Stinky Yoga Pants

[tomturbomatic]

Yesterday's (6-15-16) Personal Journal Section of the Wall Street Journal had a large article about Stinky Yoga Pants. It seems that ad for Tide and Downy inspired the article. Tide and Whirlpool (who are thick as thieves) are saying that women are using too much detergent to wash these things which blocks the drainage channels in the fabric which channel the moisture away from the skin then things back up. Maybe the washers are not rinsing well enough. The women are probably using too much detergent to try to rid the rags of the stench. It was a fascinating read. It seems they start stinking about an hour after they are put on as humidity from the skin seeps into the fabric. I think part of the problem is that these things are worn out in public as a fashion statement instead of just in the gym. If you Google Stinky Yoga Clothes, there are many articles about using various things like vinegar, etc. to rid the rags of the raging odor. It is comforting to know that the wealthy have their own tribulations, too.

Back in the 70s, a friend's mom and her close friend were thrown out of an exercise class in the club room of their apartment complex because they could not stop laughing when someone farted doing an exercise. That's a pretty funny reason for two grown women to be overcome with laughter. One had been a nurse, but had a wicked or warped sense of humor sort of like me, but I don't think that is why today's yoga pants are stinky.

http://www.wsj.com/articles/the-dirty-secret-of-yoga-pants-they-smell-1465925822

 

[vacerator]

Yep,

I saw that one!

 

[lordkenmore]

I can't help but note that one thing they apparently don't talk about is wash water temperature. A lot of people are using the energy saving "cold wash". Such a wash could leave exercise clothes pretty revolting. Indeed, one reason I got cured of ever doing cold washes wasn't stain removal, or brighter whites. It was finding that using warmer water helped leave things smelling fresher.

Of course, it seems like those miracle fabrics might have a limited range of safe temperatures. But I'd think they could tolerate something warmer than tap cold.

 

[lordkenmore]

I'm also interested in P&G's comments about how lesser detergents merely mask with perfume. Maybe so. But at least some versions of liquid Tide have an incredible strength--both strong smell AND a lasting one... So--while I know Tide does probably clean better--you really might not know that on something getting washed all the time with strongly scented Tide.

 

[henene4]

Fabric softner is something that can get pretty problematic with systhetics, especially microfibre textiles.

 

[combo52]

Stinky Synthetic Clothing

I think it has far more to do with too cold a wash temperature and maybe combined with fabric softener than too much detergent. Polyester and other Synthetic fabrics are not damaged at at all at wash temperatures up to 140 F., they do not fade or shrink either at these temperatures, but they need hot water and enough detergent and good rinsing to be clean, just like plastic items that are used with food.

 

[warmsecondrinse]

There's a perception that because a fabric is dry it's also clean? Where would a ridiculous idea like that come from?

 

A person doesn't sweat less because the clothing he's wearing is made of a faster wicking fabric.

 

All that aside, what would possess a person to wear the same clothes to two workouts without washing in between? That's just gross.

 

Or am I missing something?

 

Jim

 

[ilovewindex]

I have had this issue with my nylon gym shorts.... Sanitary setting and silver care elimanted that

 

[warmsecondrinse]

Agreed on the water temps. I'd be very interested in reading an explanation of how water temperatures are NOT a major component of the situation. 

 

There's a machine in my building that has a programming glitch. The last rinse (and maybe the prior ones) is done at the same water temp the wash is set to. I use that washer as often as possible

 

Jim

 

[tomturbomatic]

Funny that they never mention BACTERIA; clogged tubes, but nothing about BACTERIA.

 

[lordkenmore]

>what would possess a person to wear the same clothes to two workouts without washing in between?

Well, I went longer--FAR longer--than merely two workouts when in junior high PE. The take home/wash schedule might have even been as infrequent as when a major vacation hit. I can't remember for sure.

I gag at the memory now, although given how unenthusiastic was I was about PE, I wasn't building up as much of a sweat as some of my classmates were. Still, I have a vague memory of the clothes reeking when they went home for washing.

 

[tomturbomatic]

"Still, I have a vague memory of the clothes reeking when they went home for washing."

Yeah, but I'll bet that when that stinky gym shirt when into hot water with a good, phosphated detergent, it got clean and the rest of the load and the washer did not reek of the scent of the shirt as it entered the washing process when the cycle was finished. That is the difference between then and now. I was going to say that people don't know shit about doing laundry anymore, but  decided I could just state that people don't know shit anymore. I sort of delight in the thought of the type of women who wear this clothing smelling like wet dogs in restaurants.

 

[liamy1]

Said video,,

On Tide's bunch of products.

The lovely Melissa Maker over at Clean My Space has done a sponsored video, showcasing the bunch of products that Tide have come up with.

The only thing I can see from the products is the reintroduction of an oxygen bleach, which have always been in powdered laundry detergent anyway :/

http://https//www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6u0pHUk6WM

 

[vacerator]

Well,

one talk show episode mentioned vajayjay odors, and it means something is off balance with the ph and cells in it.
Either yeast, or not enough good bacteria to kill the bad. Too much of anything isn't god for you, including Summers Eve or Massingil.

 

[mamapinky]

As a female I can touch on the vajayjay odors...soap and water daily should solve that, but if it doesn't Mike is right, something is off balance and a visit to the doc is in order. Summers Eve and the like are not needed, just good ole soap and water. Heck those douches will throw even the best vajayjays off balance LOL.
As for work out clothes stinking its caused from the bacteria that grows on the sweaty clothes. Put them to soak as soon as you remove them..get ahead of the bacteria.
Do you think that Tide odor control is anything more special than regular Tide..or is it just more perfumes to cover up the stink.

 

[polkanut]

To go along with what Mama Pinky wrote above if you're having odor problems with your laundry then I would suggest adding either ammonia or borax to the wash cycle along with your detergent.  Both products do a great job of deodorizing.

 

Hanging such articles of clothing outside to dry in the sunshine will also be a great help as well. 

 

[mark_wpduet]

There's a post I started

on gardenweb years ago that will not die titled "do any of you use ammonia in your laundry"

I've been using ammonia ever since then in loads that don't get bleach. It probably isn't needed, but I just like that extra kick and ammonia isn't expensive.

I even accidentally bought sudsy ammonia once and I still didn't see the first sud in my duet.