My Performance Fabric Shirts Smell Like Crabs

[Matt The Hammer]

I have a few shirts that I have been wearing for hockey and baseball that smell bad. Like I stated, like crabs. Nasty. I wear them and all, they become 100% saturated with sweat, I either wear them home from my baseball game or they come home in my hockey bag.

They do not linger long at my home. Typically as soon as I get them home they go into the washer and are washed. I have a Kenmore Elete washer, use the Tide liquid and add the Downy fabric softener. Wash warm normal cycle. Pretty much as soon as the washer is done, they are put into the dryer.

When removed from the dryer, I note the smell still attached. WTF?

The shirts are of Nike and Under Armour brands. The Nike shirts are either the basic Dry-Fit material or the Pro line with the flat seams. UA is standard short sleeve shirt.

Since most are non-white, I can't bleach them. I think they are loaded with bacteria and therefore reek. I'm too cheap to replace - some are less than 2 months old.

Any advice?

Maybe a freezer? The pool with chlorine?

[Vanilla Gorilla]

From what I have been told they should not be put in the dryer. Hanging them to dry is what i have done and no crab smell.

Try the freezer to get rid of the smell once you have it. It gets rid of the smell of my work boots.

[2tenders]

try color safe bleach and/or Febreze. These seem to work for me. Also would not recommend drying. Have done it on occasion, but over drying causes the shirts to wear out much faster.

[Densetsu]

I've always dried my sweat-wicking shirts... then again, they were the $7 Wal-Mart ripoffs, so I didn't really care if they disintegrated or not -- which they haven't.

I've used Odor Treatment on all my gear with great success, after failing with other products like Febreeze.

[hammbone]

If it's this bad after only 2 months, I doubt it's isolated to your workout clothes.

If you smell like crabs, maybe your wife will let you keep your job.

Unless you work at a homeless shelter, there's no way chicks at work will be hitting on you.

[Matt The Hammer]

Originally Posted by hammbone

If it's this bad after only 2 months, I doubt it's isolated to your workout clothes.

If you smell like crabs, maybe your wife will let you keep your job.

Unless you work at a homeless shelter, there's no way chicks at work will be hitting on you.

Funnay. I'm a clean kid. Still working...

I think the fact that I store the "clean" ones all together so the new is also inheriting the scent.

I'm naturally a gear whore () so I don't really wear the same gear game to game. I'll try the non-bleach and hang dry tips. I have a lot of food in the freezer - so I'll save the freezer for later.

Yes, I know the shirts will be in a ziplock bag.

[azdave]

Baking soda and hang them out to dry. Also I recommend outside air if possible otherwise garage should be fine. I use Fabreeze when spraying down the rest of my gear.

[rocki033]

use a cup of vinager in the washing cycle. Then wash once normal. That will kill the mold or whatever else you have.
If this doesnt work I would buy new ones because you could make youself sick.

[Matt The Hammer]

Originally Posted by azdave

Baking soda and hang them out to dry. Also I recommend outside air if possible otherwise garage should be fine. I use Fabreeze when spraying down the rest of my gear.

See.. you live in Arizona where things can dry. Today the humidity is like 80% with about 92 degrees outside. So the crap will stay wet and cook.

I'll use my basement with the dehumidifier running. Best I got.

[Matt The Hammer]

Originally Posted by rocki033

use a cup of vinager in the washing cycle. Then wash once normal. That will kill the mold or whatever else you have.
If this doesnt work I would buy new ones because you could make youself sick.

Thanks.



filler

[Coldaccord]

I air mine out for a day before I wash them. then wash them on warm, with either an extra cycle or a prewash. also, don't put polypropylene in the dryer, hang dry it

[ThePM]

I found a way to destroy most of the smell on my gear and clothing.

Isoprop alcohol in a spray bottle mixed about 60/40 with water. Spray liberally after each ice session, and the smell should go away.

[Beccaraptor]

I had that problem for a while. When I get back from my games the shirt goes directly into the washing machine set on HOT and quick wash. Then I wash it again on the normal load and it comes out smelling good and fresh. Sometimes you can get away with washing it just once, as long as the water is very hot. I hang it up to dry.

[Goalie for Life]

From the UA web site:

How do I take care of my Under Armour gear?

Wash your Under Armour gear in cold water on a gentle cycle with like colors. Do not use bleach or fabric softener. Tumble dry on low heat, and never use dryer sheets. We also recommend that you place your apparel in a garment bag to protect it from snags caused by Velcro, eye hooks, or other sharp objects that can be found on other clothing.

[DRE75HABS]

Originally Posted by ThePM

I found a way to destroy most of the smell on my gear and clothing.

Isoprop alcohol in a spray bottle mixed about 60/40 with water. Spray liberally after each ice session, and the smell should go away.

I second this... and it seems like I'm THE iso-guy on this board, every time a gear cleaning thread gets bumped or a new one started, I'm in there with my iso-babble.