There are a lot of reasons why we clean our clothes, not least of which is to avoid a body odour smell. Some people sweat more than others, and that smell can get trapped in clothing–especially dry clean only garments. Since we don’t wash this clothing every use, smells of sweat can accumulate and make your favourite clothes funky. Then the question arises: will dry cleaning remove that odour? In this blog, we’ll examine this question in detail.
What Makes Body Odour Different?
You may have noticed that when doing the wash, that body odour can be more difficult to remove from your clothing than other kinds of dirt or stains. This is because sweat from the body contains oil, and becomes butyric acid when dried. This compound is a product of the anaerobic fermentation of (among other things) animal fats.
If not washed immediately, this odour can sink into clothing. This makes it particularly difficult for conventional dry cleaning to remove. But there are other options to remove odours from clothing.
How To Prevent Odours
Prevention is a good place to start. There are some steps you can take to protect your clothing before the sweat smell gets out of hand. Sometimes the best offence is a good defence. Try the following:
- Don’t let clothes sit in a pile after wearing them. Wash immediately if you can. If they are dry-clean only, let them air out.
- Never dry your clothing in a dryer if you notice a smell after washing. This will lock the smell into the clothing. Let them air dry.
- Consider changing deodorants. Sometimes a different brand can help reduce odour.
Removing Odours From Clothing
There are times that no matter what you do, your clothing retains that body odour smell. Here are a few things you can try at home to remove odours.
- White vinegar. Create a mixture of vinegar and water, in equal amounts. Put it into a spray bottle and spritz the smelly areas. Let sit for 10 to 30 minutes and then wash the item. Regular clothes can go into the washing machine. Gently hand wash if your clothes are delicate or dry clean only.
Clear alcohol. You may try to spritz clear alcohol onto the armpits of your clothes. This helps break down the particles that cause the odour and then evaporates. - Regular hand washing. Some delicate clothes may be hand washed. Check your labels to be sure, and don’t wash anything that is absolutely dry clean only clothing. If the clothing is safe for wet cleaning, give it a gentle hand wash right after wearing. Lay it flat or hang for drying (follow directions).
- Take it to an expert. Some dry cleaners don’t only offer conventional dry cleaning, but a variety of services that can address different issues with your clothes. Full-service cleaners like My Butler Service can assess your clothing and remove stains and odours using one of their eco-friendly dry cleaning processes or by hand washing.
Sweat stains and body odours on your clothes can be embarrassing. But removing the smell isn’t impossible. If you find that you can’t do it on your own, or if you’re concerned about damaging your clothing, contact My Butler Service to find out more about their comprehensive mobile dry cleaning service in Sydney.