The constant battle we have with our clothing and the odors that they retain is real. A real struggle that we are perpetually at odds with when it comes time to wash and deodorize our odorous fabrics. When you wear a piece of fabric frequently each day, the odors and smells will build up and create a pungent piece of fabric that you can barely stand to be near, much less wear on your body. Think about something you wear every day, whether that be socks, underwear, or even your favorite go-to bra, these items if not washed properly after every use will become your worst nightmare when it actually comes time to finally wash it of its odor For women, bras are an everyday necessity that is worn on a daily basis – and for most of us we have our few select bra’s that we tend to gravitate towards when dressing in the morning. As you wear, and wear, and wear a certain bra the problem that will occur is one that can only be described as ‘stinky’, to say the least! No matter who you are or what you do during the day, you are bound to sweat – although the amount of sweat that is produced can vary the same result takes place, sweat absorbs into the fabric of your bra and will start to produce a pungent sweaty odor over time. What can be done to combat this smelly sweat odor and successfully wash & deodorize your smelly bra? Keep reading to find out!

Why Does Sweat Smell So Bad?

Sweat develops on the body in warm, dark environments that are tightly restricted with little air flow access. The area that is supported by your bra is the perfect area for sweat to accumulate and occur, leaving a decent amount of sweat and the odor that is associated with sweat. Sweat, however, is commonly mistaken for having an ‘odor’ but this is simply not the case. The smell that is associated with sweat is developed from skin bacteria that is found on the skin that works to break down the sweat secretions released from the sweat glands. The odor originates from the apocrine glands in the armpits that release a thick, oily sweat that is high in proteins and lipids which bacteria on the skin feeds on. The bacteria will than travel onto the fabric on your body and leave a wicked odor that needs to be deodorized immediately.

Sweats Impact on Your Bras

Treating and cleaning your bras can be one heck of a task, as women usually avoid the process of cleaning these garments. Why do most women avoid washing their bras? Because who wants to risk ruining your favorite bra, since there are many DO NOTs that must be considered when washing your bra. The lacier and more beautiful the bra, the harder it can be to risk placing the garment in the washing machine. However, when an accumulation of sweat collects in the material of your bra, you will have no choice but to have to take action to wash and deodorize this material. So, what can you do to try to limit the amount of wash time your bra gets and retain the life of your bra?

How Often Should You Change Your Bra

Alternating and switching out what bra you wear each day can be beneficial to reducing the odors and the need to wash the bra. Depending on the life and extensive wearing of the bra it can influence the need to change out your bra. Most people will figure to replace their bras every couple of years, but really you should change them out every six months. This is not only because of odor issues but also due to a lack of existing elasticity because of wear & tear. Being cognizant of how long you have worn your bra for and the amount of wear time it has undergone will help you to determine the existing life of the bra- and if worse comes to worse and you can’t remember these details just perform the old ‘smell test’ to gain insight into your bra’s age.

How Often to Wash Bras & Sports Bras

Body sweat is a natural process that occurs in the body and therefore it cannot be halted or eliminated. The sweat will lead to the need to wash fabrics, as the fabrics will retain the sweat and lead to an odor. Bra’s, as we have determined, will retain sweat and the bacteria odor from sweat into the material which will require the need to wash bras and sports bras. Depending on the lifestyle of the woman and the type of wear of the bra, your garment may require more upkeep and washing, a general guide is that you should wash your bra after two or three wears. Now that may seem like a lot, but it is necessary to maintaining a clean, odor-free bra. The only thing left now to do is to learn how to successfully wash and deodorize your bras.

Washing Bras: The Best Way to Wash Bras

When it comes to washing your bras there are a lot of mistakes that can be made that can have a lasting impact on your bras. Most people will haphazardly throw their garments into the washing machine without a second thought, but this simple act can sometimes ruin your favorite bras – leaving you upset and scrambling to find an alternative bra that can take its place. The ideal way to launder your bra is to always hand wash – that is the key!

How to Hand Wash Bras

The process of hand washing your bras will require more work than just simply throwing your bra into the washing machine and letting the machine work its magic. You will only need a few items to help you along in the cleaning and deodorization process, these include a sink or tub, water, detergent, and an effective sweat odor eliminating laundry additive. Step 1: Clean your sink and fill it with warm water. Add a small amount of detergent (about a teaspoon or two) to the water. You want to be careful not to add too much detergent as bras are fairly small and do not require a lot of detergent to properly clean the garment. Along with the detergent you will want to add in an effective laundry additive to help deodorize the garment to remove the odor – the OdorKlenz Laundry Additive is the perfect additive to add into your bra soaking process. Place about ¼ of a cup of OdorKlenz Laundry Additive into the sink and mix the water around. Step 2: Add in your bras and push them under the water and swish them around, allowing for agitation. Leave the bras in the sink and allow them to sit in the solution for 10 to 15 minutes to soak. (Allow for more time if the bra is especially stinky!) Step 3: Once the soaking is done, wash off the bra with water and rinse out the absorbed water. Step 4: Hang the bras outside or on a line to air dry. Be sure not to hang them by their straps, since the bra is still wet and heavy it can cause the straps to get stretched out and lose its elasticity.