How to get bad smells out of clothes: definitive guide

Why clothes smell bad (and it's not just sweat)

Sweat by itself doesn't have a smell. The bad odor appears when bacteria living on your skin break down sweat and body oils. These bacteria get trapped in fabric fibers, especially in synthetic fabrics like polyester and nylon that most athletic wear is made of. The result: clothes that "smell fine" coming out of the wash but regain the odor as soon as you put them on and start sweating.

Conventional fabric softeners make the problem worse. They leave a waxy film on the fibers that traps bacteria and moisture, creating an odor cycle that intensifies with each wash.

The proven method: baking soda + vinegar

This is the most effective combination for eliminating deep odors from clothes. It works because baking soda is alkaline and neutralizes sweat acids, while vinegar is acidic and kills bacteria. Together, they attack the problem from two fronts.

Step-by-step instructions

Add ½ cup of baking soda directly to the washing machine drum along with the dirty clothes. Don't put it in the detergent compartment, baking soda needs direct contact with the garments.
Add ½ cup of white vinegar to the fabric softener compartment of the washing machine. The vinegar is released during the rinse cycle and eliminates odor-causing bacteria.
Use your regular detergent in the detergent compartment.
Wash in warm water (30–40 °C), cold water doesn't fully activate the baking soda and hot water can set some odors.
Air dry whenever possible, sunlight is a natural disinfectant that helps eliminate remaining bacteria.

For extreme odors (badly set-in gym clothes)

If the clothes have accumulated odor over many washes without treatment:

Pre-soak: Mix 1 cup of baking soda in a bucket with warm water and soak the garments for 1–2 hours before washing
Extra cycle: After the wash with baking soda + vinegar, run an extra rinse cycle with 1 cup of vinegar directly in the drum
Don't use fabric softener, softener creates that waxy film that traps bacteria

Specific odors and how to fight them

Gym and athletic wear

Polyester and spandex garments are the most prone to bad odor because synthetic fibers trap bacteria. Use the baking soda + vinegar method every 3–4 washes to keep odor under control. Never use fabric softener on athletic wear.

Towels with a musty smell

Damp towels left on the floor or inside the washing machine develop a strong musty odor. Soak towels in hot water with 1 cup of vinegar for 30 minutes before washing normally.

Clothes with a storage smell (stored for a long time)

If you took clothes out of storage and they smell musty: wash with baking soda + vinegar and hang in the sun. If the odor persists, hang the garment outside for a full day before washing again.

Work clothes (construction, cooking, mechanics)

Clothes exposed to grease, cooking oil, or fuel need a pre-treatment with baking soda directly on the dirtiest areas. Sprinkle baking soda on the stain, moisten with a little water to form a paste, let it sit for 30 minutes, then wash using the baking soda + vinegar method.

What NOT to do

Don't use more detergent, excess detergent leaves residue that feeds bacteria
Don't use fabric softener, the waxy film traps odors
Don't always wash in hot water, heat can set sweat proteins into the fibers
Don't close the washing machine after use, leave the door open so it dries and doesn't develop bacteria

Let Emma Eco Laundry handle it

If your clothes have an odor that won't go away with homemade methods, they probably need professional cleaning with specialized products. At Emma Eco Laundry we use eco supplies that eliminate odors without leaving chemical residue.

Bring your clothes to our location in El Poblado or schedule a pickup via WhatsApp.

Need laundry in El Poblado? Emma Eco Laundry offers wash by the kilo from $16,000 COP/kg with pickup available, or monthly subscription plans from $200,000 COP/month.