Laundry is the least favorite chore for some people. But whether or not laundry is fun for you, one thing is sure: no one enjoys funky smells in freshly washed laundry, especially the underarm odor in work clothes, kids’ play clothes, and sportswear.

Unfortunately, adding more detergent to your washing machine doesn’t solve the problem. If anything, too much laundry detergent makes rinsing difficult.

If you’ve always wanted to know how to remove underarm odor from clothes, this quick guide will show you exactly how. Best of all, none of the solutions to remove a sweat smell involves using chemicals, so your clothes will last longer and smell fresher!

Causes of Underarm Odor in Clothes

Contrary to what most people think, sweat doesn’t make your clothes smell bad. The interaction of bacteria and sweat is the major culprit for underarm odor in clothes, not sweat itself.

Sweat is odorless and secreted through your body's eccrine and apocrine glands to cool you down when you heat up.

Eccrine glands cover most body parts and release sweat directly on your skin’s surface. On the other hand, apocrine glands are found in your armpit and groin and secrete sweat into the hair follicles in these areas.

When the odorless sweat released in your armpit comes in contact with odor causing bacteria on your skin, the fluid develops an unpleasant smell, which we call underarm odor.

Apocrine glands start to function during puberty, so while many adults tend to have smelly armpits (if they don’t use deodorants), it is normal for pre-teen and teen clothes to have a strong underarm odor.

However, some people sweat a lot more than others. But don’t fret if you or someone in your household falls into this category. You can get rid of stinky laundry odors without resorting to stressful methods if you follow the suggestions in this guide.

Deodorants or antiperspirants can reduce stubborn odor, but sweat mixes with the ingredients in the antiperspirant to cause sweat stains on clothes. This can ruin your favorite dress or shirt if you don’t know how to remove underarm odor in clothes or eliminate an underarm stain from clothes.

Dangers of Chemicals in Laundry Detergents

To be clear, there are various methods for removing that unpleasant underarm smell from clothes, ranging from home remedies to harsh chemicals. However, not all odor-removal methods are good for your clothes and health.

Many laundry detergents from popular brands contain harsh chemicals like 1,4-dioxane. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, exposure to high levels of 1,4-dioxane can cause anorexia, drowsiness, and headache. The chemical is also associated with irritation of the throat, lungs, eyes, nose, and skin.

The chance of laundry chemicals affecting your health goes through the roof if your dryer vents indoors because it causes air pollution.

If you or someone in your household has respiratory problems, inhaling toxic chemicals in laundry detergents can aggravate existing conditions or trigger allergies.

Now that we have that out of the way, let’s consider non-toxic products specifically designed to remove an unpleasant odor from laundry.

How to Remove Underarm Odor From Clothes

Getting rid of the stinky armpit smell from clothes shouldn’t involve mixing various compounds to make home remedies. Some DIY methods might include potentially harmful ingredients such as ammonia, bleach powder, and hydrogen peroxide.

According to the New York State Department of Health, repeated exposure to some of these compounds or their vapors may cause respiratory problems and irritations of the skin, eyes, and throat.

Removing Underarm Odor From Clothes

The most effective and efficient way to remove underarm odor is by using non-toxic products to wash your clothes. These products are solely manufactured to eliminate bad odor from laundry and are formulated using natural ingredients in the correct proportions to yield the best results.

Although regular laundry detergents might remove dirt and stains, they are generally ineffective for odor removal.

This is where OdorKlenz Sport Laundry Additive comes into the picture. This specially formulated odor removal product is completely chemical-free and comes in liquid and powder varieties. Meaning it doesn’t have any negative impact on the health of your family, and it is great for your fabric!

It doesn’t matter if you sweat more than usual or only have issues with your workout clothes; OdorKlenz Sport Laundry Additive will effectively neutralize and remove body odor and sweat from your clothes.

Thanks to its non-toxic and fragrance-free quality, this product doesn’t merely mask odors. Instead, it eliminates foul smells, leaving your laundered clothes smelling as fresh as they should.

Removing Strong Fragrance and Perfume From Clothes

Many people with body odor use deodorants and strong perfumes to mask the offensive smell. Unfortunately, the fragrances from the chemical ingredients linger in their clothes.

The OdorKlenz Laundry Liquid is another chemical-free product you should consider if you want to remove strong fragrance and perfume smells from your clothes.

The fast-acting liquid is formulated from safe, natural earth minerals and is safe for hand and machine washing.

Removing Laundry Odor Caused by Smelling Washing Machine

Sometimes, laundered clothes smell bad right out of the washing machine, and the smell is not only in the armpit area. You’re probably dealing with debris build-up in your washer if that’s the case, and elbow crease simply won’t cut the deal.

To rid your machine of the smell, clean it with the OdorKlenz Washing Machine Deodorizer. The non-toxic product neutralizes and eliminates odor-causing residue in the washer. It is designed for use in both top-load and front-load washing machines.

Once your machine is odor-free, use any of the above non-toxic products to remove unwanted smells from your clothes.

Clothes Odor Prevention Tips

Now that you know how to remove underarm odor from clothes using chemical-free products, here are a few tips to help prevent or at least reduce excessive funky smell in your clothes.

• Consider wearing clothes made from all-natural fabrics like wool or cotton, especially during high-intensity activities if you sweat a lot. These are more breathable than synthetic fabrics like rayon and polyester.
• Wash your clothes regularly and avoid wearing the same clothes repeatedly without washing them.
• If your clothes are not dirty when you take them off, hang them outside to air-dry before returning them to your closet.
• Don’t toss sweaty clothes into the dirty clothes basket. Allow the sweat to dry first before putting away the clothes. And whatever you do, avoid putting sweaty clothes or dirty laundry into the dryer. The heat will only amplify the nasty smell, especially when it comes to your workout clothing.

Laundry Collection

✓ Made of Safe, Natural earth minerals that provide a complete odor elimination

✓ Fast acting, without the use of masking agents or fragrances

✓ Made from castile soap, vegetable glycerin, and metal oxides

✓ Helps clean while it deodorizes