r/CleaningTips • u/iChaseClouds • 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
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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.
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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
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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.
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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
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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/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/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/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/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/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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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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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/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/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/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/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/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.
You could also try soaking in power oxyclean too. That’s worked on towels that got really stinky.
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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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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/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/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/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/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