Smelly cycling tops-washing when

[KnottedYet]

I have worked with people who had really bad b.o. I had to be close to them, but never had the heart to tell them to go get cleaned up. That's when I run get a mint, put it in my mouth, and try not to smell them.

I am super-stinky, and thank the heavens above for my best friend's mom who told me when I was a teenager that I was kinda smelly. She suggested I use some baking soda with my deodorant. What a kind woman!

(baking soda works wonders, by the way)

[Dianyla]

Amazing..I always perceived men as just sweating and smelling alot more from activity.

Not necessarily. One of my boyfriends is full Chinese and he can go backpacking for days wearing synthetic polypro underwear and still not have any BO. He sweats a lot, too, but doesn't generate stink. Amazing!

[mimitabby]

um, how do you use the baking soda?

[Brandy]

The only time I don't wash after every wear is if it's a recovery ride with very low effort, or if I'm wearing my wool. The wool gets washed very infrequently!

[DirtDiva]

Ditto. It's not inconvenient if you have lots of biking/workout clothes.

[KnottedYet]

um, how do you use the baking soda?

Dip the deodorant stick into the baking soda (so there's a fine dusting of soda on it) and apply as usual.

Been doing it for about 25 years, works great for my stinky pits.

[Susan126]

I'll have to share the baking soda idea with dh. Even when he puts on deodorant/antiperspirant he is still "stinky man". Even I get smelly. That wicking material really does create strong odors. And I wash everything we wore on our ride immediately after every ride. I'm fanatical about this. In fact they go straight into the washer as soon as we are both showered.

[OakLeaf]

I've not had a problem with my synthetics retaining odors since I switched to crystal deodorant and started putting baking soda in the wash. I don't know how much really, maybe 1/3-1/2 cup per load.

[equus123]

I'm a really big fan of Under Armour base layers during the summer and winter. Their stuff is notorious for becoming really really stinky after just one wear. All of my cycling jersey's get nasty, too, after a long day in the saddle in June.

I got a couple bottles of Win (the sports apparel laundry detergent) and have used that since the fall. It was an immediate difference because it completely removes the smell. So much so that I had worn a pair of winter cycling tights for 3 days straight (7+ hrs!!) and my girlfriend didn't take them to do the laundry. She said she did the sniff test to everything and they apparently didn't smell. The stuff works great and I recommend it.

[OakLeaf]

It's not inconvenient if you have lots of biking/workout clothes.

True... and I do have a rather large pile come laundry day... but honestly it isn't that inconvenient when I'm traveling, and just bring one set of running/gym clothes to wear and one set to wash. Just takes a couple of minutes, some dish soap, Dr. Bronner's or hotel shampoo (no bar soap!), and odors come right out in hand laundry with a little extra attention to the armpits and cr*tch. Cycling shorts don't always dry overnight where there's high humidity or low air circulation, so a third pair of those is good when I'm riding every day.

[mimitabby]

boy i sure love my ibex and smart wool. (and heck, my second hand store wool sweaters for that matter!)