Bacteria, Germs and Biofilms...Oh My!

Bacteria is a major cause of body odor and is found in most clothing. These bacteria are called biofilm, and they are resistant to many cleaning products. However, there are some hacks you can use to get rid of this bacteria and eliminate the smell from your clothes.

 

1. Use Vinegar

Vinegar is a natural deodorant that kills bacteria that causes body odor. To use it, add  1/2 cup of vinegar to the washing machine with your detergent, then wash as usual. This will help remove the biofilm from clothing so they won't stink anymore!

If you need to know what  type of vinegar to use, distilled white vinegar is always better for cleaning purposes. 

 

Tip: Don't over do the vinegar. If you add too much, your clothes will smell like salt and vinegar potato chips. So add the minimum to get the job done.

 

2. Use Baking Soda

 

Baking soda is another natural deodorant and it absorbs moisture. Just sprinkle some on top of your clothes before putting them in the washer. This can get rid of odors left behind by sweat or any other liquids that may have gotten on your clothes.  Clothes worn during active activities that cause the body to  sweat profusely warrant a hot temperature wash.  Sweat, skin oils and skin flakes are just a few causes of smelly clothes. 

 

Roughly half a cup should do the job if you are adding the baking soda to your load. You can always spot check your clothes for any damage caused by baking soda. Generally, baking soda is not damaging to clothes or the environment.

 

For really smelly clothes, turn the clothes inside out and sprinkle baking soda on the smelliest area and let it sit for 30 minutes.

 

3. Wet Clothes Need Heat or Sunlight To Kill Bacteria

A hot dryer kills bacteria. Although it's not very eco-friendly, the heat sanitizes. If you are against dryers, line dry your clothes outdoors instead of using an electric dryer.  Sunlight kills bacteria as well as drying them more quickly than an electric dryer does.

 

4.  Last But Not Least: Wash Clothes Often

 

Bacteria that cause body odor can thrive in stale clothing. So if you're looking for a quick fix, washing your clothes often is a good place to start! Pesky biofilms grow in size and affect your health as well as your body odor. So if you have perspired a great deal, it's best to wash the soiled clothes before wearing them again.