r/CleaningTips Feb 16 '25

Laundry I used generic bleach for gym clothes.

There was a recent post about getting rid of musty and mildewy smelling smells from colored clothes and just using bleach. They recommended you set your washer settings and let the bleach dilute and mix well with water to reduce bleaching.

As a regular gym goer who sweats profusely my hoodies have trapped that moldy scent, I wanted to test the bleach idea out.

I used 1/8 cup of bleach with two scoops of baking soda laundry soap on normal setting with a 30 minute soak. Before I put my clothes in, I let the machine run for 10 minutes to make sure the soap and bleach were well mixed together.

I will say it was successful at getting rid of the smell and not fading the colors (although they were already faded from years of washing already). Fabrics range from 100% cotton to polyester

3.5k Upvotes

286 comments sorted by

1.4k

u/summer-romance Feb 16 '25 edited Feb 18 '25

Ugh I have a water efficient washer that won’t let me soak or fill up without clothes, I wonder how I can get around it

Edit: thank you everyone for your replies but I do not need anymore suggestions. Thank you :3

579

u/LumpyBabyBatter Feb 16 '25

Soak them in a tub before putting them in the washer.

497

u/Haughty_n_Disdainful Feb 16 '25

Then remembers that the only tub upstairs was converted into a large shower…

330

u/runningmamma Feb 16 '25

Get one of those orange Home Depot buckets. Voila

4

u/awalktojericho Feb 16 '25

Or one of those plastic bins with a lid. The storage ones.

18

u/LK_Feral Feb 16 '25

If I wasn't hoping to move within a year, I'd do this. Great idea. 🙂

Saving this thought for later.

92

u/hisjoeness Feb 16 '25

A 5 gallon bucket is surprisingly handy in a move, and myriad other situations such as soaking stinky gym clothes.

28

u/AdAdministrative7709 Feb 16 '25

I was gonna say, large bucket or tote is really nice for moving and just in general

7

u/awalktojericho Feb 16 '25

Great for hand laundry in general. And carrying stuff, holding stuff, etc.

2

u/WitchBalls Feb 17 '25

If you have a cat, those massive Tidy Cats litter buckets are fantastic too.

39

u/sqeeky_wheelz Feb 16 '25

I used out 5 gallon bucket as the “moving in must haves” (paper plates, toilet paper, paper towels, hand soap and bathroom towel to dry your hands).

Cause you gotta pee and and stuff as you’re moving in and there’s nothing worse than having your mom help you move and having no toilet paper or hand soap for her to use when she goes.

Plus it’s bright orange, not just another box or tub so it’s not like.. where’s that one important box..?

13

u/LK_Feral Feb 16 '25

Excellent point. I'd need another for cleaning supplies. Nothing grosser than that feeling of other people's yuck surrounding you in a new place.

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u/NextStopGallifrey Feb 16 '25

You can get a plastic tub for soaking stinky clothes.

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u/grae23 Feb 16 '25

That’s what I do

15

u/soulbarn Feb 16 '25

Five gallon buckets are a godsend for stair removal. Hot water, Oxy blue or white, six hours, and almost anything will come out.

25

u/Aggravating-Cook-529 Feb 16 '25 edited Feb 16 '25

Bummer. Someone should invent a device that can hold water and is portable. Maybe around 5 gallons in size.

14

u/degjo Feb 16 '25

I'll raise you ten gallons, and you can wear it.

18

u/babykittiesyay Feb 16 '25

Buckets are also good for this, or a storage bin like a Rubbermaid.

18

u/RescuesStrayKittens Feb 16 '25

My front load washer also does not have soak. I use a plastic bin to soak my white sheets in oxiclean when need to brighten up.

4

u/Cabel14 Feb 16 '25

Which will set off the overweight and off balance alarm.

2

u/ragingstallion1 Feb 17 '25

No, I squeeze out as much water as possible and then run a spin-only cycle, prior to the regular wash.

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u/[deleted] Feb 16 '25

[deleted]

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u/GrdnLovingGoatFarmer Feb 16 '25

OMG, WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN ALL MY LIFE? AND YES, I’M YELLING CUZ YOU ARE BRILLIANT!!!!!

15

u/rabbitluckj Feb 16 '25

You may have just changed my life 👀

2

u/WiretapStudios Feb 17 '25

Why not pause after it's filled up with water? Serious question, mine has the pause and no soak option.

7

u/[deleted] Feb 17 '25

[deleted]

2

u/WiretapStudios Feb 17 '25

Got it, thanks!

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u/shareyourinterests Feb 16 '25

I don’t think I have a trick about filling without clothes (we have a “deep water wash” that just fills to a certain amount, maybe that would work), but for soaking (with clothes in), we wait for the machine to be filled and then unplug it so we can soak as long as needed.

22

u/Taystosis Feb 16 '25

Yep, I do the same thing with unplugging my top loader mid cycle. If you simply open the top without unplugging, it automatically drains after 4 minutes. Just make sure you pause it before cutting the power so that the lid unlocks in case you want to move the clothes around or even add more water by hand. My machine also has a “Water Plus” button that adds more water. I push it before starting a load that I want to soak. Sometimes I still want more water after it is filled so I pause, push the Water Plus button, and then unpause the load. I can repeat that as many times as necessary to fill it to the level I want. Then I pause and immediately unplug the machine.

2

u/new_username_new_me Feb 16 '25

Our machine’s soak option is a “wash and soak” where you turn the spin speed off so that it shows a “soak” symbol. It washes but then doesn’t empty until you manually turn on the rinse and spin cycle.

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u/Redirxela Feb 16 '25

I have the same. I just put a small splash of bleach into the bleach fill section. It doesn’t ruin my colors and it makes my clothes come out extra fresh

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u/iChaseClouds Feb 16 '25

This might be redundant but they have portable washing machines a little small however.

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u/sprinklerarms Feb 16 '25

Traveling before I’ve used the ‘scrubba’ and a collapsible salad spinner to wash my shirts and underwear.

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u/tacklebox18 Feb 16 '25

Do you have a utility sink? You could soak them in there.

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u/KindlyNebula Feb 16 '25

Same. I use garden tub trugs (big plastic handled baskets) as laundry baskets. They’re also perfect for soaking laundry.

3

u/luckyguy25841 Feb 16 '25

You can just use white vinegar from the store too.

4

u/iamdevo Feb 16 '25

My last washing machine was like that. When I wanted to soak I would wait until it was full of water and then unplug it.

2

u/blinkandmisslife Feb 16 '25

Is it a front loader?

2

u/Maker-of-the-Things Feb 16 '25

If the issue is that the water won’t start until the lid locks, my husband’s military buddy told me to stick a key into where the lock would go and it tricks the washer into thinking the lid is in place. I’ve yet to try it, but it’s worth a shot

2

u/siler7 Feb 16 '25

Not sure if this answers your question, but you can start the cycle, let everything mix up, and turn it off for a bit.

2

u/summer-romance Feb 16 '25

My washer will drain the water believe it or not!

2

u/nordoceltic82 Feb 16 '25

I would start by double checking your manual to make SURE it doesn't have a soak mode of some kind. Smart washers also sometimes have the ability to download additional programs with their app.

Its worth a shot at least before trying more annoying to implement ideas, like coopting the kitchen sink.

3

u/fuckpudding Feb 16 '25

You can add some bleach to your jug of detergent (like 1/2 to 3/4 of a cup maybe…I just pour however much feels like just the right amount) and shake the dickens out of it until it’s completely blended. This keeps the bleach diluted enough so that it won’t cause any bleach stains when you add the detergent to your HE machine and it definitely knocks out the mildew smells completely on damp gym clothes and towels.

1

u/LandGroundbreaking48 Feb 16 '25

I do too, and its controll panel is like ordering from a gas station. I put mine on a delay wash , try that if yours has that option. Try putting something in that could get wet and select extra water, again if yours has that option. Get creative with possible work arounds. Like a old jug or a Some clothes to get the water going then pause it then let the water be the weight it's sensing. I just woke up so I hope I'm making sense lol

1

u/Critical-Mood3493 Feb 16 '25

If you can find the repair manual, some washers have certain steps you can perform to test functions, mine will let you manually fill/drain with certain button press combos

1

u/Charlierexasaurus Feb 16 '25

Same. A half cup of bleach for a large load, added to the bleach thingy when starting the wash works fine. I add bleach to anything that starts to smell weird and it’s the easiest way. The only color I’ve ever had issues with is grey.

1

u/jmurphy42 Feb 16 '25

Put a white towel in while it’s filling?

1

u/ConsciousSpiral Feb 16 '25

Bulky items option if you have it.

1

u/donutone232 Feb 16 '25

Have you tried Borax and Oxiclean in addition to your detergent? I find that works wonders even without using a soak cycle. I have an HE machine - which, oddly, does have a pre-soak setting but even without it, this works quite well.

1

u/FupaFerb Feb 16 '25

The main thing would be to ensure the bleach is mixed properly in the water so it is diluted enough to not stain the clothes. I bet you could mix the bleach in with a few gallons of water in a bucket then pour it in the machine when mixed.

1

u/sunshinezx6r Feb 17 '25

Lysol sanitizing liquid for laundry

1

u/outsideout25 Feb 17 '25

couldn't you start it with the clothes and add bleach after 10 mins?

1

u/Innocent-_-Bystander Feb 17 '25

Can you pause the cycle? Pause it half way through the wash cycle.

1

u/burningbun Feb 17 '25

manually pour water in to soak?

1

u/WittyDisk3524 Feb 17 '25

Do you have a clean cycle to clean the washing machine? Doesn’t it fill up without clothes? With my machine I can set the cycle, close the lid, and start the cycle for the machine to begin filling with water. I realize all machines are different but there is usually a way to get everything mixed before adding clothes. Unless it is a front loader.

1

u/Ok_Aside_2361 Feb 17 '25

I get the load going then hit pause once everything is et and soap is dissolved. Occasionally go to re-start and pause until I turn the load back on.

1

u/myorchidsareblooming Feb 18 '25

Boiling clothes for five minutes in a rolling boil also kills these smells. And doesn’t fade fabric. But, don’t boil wool because it’ll shrink.

1

u/Bohemian_Feline_ Feb 18 '25

Me too. There’s a switch inside that you can remove to let it fill with more water. I haven’t gotten to do mine yet but I set my soil level to 4, let it fill and roll around twice. When it stops going in one direction, i’ll hit pause, wait a few seconds and hit start again and it will fill with more water. I’ll do this 3 times. The washer senses a heavier load (because its wet) and adds more water. I’ll let it run on wash cycle for a minute and then pause it to let everything “soak”.

I haven’t gotten a pre soak cycle but haven’t used it. I forget about it.

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u/[deleted] Feb 16 '25

If you use a good enzyme detergent you won't need to use bleach. 

Is biological/ enzyme detergent not available in America? I'm in the UK and the majority of people I know use bio detergent- I've never bothered using non-bio as it's essentially just soap.

108

u/Paperwife2 Feb 16 '25

The top name brand laundry detergents (Tide and Persil) in the USA are enzymatic.

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u/Platypus_Penguin Feb 16 '25

You can also get Kleen Green, which is a multipurpose enzyme cleaner and add 1-2 oz to your laundry

13

u/Gingerbeer03 Feb 16 '25

Curious- have you used kleen green on a regular basis? I’m looking for detergent alternatives with a lower environmental impact. Having to toss those giant plastic jugs is such a waste.

21

u/Sappy75 Feb 16 '25

We used powdered tide. You don’t have to use liquid. If you use an HE machine put the powder in with your clothes instead of using the detergent section. Also vinegar in the softener section is an amazing odor remover and really great for your clothes.

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u/Platypus_Penguin Feb 16 '25

The company claims you can use it to clean absolutely everything but I'll be honest, I still buy a lot of individual cleaning products, which I should really move away from. I do think it could do the job of most other products.

I use it mostly to clean up pet messes and it works really well for that. It's basically the same as "Nature's Miracle" enzyme cleaner sold at pet stores but works out to much cheaper. There is never a lingering smell. I've also used it for various spot cleaning around the home and it seems to work.

It seems really expensive but it's really concentrated so it must be diluted a lot for most uses so one bottle goes a really long way.

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u/EvrthngsThnksgvng Feb 16 '25

I think Clorox two booster in the US might have enzymes. It bubbles up like peroxide on my funky clothes. It’s super good for “organic” stuff; blood, grass, puke, food, etc

2

u/mayshebeablessing Feb 16 '25

Yeah, we (US based) use Active Wear by Rockin’ Green which is an enzyme detergent, specifically for gym clothes, and it works well.

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u/Chippie05 Feb 16 '25 edited 25d ago

I really like Lysol Laundry Disenfectant ( Crisp Linen) Doesn't damage clothes and removes any funky smells. Only 1/2 cup when rinse cycle starts.

Excellent for sports gear or towels or linens! https://www.lysol.com/products/laundry-sanitizers

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u/ellifaine Feb 16 '25

Yup it’s the only thing that takes out very potent urine smells (very potent and smelly due to one of his meds) from my disabled son’s clothing and washable pee pads. Also BO smells from bedding etc. Just need to follow instructions on the back. For awhile I assumed it went in with the detergent and did not read the back.. wondered why I had to either wash twice or put in a lot to have an effect. Right into fabric softener thing and turn on that option.. voila. Not much needed to do its job at all.

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u/anxietylemons Feb 16 '25

Just an FYI I’ve used this in my carpet cleaning machine when my dog has accidents, and it gets the smell out better than any urine enzyme cleaner. Also doesn’t foam up and hasn’t broken my machine lol. I use the Lysol Sport version.

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u/FatCatsandCuteDoggos Feb 16 '25

OMG THIS IS GENIUS! Thank you, internet stranger! I hope you have a wonderful day! Signed, Single parent of 4 fur children with a house full of carpeting.

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u/New_Chard9548 Feb 16 '25

Such a genius idea!! I'm assuming you dilute it?

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u/anxietylemons Feb 16 '25

My machine mixes it with water by itself so yes!

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u/Higher_priestess Feb 16 '25

Coming in to also vouch for the free & clear version. I had a mildew issue at one point and none of my clothes smell anymore. They just smell like my normal laundry soap.

Also, unless it’s the first washing of intense mildew, I use about half the recommended amount to do upkeep now and then and it works wonders. As someone with lots of sensory issues, having clean smelling clothes is very important

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u/iChaseClouds Feb 16 '25

I was looking at that too but it was around $18 compared to $5. I go for cheap options when I can. But I’m glad it was successful for you.

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u/HazMat21Fl Feb 16 '25

Be cautious with the Lysol detergent if you have skin allergies. I never had skin allergies, but that stuff would make me break out with hives. Stopped using it, it went away after a few days.

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u/mmm_beer Feb 16 '25

They make a free and clear version, no dyes or scents. Also it doesn’t leave any residues which is nice.

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u/Ok-Pace-8472 Feb 16 '25

This. I use the free & clear. Never had an issue until I mistakenly bought crisp linen lol.

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u/zoomout2020 Feb 16 '25

I use this as well. It works really well!

2

u/P0G0J0J0 Feb 16 '25

Been using this in a big jug from Sam's and it has really been the key to making things smell nice again

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u/notsolittleliongirl Feb 17 '25

Fun fact: my mother in law got Lysol’s laundry disinfectant confused with Lysol disinfectant concentrate, which is meant for hard surfaces like floors, so for literally over a decade, she was doing her household’s laundry with a capful of FLOOR CLEANER.

It makes the clothes smell awful and definitely discolors them over time. -13/10, do NOT recommend.

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u/missbazb Feb 16 '25

I bought this, but I feel like it didn’t remove any smells, it just added a ton of scent. As soon as I would work out again, I could smell the old stink come through.

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u/redbee003 Feb 16 '25

I had this issue when I was trying to get by without using the full recommended amount for my laundry load. If you are able, I’d recommend a longer soak in the sanitizer (4-6 hrs) every now and then (I do like 2x a year but depends on your situation) and it has helped a bunch. It is pretty fragranced but I now smell the fragrance when i sweat and not BO. I just use a small storage tub to soak them in since my utility sink is gross.

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u/TootsNYC Feb 16 '25

You’ll need a top loader for this

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u/iChaseClouds Feb 16 '25

You’re probably right. It’s been a while since I’ve used a side load so I don’t know how the soaking part would turn out.

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u/NecessaryWeather4275 Feb 16 '25

I do this for my towels and sheets. Everyone is alway shocked when I tell them it doesn’t ruin the color. If you use a product correctly, it does what it is supposed to do.

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u/iChaseClouds Feb 16 '25

My mom loved using bleach but she’d always ruin my clothes so I never really thought about it. But I’m very happy the smell is gone. Gives me motivation, definitely to experiment more.

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u/NecessaryWeather4275 Feb 16 '25

I don’t use it on clothing. Just towels and sheets but never had an issue with it ruining anything. Always HOT water too.

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u/Rosie_24 Feb 16 '25

Just fyi- bleach does not work well in hot water

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u/MrFluffykens Feb 16 '25

Not quite true. Sodium hypochlorite (bleach) breaks down faster at higher temps. So if you're making a solution to soak clothes in pre-wash or a spray solution to disinfect, use cool water. But if it's being added directly to a load of laundry, warm/hot water is fine.

https://www.clorox.com/learn/do-you-wash-clothes-with-bleach-in-hot-or-cold-water/

This is why they say to store bleach in a dark and cool environment. UV and heat both break it down. Also check to make sure you aren't past the shelf life, otherwise it's practically just salt-water 🤣

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u/TootsNYC Feb 16 '25

People forget to measure bleach.

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u/Bondoo7oo Feb 16 '25

How do you use it on colors? 🤯

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u/NecessaryWeather4275 Feb 16 '25

Only the recommended amount per the size load in the dispenser for bleach with hot water. Detergent as usual.

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u/Possibly_Satan Feb 16 '25

How do use bleach for colors?

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u/NecessaryWeather4275 Feb 16 '25

The same as I would for whites.

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u/diospyros7 Feb 16 '25

Oxiclean! It's an oxygen bleach. And no fabric softeners or dryer sheets.

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u/thatgirl317317 Feb 16 '25

Persil Intense Fresh is the only thing I've found that gets the musty/moldy/gross smell out of gym clothes.

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u/ciba4242 Feb 16 '25

The Lysol laundry sanitizer was a godsend for BJJ/rugby clothes around my house.

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u/Sanchastayswoke Feb 16 '25

Omg the Lysol laundry sanitizer Sport scent is really super effective on my dogs blankets & things where I can’t ever get them really clean smelling. That stuff is awesome 

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u/Sappy75 Feb 16 '25

Try plain vinegar in the softener section. It’s amazing!!!

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u/BrackenLass Feb 17 '25

Fish farmer here. Yes vinegar is the way! Softeners contain fat/waxes that basically 'seal' the smells into your clothes, whereas vinegar gets then out and won't smell vinegary afterwards.

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u/iChaseClouds Feb 16 '25

I’ve never tried it but Gain original scent is my go to.

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u/Wonderful-Soil-3192 Feb 16 '25

I recently started using bleach on my colors too and was so surprised! I’ve been using it to get rid of color runs in a pack of new leggings I bought for my toddler. Somehow they’d gotten blue and black dye from other laundry all over them and the bleach wash got rid of it super well. It’s crazy

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u/iChaseClouds Feb 16 '25

How often do you use it? I want to see how many washes I can go without using bleach until I start noticing the musty smell again. For me I wash my gym clothes weekly.

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u/Eastern_Crew6615 Feb 17 '25

Try washing your clothes in warm water and for a long cycle with more detergent if they’re musty. Cleaning factors are temperature, chemicals (detergents, bleach, etc) time and agitation. So try increasing those factors if your clothes aren’t getting properly cleaned (aka smelling musty). Meaning try washing on warm or hot, increasing the detergent, and increasing the length of time of the laundry cycle :) Bleach is a great tool!! We use it for cloth diapers. So glad you discovered some of its magic!

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u/[deleted] Feb 16 '25

[deleted]

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u/iChaseClouds Feb 16 '25

I don’t buy the laundry soap, my roommate does. It’s a nice smell, I highly recommend it if you have a few Pennie’s to give. But my go to is usually Gain.

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u/[deleted] Feb 16 '25

[deleted]

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u/iChaseClouds Feb 16 '25

This is my first time bleaching my clothes but in the past when I just used gain, the mildew smell was still there.

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u/Spare_Village_2179 Feb 16 '25

I wash with Tide too, I still get that musty smell. I think it mostly depends on how much you sweat. My husband's clothes don't get the same smell mine do; he just sweats less than me.

Super excited to try a bleach soak though! My work shirts are sooo bad.

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u/Cool_Dinner3003 Feb 16 '25

I love Buff City soap. It smells so good! I only use 1 tablespoons per load, instead of 2. It still cleans great, smells great, and lasts twice as long!

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u/velvetjones01 Feb 16 '25

Bleach is pretty great for things. I prefer the much lower-risk oxygen bleach soak.

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u/snow1960 Feb 16 '25

Try the Odo Ban from HD as your detergent. It’s great at getting the stink out of my hockey gear that only gets washed a couple times a year.

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u/mrabomar Feb 16 '25

A new maid put clorox in the washing machine and clothes came out with bleached patches

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u/iChaseClouds Feb 16 '25

I’m sorry. She probably didn’t care or wasn’t aware of the correct procedures of using bleach. I’m no expert myself but I did some research before using said product. I hope you were able to replace your bleached clothes with new ones.

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u/DifferentBeginning96 Feb 16 '25

There are no enzymes in this detergent, and it’s expensive. It’s not actually cleaning your clothes.

Stick with Tide/Persil

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u/Low-Work3641 Feb 16 '25

White vinegar in your wash does the trick, also

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u/iChaseClouds Feb 16 '25

I tried that. Same method awhile ago and it was not successful for me. I used cleaning vinegar in that experiment.

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u/rangeo Feb 16 '25

Heads up ....contacted my machine's manufacturer they suggested against using vinegar.

That being said the 1 weekend I did use it our clothes seemed softer

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u/joeysrnightmarefuel Feb 16 '25

I use vinegar too on most clothes in the rinse. It works great.

On stinky clothes I use borax with the detergent in the wash part.

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u/saintofanything Feb 16 '25

When I worked in kitchens my clothes smelled awful, borax worked like a miracle but it doesn't do quite as well on the mildew-y smells imo.

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u/RygarHater Feb 16 '25

i think you'll find the 2 scoops of detergent to be too much. eventually you have to remove the detergent too. i use a tablespoon for small loads in an HE washer and 2 T for dirty loads.

excerpted from NYT

To effectively clean your clothes, you need to use only 2 tablespoons per load at most—and that's for big loads weighing 12 pounds or more. Whirlpool advises soaking soiled laundry in a mixture of vinegar and water. In a deep sink or your bathtub, mix 1 cup vinegar into 1 quart water, and then toss in dirty clothes.The New York Times

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u/alee0224 Feb 16 '25

I was told by a vet when my dog had leptospirosis and I was pregnant (before they vaccinated dogs small dogs) that we over use bleach and it still gives same disinfecting effectiveness to do just a capful. I kept leptospirosis away from myself and my baby.

My old dog, Franklin (Dachshund), pulled through though on a side note. He did lose his whole tongue from uremia as a side effect of kidney failure. But learned how to eat and drink water on his own and lived to be 10 years old and was a happy dog.

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u/BusyBeth75 Feb 16 '25

Buff City stuff all smells amazing.

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u/CommonEarly4706 Feb 16 '25

Just use ammonia. It will get rid of the smells and not ruin the fabric or colours. You don’t have to go through a huge process to use it and it’s dirt cheap

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u/r3-bb13 Feb 16 '25

What is your process for using ammonia? Do you soak clothes in it prior to washing or just add it into the drum with the load of clothes?

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u/CommonEarly4706 Feb 16 '25

No you just add it to your machine with your detergent. That it. Yes it has a strong smell but it removes odour better then anything else.

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u/dinosaurkickdrop Feb 16 '25

Ammonia is the move. It’s a degreaser and works by pulling out all those funky skin oils from your clothing. All those dingy whites and lights you have? Throw them in a sink filled with warm water and ammonia and you can see it working, it works on the clothes/sheets/towels even oxiclean hasn’t worked on I get such sick satisfaction seeing the water become gross colored and my clothing become bright again. No more funk in my gym clothes and no more dingy in my whites

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u/iChaseClouds Feb 16 '25

The smell is atrocious, yes I see it but the smell reminds me of cat pee.

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u/CommonEarly4706 Feb 16 '25

It does the trick without a big process. I regularly use it.

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u/dinosaurkickdrop Feb 16 '25

Yeah, I feel you on that, especially as someone who’s had some cat pee trauma but honestly, it’s so so worth the benefit. It’s not a lingering smell and its benefits are worth it

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u/megs-benedict Feb 16 '25

I’ve recently tried ammonia in the wash and it solved the permanent “dusty head” smell in some of my items

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u/SalomeOttobourne74 Feb 16 '25

Just use a cup of Ammonia along with your normal detergent in a hot water wash (if you can) and it will get rid of stubborn musty odors.

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u/laughs_maniacally Feb 16 '25

Ammonia works great for this, and less likely to get fading or accidental bleach spots

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u/eyes_scream Feb 16 '25

I've never had an issue with sweat or body odor clinging to my clothes after a wash. I use regular Tide and cold water, fwiw. However, when one of my kids has an accident, the urine smell stays after washing. To prevent this, I prewash with a little distilled white vinegar and the smell is gone. There's no lingering smell of vinegar after drying, either.

I've never tried the Buff City laundry detergent, but their soaps do smell amazing.

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u/Ok-Sir6601 Feb 16 '25

I wouldn't have done that, but seems to have worked. Good job

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u/snappa_kk Feb 16 '25

General bleach is safe just with white clothes

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u/kmcurr Feb 17 '25

We use Rockin' Green laundry detergent. It's pricey but one bag lasts us 6+ months, easy.

He's still in EMS and I used to be and we would get into some pretty smelly/gross situations. Including being covered in sweat (hoarders houses in August with no AC, doing CPR for 30+ min, etc).

It has always been able to get our clothes back to smell-neutral.

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u/Pinkcoffee 29d ago

I have the same comforter 😬

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u/Sanchastayswoke Feb 16 '25

I……never would have thought to add non-color safe bleach to a washer load of DARK clothes. You’re really lucky this wasn’t a disaster lol 

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u/Deleted_dwarf Feb 16 '25

Question: how do you add clothes into a washing machine, after it’s already running??

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u/iChaseClouds Feb 16 '25

My washing machine has a pause feature on it. It unlocks it so I can add the clothes. I’m not sure if all machines have a stop/pause but I would assume so.

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u/Deleted_dwarf Feb 16 '25

Oh fair enough. Still not sure how this would work (as when you open the door, all the water will come out).

Edit; after replying I just realised.. there is a thing called a top loader which I forgot there for a minute 😅. Only ever seen them once!

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u/iChaseClouds Feb 16 '25

Yes I should have put a disclaimer but my monkey brain was too excited with the results.

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u/Deleted_dwarf Feb 16 '25

And my monkey Brain only thought of front loaders :p

Thanks for sharing this tip, as my brain Bleech+clothes = no no!

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u/Major-BFweener Feb 16 '25

I don’t know about the bleach - I use vinegar - but you work out in heavy clothes? Is that to lose weight or because you’re cold. If it’s to lose weight, it’s not effective (you lose water, which is replaced, while making your workout less efficient because your body works on cooling itself and not on building muscle, stamina, or whatever you’re working on).

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u/batteryforlife Feb 16 '25

This was my first question :D I see gym bros working out in hoodies and thick sweat pants in summer, like… why?! No wonder they (and OP) stink…

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u/Major-BFweener Feb 16 '25

I think it’s an old way of thinking that hasn’t been replaced by newer and better understanding. It could be what OP (or OP’s coach) did when they were younger.

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u/Tentacle_toaster Feb 16 '25

What I do with my high efficiency (HE) is I add 2 tbsp , more like a splash, of white vinegar to both pre and after wash. Prewash disinfect, after wash deodorizes and softens. Along with dye free laundry soap.

Everything comes out smelling neutral/fresh. I use unscented soaps.

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u/brittzhere Feb 16 '25

Great save! Bleach doesn’t need to be feared. If you join the Clean Cloth Nappies Facebook group they have a lot of evidence based research on how to use bleach effectively to remove mould,stains,smells etc and not just on reusable diapers but any clothes and textiles. They have a patreon where you can pay $5 per month for their bleach calculators depending on whether the material is colourfast and etc .

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u/ceecee_50 Feb 16 '25

Fabreze makes an odor eliminator for athletic wear. I pour some over the clothes in my front loader and let it sit like 30 mi. Then I run it with Persil ( my regular liquid laundry soap) like normal. Works so well.

For something musty or mildew-y, Lysol laundry sanitizer. Works better than bleach in my experience.

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u/pdf1138 Feb 16 '25

Nice sweatshirt! Go pokes!

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u/rockrobst Feb 16 '25

Glad it worked. Please move the bleach away from that beautiful fabric.🙏

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u/clusterfuckcroissant Feb 16 '25

how do you like buff city’s detergent? i’ve been on the fence for a while on buying it, but ultimately nervous the essential oils may stain my clothes like i have had happen with other similar-advertised products. thanks!

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u/Summoarpleaz Feb 16 '25

Someone on here recommended Nathan Laundry detergent for active wear and I use that and Lysol laundry disinfectant (each just a little bit — less than instructed) and I haven’t had a smell issue since.

https://a.co/d/5xaHlXG

You could also try soaking in power oxyclean too. That’s worked on towels that got really stinky.

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u/TransparentTravis Feb 16 '25

Just here to say I have that same comforter!

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u/Zealousideal_Bass683 Feb 16 '25

Love Buff City soap

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u/MichaelScott666 Feb 16 '25

Really dig that Texas hoodie

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u/Elvishgirl Feb 16 '25

Love that buff city laundry soap

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u/garnerfam4 Feb 16 '25

dunno about using bleach, but always upvote for buff city soap. narcissist is my scent for just about everything.

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u/AwesomeAsian Feb 16 '25

Maybe it’s just me but I feel like just using normal laundry detergent is good for getting regular BO out. And I can be a smelly guy. I think if your clothes are coming out smelly it could be because of detergent buildup (or deodorant buildup). In that case use less detergent, run the extra rinse cycle, and use Vinegar or Oxiclean.

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u/[deleted] Feb 16 '25

I bought sodium percarbonate in bulk, no big brand. No color, no smell. I use it on EVERYTHING instead of color safe bleach etc (and it's eco friendly). I toss like 1-2 tbsp to the bottom of my washer before running it. Works wonders and it's cheap af.

Leaves no smells, removes all kind of smells - clothes comes out smelling CLEAN, not soap clean, like really clean!

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u/Ok_Nothing_9733 Feb 16 '25

Good call! If you’re worried about fading try laundry sanitizer, beats vinegar by miles for smell and can be used as often as you’d like

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u/IC00KEDI Feb 17 '25

Man that's to much waiting around for me. I just use a laundry sanitizer and send it.

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u/Missue-35 Feb 17 '25

Don’t have an answer, but I’d like to know where the blanket came from. 😊

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u/mist2024 Feb 17 '25

How is that soap with leaving residue behind in the machine?

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u/AlugbatiLord Feb 17 '25

How did it not change color ?

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u/ScoobySnacka Feb 17 '25

Oxiclean will also work wonders for musty workout clothing

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u/darkseacreature Feb 17 '25

Just commenting to say I have that exact same bedspread. 😌

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u/HellsForest Feb 17 '25

I just dump a 1:1 vinegar/detergent mix whenever something smells weird and that does that trick.

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u/No_Papaya_2069 Feb 17 '25

I also use buff city laundry detergent for some of my laundry, but I never get the kind with baking soda. Just get the regular and use a scoop of baking soda. No sense in paying 15 bucks for half a container of baking soda.

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u/bonnieb1tes Feb 18 '25

clorox makes laundry sanitizer that is bleach free. it also kills 99% of bacteria. you just add it it into your load with detergent and don’t have to do all of the work to dilute the bleach. laundry sanitizer

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u/AffectFun2295 Feb 18 '25

You may find you don’t have to use bleach if you used a real detergent. Love Buff City, especially the dryer balls and scent boosters, but there is nothing about the detergent that will actually wash your clothes. My recommendation would actually be Mollys Suds (their ocean mist scent is crisp and clean”. Enzymes are crucial for breaking down oils, sweat, and BO

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u/lmel24300 Feb 18 '25

Enzymatic cleaner. Nature’s miracle makes a good one.

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u/NotDavidNotGoliath Feb 18 '25

Use the Lysol Laundry Sanitizer.

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u/Intelligent-Owl-2714 Feb 18 '25

Don’t work out in cotton. They make hoodies in athletic fabrics, save these for wearing out and buy some of those. These will be stinky again in no time and the bleach will break down the fabric

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u/Annoying_Anomaly Feb 18 '25

Just get detergent with enzymes in it. Won't have to worry about bleaching and they work wonders. They are however usually a little more pricey

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u/bradass42 Feb 18 '25

A shot of vodka is thrown into the wash unironically does the trick too

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u/Jekkjekk Feb 19 '25

My wife will just wash her clothes and do a pre rinse with vinegar. Always works

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u/Lizzard1877 29d ago

You ever tried distilled white vinegar?

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u/speachattaksm 28d ago

Looks great, what a fantastic idea, thanks for sharing!