Embarassing laundry question

[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

[Thistle]

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.

How rude was that person who wrote on the website about you smelling Of course we smell when we exercise. Der. I really cant believe that out in the open air when you're cycling it's that noticeable... and i have a damned good nose for smell

Try the vinegar and the good friend ideas. Sounds better than believing this other unpleasant person. So sorry you have been the target of her angry little personality!

[mary9761]

I want to thank everyone for their responses. I washed the tights again in vinegar after letting them soak all day yesterday while I ran errands. It did the trick. I never use fabric softner on my cycling clothes so I knew it wasn't softner, but I think I'll be using vinegar in my rinse from here on out or if I have to wash the tights separately, I'll do that too. Weird thing is it's just those tights (same fabric as the shorts I've made) and it's only since I moved the crotch insert from where it was. The instructions had said to sew it in strangely so they fit weird and were uncomfortable. I took it out and sewed the seam like I would any other pants then sewed the insert OVER the seams. Since then, I've started having the problem with them not smelling clean after washing them. Looks like I will be investing in a BIG bottle of vinegar just to keep in the laundry room.

[Bikingmomof3]

Mary,
I am glad you were able to save the tights.

[kelownagirl]

Yay Mary! People are ignorant and thoughtless and just plain rude sometimes. I'm sorry you had to go thru that embarrassment...

[bambu101]

Glad to hear that the vinegar did the trick! I keep a gallon of it next to the washing machine, and pour a little bit in when I wash towels. I read somewhere that it will help remove soap residue. I don't like the strongly scented detergents and dryer sheets, so vinegar is a staple in my house.

[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!