Why do your gym clothes stink even after you wash them? Scientists reveal why some fabrics trap sweat smell – and how to get rid of the bad smell
Workout clothes are designed with durable materials to withstand the most challenging exercises, but these fabrics also retain odors that linger after washing.
A new TikTok video revealed that you pull body odor into certain fabrics, such as polyester, because they are hydrophobic, meaning they are oil-based and attract such substances.
Polyester, spandex and nylon, widely used to design clothes, repel moisture and dry faster, but small indentations in these fabrics absorb sweat molecules.
However, experts have shared cleaning tips to banish the stench, such as pre-soaking them in vinegar and avoiding tossing them in a basket.
Most avid athletes notice that their workout clothes don’t smell clean, even after they’ve been washed
Most gym clothes are designed with polyester, spandex, and nylon because they’re cheap, durable, lightweight, and quick-drying—all things avid exercisers look for when choosing the right gear.
If you’re not sure what your clothes are made of, the collar usually answers that.
And the three are usually combined to create stretchy, long-lasting designs.
Scientists at the University of Alberta discovered odorants – smelly substances that are more attracted to polyester than other fabrics such as cotton and do not wash out completely.
Mukhtar Abdul-Bari, who is researching for his master’s degree in textile and clothing science in 2021, said in a statement: ‘We found that polyester does not easily release those sweat-smelling compounds, and repeated wear brings more of them into the fiber. , so over time there is a buildup of smell.”
Polyester is a non-polar fiber, which means it repels water. That’s why it dries quickly, but that also means it naturally attracts oil from our skin, which can lead to body odor, Abdul-Bari said.
Nylon is a synthetic polymer first developed in the 1930s to replace silk.
A 2018 study conducted by Abdul-Bari and colleagues asked eight participants to wear polyester and nylon shirts to identify donkeys that retained more odor.
The reason is that most workout gear is designed with polyester, nylon, and spandex, which trap odors. These synthetic fabrics have small indentations that collect bacteria and oil
“In general, no differences were found in odor intensity between nylon and polyester,” reads the study published in SAGE journals.
“Any differences found between the two fabrics probably depended on the person wearing the fabric.”
The team found that odor reduction was higher with nylon.
And spandex usually smells because of bacteria in body oils because it is a non-absorbent material.
How to get rid of the stench
Skip the basket and let your gym clothes air dry, but turn them inside out first.
Leanne Stapf, chief operating officer at The Cleaning Authority, explains NBC that the bacteria and oil are more concentrated on the inside up close and the smell can escape by turning them inside out.
“Bacteria feed on the darkness, and heat can also amplify the smell of bacteria left behind, so you really should avoid throwing gym clothes in a laundry basket,” she explained.
And by putting dirty gym clothes in a laundry basket, no light or air gets in.
Soaking your workout gear in a mixture of vinegar and water for 30 minutes beforehand will also help get rid of the odor.
Clean MySpace suggests a solution made up of one part vinegar and five parts water.
And by washing them in warm water after each wear, you can also help get rid of body odor.