Embarassing laundry question

[mary9761]

I wasn't really sure where to post this and I've avoided posting until this evening. Most of you know I make my own bike gear, I don't put/use a chamois in my shorts or the pair of tights I have made. Until recently I didn't notice a problem but I just moved the crotch insert from the awkward position it was sewn in and sewed in OVER the closed seam and the tights are FINALLY comfortable to wear AND stay up better. Since I've moved this material essentially making an equivalent to a chamois out of lycra, I've noticed an odour after washing. I have washed multiple times and just this evening, I took 1/4 capful of liquid laundry soap and HAND SCRUBBED the material I then rewashed the tights AGAIN. I still smell an odour.
I would be concerned enough about this as I'm very self conscious about any body odour anyways, but recently there was a person that I don't even know that had posted some very nasty things about me on my local cycling forum one item in particular that said I smelled like the crap house door of a tuna boat. Needless to say, I'm even more self conscious of ANY hint of odour. Do I need to trash these tights and make new ones? I don't have the problem in my shorts, they are made differently and don't have the sewn in crotch. Should I see if I can take the piece back out without destroying the tights? If I do that then I will have an exposed seam that cause even more problems with comfort.
I appreciate any ideas. I'm embarassed to even have to ask this in the first place, but I sure don't want to have something that a troll said about me have ANY basis in truth for further fodder.

[Bikingmomof3]

Oh I am so sorry someone was rude enough to post something so terrible on a board about you!

I honestly have no real answer, I am just outraged people can be so downright cruel.

I use the sport wash for my clothing, I do not know if it makes a real difference or not. Could it possibly just be the certain bolt of fabric? If they cannot be salvaged, and I realize you put work into these (I knit), I would toss them.

I am hoping someone on here can give you better advice.

[Triskeliongirl]

I am not sure at all about this, but you might tray baking soda. I know its good for adsorbing odors in a fridge, so maybe it would work for clothing. Of course, it could also ruin the fabric but if its a choice of throwing them out or trying this maybe it can't hurt. I just googled clothing odor removal and found lots of good tips like this one, along the idea I suggested but more specific for how to do it: http://missourifamilies.org/features...s/feature4.htm

But Mary, maybe you should ask a close friend how much these odor issues are real vs someone being mean spirited. If they are real, there are medical issues that can cause odors that you might want to discuss with a doctor.

[lph]

How amazingly cruel of that person Apart from the comment being cruel I very much doubt that it's true, and apart from *that* - everybody smells, in one way or another. Pure biology.

But to the issue: I thought it was mostly temperature (high) that killed bacteria, not the kind of soap? I know all my training clothes stink to high heaven after a day or two, and the only way to get the smell out is to wash them at high temperatures even though I'm not supposed to.

[bambu101]

Try white vinegar in the water. It will help get rid of any odor. I have used it on my BF's polypropylene running tops, which he wears a few times until they get pretty ripe- ewww. I also put a dish of vinegar in the kitcen and let it sit overnight after I have cooked something pungent, like onions. It will help absorb any leftover smells.
And what a lousy thing to say about you.

[doc]

There is also febreeze for laundry. Maybe that will work.

As for the person who posted that, I can only hope that the mean mean karma they sent out comes back to them. I'm so sorry that had to happen to you.

[DDH]

I would try the viniger. That is suppose to be very good at taking out odors, and it shouldn't hurt your fabric. I don't think the baking soda would hurt the fabric either. Both of these are suppose to be really good for getting rid of bad odors. Then maybe hang them out to dry on a sunny day and let the sun and fresh air take care of the rest.

I'm sorry, but after I have had a long ride, I do not smell good. I could put a ton of deoderant on and still be stinky when I am done with my ride.
Mind you I sweat like a pig!!! I hate it but cannot help it.
If I want to ride my bike I just have to face the fact that I am going to stink. If someone else does not like it, then they don't have to ride with me or they need to stay up wind.
What this person did was very rude and just plain mean spirited and I would hope anyone else involved would let this person know this and put them in their place on the forum. I would not want to ride with someone that would say such mean things about another person, because who knows what they are saying about me behind my back. It might be embarasing but I would much rather someone tell me to my face when they have a problem with me, stinky or otherwise.

And Mary, don't be embarrased to ask questions on here. We are all women with a variety of issues and I think that is what this forum is for.

[lph]

btw: I dislike stinky clothes as much as anyone else, but it is a bit weird our common idea that human beings should be these squeakyclean, odourless aliens.

Anyone else heard the story of Napoleon, who wrote home to Josephine: "Don't wash, I'm coming home!" I'm betting they didn't have to do much laundry around then

[mary9761]

Thanks ladies, I knew if I couldn't ask anywhere else I could here. Luckily once people caught on to what this person was saying/doing. He'd started the thread as a riddle thinking he was funny (What weighs 300 pounds and smells like the craphouse door of a tuna boat) so I didn't even know what/who he was insinuating until he said it rides a Navigator 50 then several people jumped on him and luckily the thread was pulled. I didn't say anything to him at that time, this was the person who has since posted other stuff as well.
I know that I'm mainly hypersensitive right now as I know any odour that I've smelled after a ride or different times of the month are completely normal and I'm probably the only one that CAN smell it, but this with the tights just started so I really didn't want to give this person any fuel in case I DO know them and they are just being cruel and anonymous.
I will try the vinegar later today and see if it doesn't help with the slight odour, I mean I have to put my face into the material to smell it, but like I said I figure it's not good to give this person any credit by actually having an odour.
Thanks again.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Mary,
First, how wonderful that you are not as sad and pathetic a person as that one who says mean hurtful things about people. What a nasty way to have to live!

Second,
I find a HUGE difference in body odors dpending on the particular fabric one puts next to the body. Some fabrics especially polyesther, tend to really amplify our natural odors and make them smell worse than they would normally be. I had to dump some very expensive cotton blend close fitting shirts once that made me have terrible BO. Now I wear different fabrics, and I don't have BO at all! Try a different fabric altogether and see if that eliminates the problem. Also, I think fabric softeners clog the fabric pores and cause bacteria to sort of glue themselves into the waxy fabric softeners molecules. The fabric can't breathe and therefore bacteria thrives. More bacteria=more odor.
Wash out that fabric softener all together if you are noticing odor problems.

[GLC1968]

I was going to suggest something similar to Lisa. Many synthetics will retain stink no matter what you do to them. I think this is why so many chamois fabrics are treated to prevent bacterial growth all together. I'd suggest trying to replace that panel with a more natural fabric that is still wicking (soft wool, perhaps??).

But definitely try white vinegar first...that stuff works miracles!

I'm so sorry that person said such hateful things to you! If he/she really does know you in real life, rest assured that they are clearly a spineless coward if all they can do is make annonomus and riddled insults about you on an internet message board! If they don't know you, they are even more pathetic. Don't let them get to you!!

[SouthernBelle]

Mary,

Sorry about that cretin. There are some fabrics that trap odors.

But what I wanted to suggest is that you can buy undies with a chamois built in. Then you can make whatever you want to go over them. I THINK I saw them in the Colorado Cyclist catalogue, but someone may correct me if I'm wrong.

HTH,

[BeeLady]

I try and dry all my riding clothes on the line, not a clothes dryer. I think this helps too. In the sun would be ideal.

[margo49]

Sunshine and inside-out.

[spokewench]

Mary - I'm so proud of you for riding your bike and persevering. People like the one you describe are ignorant and cruel. They deserve not one minute of attention.

I wear sports clothing, but sometimes, polypropelene (sp?) can really smell after several wearings. After a while, sometimes, I just throw those old undershirts away cause I can't get the odor out of that fabric. I have some problems with synthetics so I don't usually wear them to work, etc. cause they make me have BO. But, of course, I do wear them to work out and it is normal to sweat and smell a little when you are working out - everyone else does too!