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Stinky shirts

DanH's picture

Stinky shirts (post #192716)

DanH on Mon, 08/23/2010 - 05:01
in

Anyone got a good technique for washing them to get the odor out?


This country will not be a permanently good place for any of us to live in unless we make it a reasonably good place for all of us to live in.  --Theodore Roosevelt
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Have you tried adding baking (post #192716, reply #1 of 44)

by rdesigns in reply to DanH [original] on Mon, 08/23/2010 - 07:36

Have you tried adding baking soda to the wash?

Borax (post #192716, reply #2 of 44)

by Tim in reply to DanH [original] on Mon, 08/23/2010 - 08:17

in the washing machine.  Also helps to let the stinky shirts dry out before washing.  Dry on a clothes line if possible.

Depends what made them stinky (post #192716, reply #3 of 44)

by Scott in reply to DanH [original] on Mon, 08/23/2010 - 08:26

Depends what made them stinky (I'm assuming sweat and work dirt).

I'm a fan of a bit of bleach. Most of today's fabrics are not affected by it. Besides, they're just old work shirts, right?

My wife just washes mine (post #192716, reply #4 of 44)

by Hokuto in reply to DanH [original] on Mon, 08/23/2010 - 08:53

My wife just washes mine separately in hot water and regular detergent. To be honest, this summer has been the hottest in Japan I can recall, and most days my work clothes are just soggen lumps of cloth by the end of the day, but she manages to get the sweat/odor out without problem.

 

============

". . . and only the stump, or fishy part of him remained."

I guess I have stonger sweat (post #192716, reply #5 of 44)

by DanH in reply to DanH [original] on Mon, 08/23/2010 - 14:26

I guess I have stonger sweat glands than the rest of you. Of those listed the only thing my wife hasn't tried is borax.  I've had some success with hydrogen peroxide (a little pricy in the drugstore bottles), but far from perfect.

Can get a shirt fresh out of the laundry, put it on after showering, and it's stinky in 15 minutes.


This country will not be a permanently good place for any of us to live in unless we make it a reasonably good place for all of us to live in.  --Theodore Roosevelt

>Can get a shirt fresh out of (post #192716, reply #6 of 44)

by bd in reply to DanH [original] on Mon, 08/23/2010 - 15:10

>Can get a shirt fresh out of the laundry, put it on after showering, and it's stinky in 15 minutes.

hmmmm, maybe it's not the shirt that needs the special treatment.........;-)

I knew there'd be a crack (post #192716, reply #7 of 44)

by DanH in reply to bd [original] on Mon, 08/23/2010 - 17:17

I knew there'd be a crack about that. ;)

The problem is that the shirt can seem fresh, but heat/humidity from the body activates the malodorous chemicals in it.


This country will not be a permanently good place for any of us to live in unless we make it a reasonably good place for all of us to live in.  --Theodore Roosevelt

Yep, couldn't pass it (post #192716, reply #8 of 44)

by bd in reply to DanH [original] on Tue, 08/24/2010 - 02:54

Yep, couldn't pass it up. 

Know what you mean though. Used to do search & rescue. Frequently ended up in the same clothes for a couple or more days. Only thing I found to get the odor out of them was just multiple washings.

Remember one search. 106 deg in August; out in a swamp; looking for a downed airplane. I walked back into the command post & you could see all the noses in there start twitching. People started looking around to find out what that awful smell was that just walked in.

Okay, gotcha. This summer has (post #192716, reply #16 of 44)

by Hokuto in reply to DanH [original] on Thu, 08/26/2010 - 07:46

Okay, gotcha. This summer has been one of the three hottest on record here in Japan, and my wife also complains about my smell during the course of the day; I don't think it can be helped by any technique in washing the shirts. Aside from the sheer heat issue, it probably has to do with stuff I eat/drink, hormones, and age. Only solution I can think of is showering and changing clothes once an hour.

 

============

". . . and only the stump, or fishy part of him remained."

Okay, gotcha. This summer has (post #192716, reply #17 of 44)

by Hokuto in reply to DanH [original] on Thu, 08/26/2010 - 07:46

Okay, gotcha. This summer has been one of the three hottest on record here in Japan, and my wife also complains about my smell during the course of the day; I don't think it can be helped by any technique in washing the shirts. Aside from the sheer heat issue, it probably has to do with stuff I eat/drink, hormones, and age. Only solution I can think of is showering and changing clothes once an hour.

 

============

". . . and only the stump, or fishy part of him remained."

Add some white vinegar to the (post #192716, reply #9 of 44)

by MarkH in reply to DanH [original] on Tue, 08/24/2010 - 03:27

Add some white vinegar to the wash water and soak a while before washing, washing soda won't hurt either. 

My granny used to boil them in a washtub over a coal fire outside, using her homemade lye soap.  Must be something about using hot water to kill bacteria, because she was pretty knowledgeable about household and living type things.

Wif'e's tried vinegar, though (post #192716, reply #11 of 44)

by DanH in reply to MarkH [original] on Tue, 08/24/2010 - 04:31

Wif'e's tried vinegar, though not washing soda.

I think the peroxide would work if I could find some stronger stuff -- where does one buy industrial H2O2?


This country will not be a permanently good place for any of us to live in unless we make it a reasonably good place for all of us to live in.  --Theodore Roosevelt

Polyester or cotton (post #192716, reply #10 of 44)

by DonCanDo in reply to DanH [original] on Tue, 08/24/2010 - 03:33

I have found that cotton washed in hot water with regular detergent comes out smelling clean, but polyester manages to retain some of its bouquet unless it's been washed a few times.  Hot water helps a lot.  Like, really hot.

These are mostly pure cotton (post #192716, reply #12 of 44)

by DanH in reply to DonCanDo [original] on Tue, 08/24/2010 - 04:31

These are mostly pure cotton shirts.


This country will not be a permanently good place for any of us to live in unless we make it a reasonably good place for all of us to live in.  --Theodore Roosevelt

Give This a Try (post #192716, reply #14 of 44)

by SteveVA in reply to DanH [original] on Tue, 08/24/2010 - 06:25

 

I add 1/4  to 1/2 a cup of Pine Sol (Lemon Scented) to a load of wash - Warm Wash/Warm Rinse.  Everything comes out  smelling fresh.  The residual Pine Sol scent vanishes in the dryer. 

 

SteveVA

SteveVA




 

Give This a Try (post #192716, reply #15 of 44)

by SteveVA in reply to DanH [original] on Tue, 08/24/2010 - 06:25

 

I add 1/4  to 1/2 a cup of Pine Sol (Lemon Scented) to a load of wash - Warm Wash/Warm Rinse.  Everything comes out  smelling fresh.  The residual Pine Sol scent vanishes in the dryer. 

 

SteveVA

SteveVA




 

Try a chemical supply house (post #192716, reply #13 of 44)

by MarkH in reply to DanH [original] on Tue, 08/24/2010 - 05:07

Try a chemical supply house for 35% technical grade.  Also medical supply houses sell 35% medical grade.  I would not order it because if you buy over 8% H202 there are hazmat charges which are rediculous for small orders.

Re: Bacteria (post #192716, reply #18 of 44)

by Luka in reply to DanH [original] on Thu, 08/26/2010 - 09:04

 

If you think bacteria remaining in the cloth is the culprit...

When cleaning industrial kitchens, they have discovered that bleach only kills about 28% of the bacteria.

Using white vinegar kills some as well. I don't remember hearing a percentage.

 

But, using a solution of one cup of white vinegar and one cup of bleach in one gallon of hot water, results in almost 100% bacteriacide. (I think I just made that word up. LOL)

 

If you are going to do that, I think I would actually make up the gallon of solution, separate. Wait for the washer to start agitating. Pour the solution in, slowly. Let it agitate for a bit. Then turn the washer off, and let it soak for at least a half hour. Before starting the washer again, to let it finish.

.

It's a small world. Until you have to walk home...

Pretrty sure it's not (post #192716, reply #19 of 44)

by DanH in reply to Luka [original] on Fri, 08/27/2010 - 05:48

Pretrty sure it's not bacteria.  I suspect it's chemicals related to butyric acid, produced by the body.  The chemicals soak into the cotton (other fabrics aren't as bad) and won't wash out easily.


This country will not be a permanently good place for any of us to live in unless we make it a reasonably good place for all of us to live in.  --Theodore Roosevelt

Chlorine is poisonous (post #192716, reply #25 of 44)

by Jigs-n-fixtures in reply to Luka [original] on Tue, 08/31/2010 - 13:48

It also can release chloring gas.  Which is poisonous.

  I think you are thinking (post #192716, reply #27 of 44)

by Luka in reply to Jigs-n-fixtures [original] on Tue, 08/31/2010 - 17:31

 

I think you are thinking about bleach and ammonia.

 

There is no more hazard with bleach and vinegar than there is with bleach alone.

.

It's a small world. Until you have to walk home...

Whoa!  I'd call that ... (post #192716, reply #30 of 44)

by Ten_Thumbs in reply to Luka [original] on Wed, 09/01/2010 - 09:40

Whoa!  I'd call that ... "Lukacide" !!!

I googled to be sure I wasn't imagining this also, and yes with bleach, the rule is guilty until proven innocent. 

Don't mix anything with bleach that you don't know 100% is safe. 

Both ammonia and vinegar are big NO NOs with bleach. 

 

Be safe.

Chlorine bleach + vinegar (post #192716, reply #31 of 44)

by JTC1 in reply to Ten_Thumbs [original] on Wed, 09/01/2010 - 10:34

http://web1.msue.msu.edu/imp/modtd/33339740.html

Chlorine bleach + vinegar would seem to be an OK combination, unless of course the folks at Michigan State University are trying to create some pro dishwasher job openings.

See "Dishwashing"; 6, b

I know that chlorine bleach + ammonia are a big no-no.

Can't comment as to whether this will get the stink out.....

Where did you google that bleach + vinegar was not a safe mix? Just curious for future reference......

Jim

Never underestimate the value of a sharp pencil or good light.

Heh heh heh.  "Where did [I] (post #192716, reply #32 of 44)

by Ten_Thumbs in reply to JTC1 [original] on Wed, 09/01/2010 - 11:12

Heh heh heh.  "Where did [I] google that ...?" 

At google.com.  On my computer.  At my computer desk.  In Arkansas.  In the United States ...

Sorry.

Here's the MSDS for regular Clorox: http://www.thecloroxcompany.com/products/msds/bleach/cloroxregularbleach0809_.pdf

Look in the lower right corner under the heading "Reactivity."

It seems that bleach (which wiki says is sodium hypochlorite) mixed with anything acidic is bad news:

"Hypochlorite and chlorine are in equilibrium in water; the position of the equilibrium is pH dependent and low pH (acidic) favors chlorine ..." (from wikipedia.com)

You right! (post #192716, reply #33 of 44)

by JTC1 in reply to Ten_Thumbs [original] on Wed, 09/01/2010 - 11:47

Thanks for that link.

See, it is a plot by MSU to create openings for professional dishwashers.

Would that count as a stimulus plan "Job Created or Saved"?

Probably not.......

Jim

Never underestimate the value of a sharp pencil or good light.

Acid mixed with Sodium Hypochlorite releases chlorine gas. (post #192716, reply #34 of 44)

by Jigs-n-fixtures in reply to Luka [original] on Wed, 09/01/2010 - 12:14

From one quick google search:

There is evidence that vinegar lowers the alkalinity of diluted bleach, making it a more potent bactericide. Diluted household bleach has a pH which is quite high (i.e it is quite alkaline). Adding vinegar lowers it and makes the bleach a more effective killer of bacteria.

Is this mixing of vinegar and bleach safe or necessary?

 

The short answer is "No!".

 For domestic use the dangers are too great. When acids are mixed with bleach chlorine gas is given off. This is quite toxic and can be a considerable health risk.

One lady who tried this as a child spent days coughing and choking afterwards and felt lucky to have fully recovered from the effects after a few weeks.

Vinegar is a fairly potent bactericide in its own right. If you feel the need to use bleach too, then separate them out. Use bleach in small quantities, diluted in water to top up your cleaning programme.

Vinegar and bleach is only an option in emergency situations and is best left to professionals.

 

Why People Mix Bleach and Vinegar

Monday February 2, 2009
If mixing bleach and vinegar releases toxic chlorine gas, then why do people do it? There are two answers to this question. The first answer is that vinegar lowers the pH of bleach, making it a better disinfectant. I'll explain how that works in a bit. The second answer to 'why people mix bleach and vinegar' is that people don't know any better or underestimate the risk. They hear mixing the chemicals makes them better cleaners and disinfectants, but don't realize it isn't going to make enough of a difference to justify the considerable health hazard.

What Happens When Bleach and Vinegar Are Mixed

Chlorine bleach contains sodium hypochlorite or NaOCl. Because bleach is sodium hypochlorite in water, the sodium hypochlorite in bleach actually exists as hypochlorous acid:

NaOCl + H2O ↔ HOCl + Na+ + OH-

Hypochlorous acid is a strong oxidizer. This is what makes it so good at bleaching and disinfection. If you mix bleach with an acid, chlorine gas will be produced. For example, if you mix bleach with toilet bowl cleaner, which contains hydrochloric acid:

HOCl + HCl ↔ H2O + Cl2

Chlorine gas attacks mucous membranes, such as your eyes, throat, and lungs and can kill you, so causing that reaction isn't in your best interest. If you mix bleach with another acid, such as the acetic acid found in vinegar, you get essentially the same result:

2HOCl + 2HAc ↔ Cl2 + 2H2O + 2Ac- (Ac : CH3COO)

There is an equilibrium between the chlorine species that is influenced by pH. When the pH is lowered, as by adding toilet bowl cleaner or vinegar, the ratio of chlorine gas in increased. When the pH is raised, the ratio of hypochlorite ion is increased. Hypochlorite ion is a less efficient oxidizer than hypochlorous acid, so some people will intentionally lower the pH of bleach to increase the oxidizing power of the chemical, even though chlorine gas is produced as a result.

What You Should Do Instead

Don't poison yourself! Rather than increasing the activity of the bleach by adding vinegar to it, just buy fresh bleach! Chlorine bleach has a shelf life. This is particularly true if your bleach has been hanging around for several months. It's far safer for you to buy fresh bleach than to risk releasing a chemical weapon on yourself by mixing bleach with another chemical. You can use bleach and vinegar for cleaning, just make sure you rinse before switching products.

  Learn something new every (post #192716, reply #35 of 44)

by Luka in reply to Jigs-n-fixtures [original] on Wed, 09/01/2010 - 12:35

 

Learn something new every day, I guess.

 

Of course, in chemistry class we were always told not to mix such things directly. Pour a cup of vinegar in the gallon of water, then pour the cup of bleach in.

Or, maybe better, add each to a half gallon of water then mix the two.

It could be argued that beach sand, and/or water, is dangerous. Should we be alarmed and avoid beaches ?

It's obvious that many of the chemicals used in construction -every day- are dangerous.

Just as so many professional kitchens use bleach and vinegar mix, -every day-.

 

Do we stop using those ? Or do we take precautions ?

Adding the bleach and vinegar to the water, is one precaution. Another is to use in a well ventilated space. Etc.

Just like the precautions you would use for liquid nails, acetone, and other chemicals that you know -can- be dangerous....

.

It's a small world. Until you have to walk home...

In other words... (post #192716, reply #36 of 44)

by Luka in reply to Luka [original] on Wed, 09/01/2010 - 12:43

 

In short...

You take precautions when you use bleach.

For example, you don't use it full strength, in a tight space, with little or no ventilation.

Take the very same precautions when using the bleach and vinegar mix.

You should be in no more danger than if you were using plain bleach in the same situation.

.

It's a small world. Until you have to walk home...

Actually, with beach sand you (post #192716, reply #37 of 44)

by xxPaulCPxx in reply to Luka [original] on Thu, 09/02/2010 - 10:18

Actually, with beach sand you should be cautious - and not with breathing it.

It's been found that bacterial contamination lasts longer in the sand than it does in the water.  So sand on your food can be potentially more harmful to you than not washing your hands.

YAY!  I love WYSISYG editing!  And Spellcheck!

____________________________________________________

KNOW WHAT YOU MEAN, ITS THE DYE (post #192716, reply #20 of 44)

by hammagic9 in reply to DanH [original] on Fri, 08/27/2010 - 22:23

I think that it is something to do with the the shirts that have color in them.  My white work t shirts don't get that same smell.  My wife thinks that I am crazy, but I can put on a fresh shirt and 15 min. later after I get hot it will have this funny odor to it.  My other shirts don't  do that, its just my work t shirts and the ones with color.  Tell me I am not crazy!

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