A white shirt with a sweat stain on the top of a laundry basket

How to Get the Sweat Smell Out of Clothes and Fabrics

No one likes the smell of sweat on their clothes. Whether it’s from the aftermath of a workout session, riding your bike to work, or just a hot day, removing sweat smells from clothes can be a laundry nightmare.

The good news is you can get your garments back to their original freshness with our easy laundry tips. Read on to learn how to remove perspiration odor from clothes!

Why Does My Shirt Smell When I Sweat?

Sweating, an action produced by your eccrine and apocrine glands, is a natural part of the body’s processes, and the smell is part of the package. In fact, in its effort to help you cool down, the human body secretes a liter per day -even without working out! That’s a lot of sweat, and your clothes will absorb most of it. As the sweat components break down, this can lead to unpleasant odors forming on your clothes. And, if you don’t get rid of the sweat smell from your garments effectively, it can build up over time, resulting in a closet full of clothes that still smell of sweat even after washing.

Step-by-step Guide on How to Remove Body Odor from Clothes

Get sweat smells out of your clothes with these simple steps:

Step 1

Turn garments inside out

Before putting your smelly garments in the washing machine, make sure you turn them inside out, because all the sweat and grime from your body accumulate on the inside of your clothing.

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Step 2

Add detergent

If you’re serious about ridding your clothes of odor for good, simply place a pac of Tide PODS® into your washing machine’s empty drum. Equipped with innovative, odor-removal technology, Tide PODS® Plus Febreze 4in1 Sport Odor Defense™ pacs are designed to eliminate even week-old smells, providing your clothes with a freshness that lasts three times longer compared to Tide Original. Use two pacs for large loads and three pacs for extra-large loads.

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Step 5

Dry your clothes

After the cycle has run its course, remove your clothes from the machine immediately and follow the care label for drying instructions. If machine drying, add a Bounce Dryer Sheet to help prevent static, especially in synthetic fabrics or synthetic & natural blends. If air-drying, either lay flat or hang to dry. If drying outside, try to find a location out of direct sunlight to prevent fading.

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Tide’s Tip:

Don’t wait around for your laundry basket to fill up

The more time your clothes spend brewing in your cocktail of sweat in the laundry hamper, the harder it will be to remove the odor. So, instead of playing the waiting game until you have a big enough of a pile of smelly clothes in your basket, try doing smaller loads every few days.

In Case of Trouble

If your clothes still smell after washing, try washing with Tide Hygienic Clean Heavy Duty 10X Power PODS. Designed to clean fabrics down to the microscopic level, Tide Hygienic Clean Heavy Duty 10X Power PODS removes both visible and invisible dirt from your garments, giving you a clean you can trust.

Are you considering using baking soda and white vinegar? Tide Hygienic Clean Heavy Duty 10X Power PODS is a more effective and efficient, not to mention a much more pleasant smelling solution.

If you wish to become a true laundry expert, then check out our comprehensive stain removal guides on all kinds of stains, including ink, oil, and paint.

How to Prevent Sweat Smells on Clothes

Prevention is always better than cure. Now that you’ve learned how to effectively rid your clothes of that pesky sweat smell, it’s time for us to give you a few tips on how to prevent your sweat from stinking up your getup.

Shave your armpits regularly to reduce sweat buildup.
Shower more regularly.
Wear an undershirt. It will absorb more sweat and protect your more expensive outer shirt.
Use an antiperspirant deodorant.
Wear moisture-absorbing fabrics when you exercise.
Never re-wear exercise gear.
Always allow sweaty clothes and towels to air dry before tossing them in the laundry hamper.

Products to get the sweat smell out of clothes

Tide Plus Febreze Sport Odor Defense™ Liquid Laundry Detergent