Sour clothing - after washing!

[DoubleD]

Yes, they stink.  After arriving home from a 1 day drive, a 3 day ride on the GAP and a 1 day return drive with clothes in plastic bags I unloaded them in the washing machine immediately upon arrival.  Riding clothes, shorts, undies, etc all went in the wash then the dryer.  Upon removal the worst offenders were the not the riding clothes but the civies.  They still smell sour.  The riding clothes do also but not like the civies, some of which were microfiber, some nylon/poly.  Is there a cure?  Do I have to toss them and start over?  They were washed in a name brand laundry detergent and cold water.  Would hot water help?  Maybe a quart of vinegar in the wash or rinse?  Help, some of the offending articles went beyond plain old stink all the way to OMG! before hitting the washer. 

[DaveB]

Well, putting damp clothes in a plastic bag for up to three days certainly made for a good mold/mildew growing environment.  If the colors permit, soak them in bleach and wash them again.

[BikeFreak]

Increase the temperature to activate the enzymes in the detergent.

[staehpj1]

Hot water wash and liquid Tide (I like Tide Sport)

[Pat Lamb]

Most of the time just hanging things out will clear up the stink, but when it doesn't, Borax does the trick for me. 

[geegee]

Try OxyClean or a similar laundry additive. I've also been seeing a lot of laundry scent boosters in the store but have never used them. Don't know if they remove or just cover up odours.

There is a product called MiraZyme Gear Deodorizer which I use on sandals and helmets when they get a funky smell. Works especially well for neoprene.

[adventurepdx]

Baking soda works wonders.

[DoubleD]

Thanks all for the help.  I tried hot water wash with Tide and it seemed to do the trick but I've been told that the next time I wear them and start to sweat the funk could return.  We'll see.  I have borax and baking soda on hand as we make our own laundry soap.  The homemade laundry soap with borax and soda didn't touch the stink but perhaps there wasn't enough in the mix to perform the task.  I intend to use all of your suggestions and thank you again for your help. 

[adventurepdx]

You can also try sprinkling some baking soda on just-dried clothes from the dryer and putting it back on for 20 minutes. I haven't tried it, but it's listed on the box of baking soda.

I also soak my clothes for 20-30 minutes to help get all the funk out.

[bogiesan]

To treat the smell you must identify the source. The list of recommended treatments presents means to attack several different causes or sources. Some odors are gases released by living organisms. Some are from the biproducts of dead and decaying organisms. Some fabrics hold onto these chemicals and gases  at a molecular level and nothing you can do will break those bonds. Some organisms will survive by going dormant and come back to life when presented with heat and sweat and create a new crop of odors. Sometimes you simply throw the garments away.

You can search sites like Martha Stewart for tested and approved odor treatments for a wide range of fabrics and possible odor sources. Many of these treatments are simple but multi-step and involve commonly available chemicals like borax, vinegar, bleach, soaps, detergents and sunshine. Just follow the directions carefully. For instance, more detergent does not do a better job than a wee bit of detergent. In heavy concentration, detergent cannot be rinsed away so it causes rashes or, since it resembles food to some bugs, creates a Petri dish for growing things that smell.

"Sour" is usually associated with mildew but you need to decide if it's mildew or mold or a yeast. 

[imstillhere]

I have tried regular detergent, sport wash and a mix of detergent and hydrogen peroxide and none of these really worked in getting the stink out.  The sport wash is just expensive detergent and hydrogen peroxide.  I ran out of detergent and used Dr. Bronner's Magic Soap (peppermint) with hot water out of desperation and that worked the best.  My cycling clothes are clean and smell nice. 

No, I don't work for the company.  I just wish some of the guys in the pace line would use something.  I swear some don't use anything at all. 

[indyfabz]

Some fabrics hold onto these chemicals and gases  at a molecular level and nothing you can do will break those bonds.

Funny. Just last evening I pulled a junky old tee from a drawer because I had to do some dirty work around the house. Many years ago, I worked out in the shirt, got it really sweaty, put it in a plastic bag I got from the gym and forgot about it for a while. Despite being washed numerous times since then, it still has a funky odor. It's destined to become my next bike cleaning rag.

[DoubleD]

I'm beginning to think that the recommendation for washing out at the end of the day and air drying is probably the best solution.  No more plastic bags loaded with unwashed clothes for me. 

[staehpj1]

I'm beginning to think that the recommendation for washing out at the end of the day and air drying is probably the best solution.  No more plastic bags loaded with unwashed clothes for me.

Yeah, when possible that is the way to go.  If you have to bag wet clothes try not to leave them wet too long.

Not for everyone, but I find that I am OK with very little in the way of clothing.  That way there is very little need to stow damp stuff.  I take one set of on bike clothes and one each of any other clothing article.  My off bike shorts (1 pr) are running shorts with a built in brief, so no underwear needed.  I carry tights (1 pr) for cool weather.  One tech tee is sometimes my only warm weather shirt.  For cooler weather I use a windbreaker over a pile shirt or a puffy shirt.  If it might be really cold I may take both, but not usually.

I find that I don't mind putting things on while they are still damp when needed and also find that going a few days without washing clothing isn't that bad.  Turning things inside out and hanging them out for an hour of sun does wonders for killing whatever grows there.

[yumadons]

Tide with Febreeze