half a cup of white vinegar in the fabric softener compartment or let your clothes soak in a mixture of water and vinegar for an hour before washing.

Bicarbonate of soda or soda crystals for light-coloured sportswear

Sportswear in particular can often still smell of sweat after being washed. Bicarbonate of soda or soda crystals can help with this: simply add a tablespoon to the detergent compartment or leave the clothes to soak in a bicarb-water solution. Both these household products bind odours, have an antibacterial effect and can even brighten mild sweat stains. But remember – this method is not suitable for coloured clothing or sensitive fabrics such as wool, silk or TENCEL™.

Citric acid removes stains and odours

Citric acid is ideal if your clothes not only smell of sweat, but also have stubborn sweat stains. Simply dissolve a teaspoon of citric acid powder in a litre of water, briefly soak the garment in it and then wash it as usual with your universal detergent or a special antibacterial detergent. Just like with soda crystals, you should be careful here and use citric acid sparingly, as it has a bleaching effect – especially if you’re washing coloured clothing or sensitive fibres.

The best detergent to combat sweat odours: what happens after pre-treatment

If you’ve pre-treated your laundry with one of the household products listed above, you should then wash it as specified on the care label. If you put the garment in the washing machine, it’s worth using a special antibacterial detergent for sweat odour. These products contain enzymes and disinfectants that reliably remove bacteria and wash clothes hygienically.

Here’s what you should also bear in mind when washing in the machine:

• Liquid detergent is often distributed more evenly in the drum than powder.

• Use a colour detergent for coloured laundry or make sure your detergent doesn’t contain any bleaching agents.

• Don’t forget to clean the washing machine regularly; bacteria and odours can also settle here.

• Breathable, natural fibres such as cotton, TENCEL™, wool or silk usually stay fresh for longer. With these, you should use a mild detergent that cares for the materials instead of wearing them out.

Removing sweat odour without washing: is this possible?

You can’t wash your clothes right now, but you still want to get rid of the sweat smell? Natural materials such as wool and silk in particular have self-cleaning properties that make it not only unnecessary to wash them constantly – it’s even counterproductive.

Simply hang up your clothes to air out right after you’ve worn them, ideally outside in the fresh air. UV light and oxygen have an odour-reducing effect, which can even brighten up stains in the sun. Steam can also help with the sweat odours: the moist heat when showering or steaming can dissolve odour particles and freshen up your garment.

For a quick and effective solution, many people turn to the standard textile fresheners. But remember: these household products often contain fragrances that can cause irritation and simply mask sweat odours rather than removing them. If you want to reduce the odours themselves, you can put white vinegar and water in a spray bottle and gently spray it on your clothes.

How to prevent the smell of sweat on your clothes

Even better than removing the smell of sweat afterwards is not to allow it to develop in the first place. Here are the best tips:

• Wash quickly: don’t leave sweaty clothes in the laundry basket for long periods. Bacteria multiply particularly in humid environments.

• Dry properly: hang up your clothes up immediately after washing and, if indoors, ventilate the room regularly to ensure low humidity levels.

• Breathable materials: natural fibres such as cotton, TENCEL™, wool or silk are less prone to odour than many synthetic fabrics. Investing in high-quality materials is particularly worthwhile when it comes to underwear and sportswear.

• Observe the care instructions: wash your laundry at the right temperature. 30 to 40°C is usually sufficient. You can wash towels, bedding and underwear at 60°C.

Summary

The smell of sweat can be persistent, but you don’t need to worry. You can make your laundry smell fresh again – and gently clean it at the same time – by using household products such as white vinegar, bicarbonate of soda or citric acid, the right detergent and a few simple care tips.

If your clothes still smell of sweat, this is often because bacteria have absorbed deep into the fibres. In this case, it helps to use an antibacterial detergent, to clean the washing machine regularly and to specifically pre-treat affected items using special household products.

However, the most important thing is prevention – high-quality, breathable natural fibres such as those used in CALIDA garments reduce sweat, regulate moisture and prevent odours from setting in, allowing you to feel fresh and comfortable in your clothes, even on the hottest summer days.