A question of sweat - sorry! πŸ˜– - Fun Beyond 10K & ...

Fun Beyond 10K & Race Support

2,585 members β€’ 7,649 posts

A question of sweat - sorry! πŸ˜–

Celeriac profile image
Celeriac
β€’30 Replies

I'm just wondering if anyone has any tips about washing running gear? It's a TMI question I know but after wearing a running top a few weeks I'm finding I can't get rid of the ingrained sweat smell. Even when it comes out of the wash there is a hint of it. I'm finding I'm having to throw them out every few months and I keep buying new ones. I actually quite like buying new ones πŸ˜‰ but it seems a bit of an indulgence and the cost mounts up.

Am I an uber sweater?! Or do other people have the same problem? Is there a secret to stop the problem? I'd appreciate any tips and I know, it's not a beautiful topic - sorry!

Written by
Celeriac profile image
Celeriac
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
30 Replies
β€’
AlMorr profile image
AlMorrHalf Marathon

All runners sweat, it's natural to do that, perhaps you should set the washing machine at a higher setting and the running clothes will not have that sweaty feel on them after they are washed.

Celeriac profile image
Celeriac in reply to AlMorr

I normally wash everything at 40 degrees. Some running stuff says 30 on it. I'm worried I'll shrink them but I could give it a go, especially if I'm chucking things away anyway!

AlMorr profile image
AlMorrHalf Marathon in reply to Celeriac

O the joys of running πŸƒπŸΎ πŸ˜€

Celeriac profile image
Celeriac in reply to AlMorr

Indeed! ;-)

linda9389 profile image
linda9389AdministratorMarathon

i have read other posts similar to this about tainted laundry. Have you tried doing a search on here - though not sure what search you would enter! Hopefully someone more helpful than me will be along with an answer very soon.

Celeriac profile image
Celeriac in reply to linda9389

Thanks Linda. I haven't searched actually and I should have thought of that. I'll have a look now...

misswobble profile image
misswobbleMarathon in reply to Celeriac

I wash mine after each run! As soon as possible afterwards.

Halo is a sports wash from Sainsbury’s. Designed to deal with sweat and break down the bacteria at 30 degrees It smells lovely πŸ™‚

I peg them out on the line to give em a good blow I air them indoors to finish em off and don’t put them away til they’re properly dry

Celeriac profile image
Celeriac in reply to misswobble

Thanks for the tip on Halo. I will have a look for that. I do wash my stuff after each run but not always straight away, sometimes it goes in the basket. Maybe I should wash it even if I don't have much else.

Thanks.

misswobble profile image
misswobbleMarathon in reply to Celeriac

I forgot to say, that fabric softener is a no-no as it apparently makes our running gear more inclined to stink πŸ™‚

Dexy5 profile image
Dexy510 Miles in reply to misswobble

Another halo supporter here after misswobble recommendation som time ago, or I use ecover wash liquid. I also do them on a 30c delicates wash straight away. It’s a short programme.

Conditioner will also stop the wicking properties so is definitely a no no.

Celeriac profile image
Celeriac in reply to Dexy5

Thanks, I've definitely seen/smelt an improvement since using the halo and also putting gear straight into soak when I get back. I don't use fabric conditioner anymore which I was doing before. Def a lot better now.

misswobble profile image
misswobbleMarathon in reply to Celeriac

πŸ‘

SlowLoris profile image
SlowLoris

When it’s warm I chuck all my kit straight in to soak straight away. If there’s no full load ready for the machine I just put the running kit through a 15 minute quick wash.

Celeriac profile image
Celeriac in reply to SlowLoris

That sounds like a good idea to put it to soak straight away. Mine sometimes goes in the laundry basket which is prob not a great idea!

Thanks

HeavyFoot profile image
HeavyFootHalf Marathon

For the moment, call it your social distancing range?

linda9389 profile image
linda9389AdministratorMarathon in reply to HeavyFoot

πŸ˜†πŸ˜†πŸ˜†

Celeriac profile image
Celeriac in reply to HeavyFoot

Haha! I like that. People will def stay away! 😷

AgingMetalHead profile image
AgingMetalHead

I wash mine at 30 degrees but inside out which usually works. But occasionally my wife tells me it still smells then she washes it again for me! 2nd wash (also inside out) always does the trick. Still have my original running tops from two years ago when I was doing C25K and all are still good.

Celeriac profile image
Celeriac in reply to AgingMetalHead

Inside out - I've never tried that. These are all great tips. And even 2 washes, OK. If you still have gear from 2 years ago it must be working, I'll try it. Thanks!

I am a fan of halo for my sports kit. If I wash with normal detergent there is that hint of sweaty pits. With halo it comes out smelling fresh every time. I also use it for washing towels etc too.

Celeriac profile image
Celeriac in reply to

I'm going to try Halo. Seems like it's quite popular. It's on the shopping list!

Thanks for the tip.

misswobble profile image
misswobbleMarathon in reply to Celeriac

I can only find it in Sainsbury’s

Dexy5 profile image
Dexy510 Miles in reply to misswobble

I bought mine online - wiggle I think.

Pete1w profile image
Pete1w

I don't care if I stink 🀣🀣🀣🀣🀣

Langley-Loper profile image
Langley-LoperHalf Marathon

Another vote for Halo sports wash from me. Sainsbury's sell it. I wash at 40 degrees and always try to dry outside if possible. I find it doesn't keep discolouration in the armpits away but it does deal with the smell. In the interests of economy and environmental friendliness, my kit sits in the laundry bin until I have enough for a machine load - could be several days. I'm not an eco-warrior but chucking kit away and re-buying is not great! Some of my kit is 3+ years old and worn regularly, still going strong.

Celeriac profile image
Celeriac in reply to Langley-Loper

I'll give halo a try then. I agree about throwing away stuff, it doesn't feel very good and thought there must be a better way!

Thanks

TailChaser profile image
TailChaserMarathon

As someone who has to squeeze her clothes out after each run at the moment (sorry, possibly tmi...😷😱🀒 ) I can highly recommend adding Dettol Laundry Cleanser and Sanitiser to the 30 degree wash. I've been using it for about a year now and it definitely helps keep the newer clothing smelling newer. It doesn't seem to work retrospectively, which is a shame, but at least it works. It's been a bit tricky to get over lockdown but there are various different versions of it and there is usually one available.

Celeriac profile image
Celeriac in reply to TailChaser

Brilliant. Thanks ever so much, will give the Dettol stuff a go! Thanks for the recommendation. πŸ‘

TailChaser profile image
TailChaserMarathon in reply to Celeriac

Glad I can help. Anything that helps running clothes last longer is worth it πŸ‘

limberlou profile image
limberlouHalf Marathon

I use Bold liquid with Febreze and that’s seems to keep my running gear smell free

You may also like...

A question of sweat - update!

smelly running clothes! As you know if you read my post I was having trouble getting an ingrained...

Feeling sorry for myself...😞

signed up to New Forest half in September... will I still make the distance if I can’t run for two...

Newbie question - Chafing πŸ€”

It didn't use to be a problem but now it happens more often on my longer runs πŸ˜– I thought I'd seek...

Sorry just needed to shout this out

Sweating like a pig

of running my sweating has got worse and worse and I don’t know why. To elaborate on this problem:...