How can I stop my textile jacket smelling bad?
 

Has anyone got any tips for stopping my textile jacket smelling so much! I used it to ride through Latin America last year and as you can imagine a year of sweating has left a rather fruity perfume. So much so that the smell sometimes shocks me when I catch a wiff off-guard, when wearing it.

The label says not to wash it. Is there anything I can sprinkle, spray or soak into the lining to neutralise the odour?

Any ideas would be much appreciated.

Thanks, Ollie

www.greasysprocket.co.uk

I know where you're coming from. You should be able to wash it with Tech Wash / Nikwax or something similar, works on Goretex etc.

Wash-in cleaner for waterproof clothing and gear - Tech Wash

I travel with Aerostich jacket and pants. They get washed once or twice every six months of road use, whether they need it or not (<---- joke).

If I ever had a label telling me not to wash them, it's long since been washed away. I wash it by wearing it in the shower (first right way around, then inside out; soap up, then rinse), I wash it in washing machines, I give it to the laundry ladies at hostels..... What's to lose? Am I going to make it even less waterproof than it already is? That'd be quite a feat!

Goretex theory, on the other hand, says use only approved, detergent-free soaps. That's what I do with clothing which actually shows signs it'll keep the weather out if I treat it well--like skiing gear.

Mark

(plumbing new depths of sin, degradation and textile abuse in Belem, Brazil)

Wash it in the bath with tech wash... Remove the armour first and just use luke warm water.

Leave it to soak for an hour or two then rinse it out.

I cleaned my suit in a bucket in Argentina. I had to change the water 5 times, it was THAT dirty !!

?? I just take out the armor and pop it in the washing machine, and hang dry. No funk at all.

They say not to wash gortex because most would use a detergent. detergant gets caught in the pours of the gortex and keeps them open.

what you can do though, is wash your jacket with SOME detergent or better yet the Nikwax that was suggested, then rinse it 4 or 5 times in cold or warm water. don't use hot IMO as it can cause some taped seams to... uh... un-tape ;)

I wash my tops and bottoms about once every 3-4 months (I ride daily no cage) and haven't had a problem yet

Blacks/millettes etc any good camping store has a spescial cleaner & reproofer from nikki wax or tech wax forget now just put them in the was instead of washing powder £3.99

Bleach
 

Put 10 - 20 drops of bleach in the final rinse to kill the bacteria that cause the smell... washing just gets the dirt out.
Use the liquid, rather than the "gel" type of bleach so you know what quantity you are using.
There should be a small bottle of it in every travellers kit to add to all your washing rinse.

John

I stick stinky bike gear in the bath with lukewarm water and a tube of Steradent (for doing dentures). It doesn't damage the fabric and impregnates it with something that seems to stop bacteria (i.e. pong) coming back.

Mmmm, minty fresh!

You don't say whether or not its a waterproof/breathable. If not use Febreze on it - amazing stuff!

If it is, I'm not sure if Febreze would damage it.

Matt :)

this stuff stops BO in shirts etc
 

Odegon iron-on clothing tags tackle BO without deodorant

It's stuff that was from the army which is used to stop clothing funking up. 20 bucks to buy and try it out.

Forgt what the label says and wash it anyway. I try to stay as neat as possible when riding overland in foreign climes and that usually means washing my textile jacket every fortnight in a hotel bathromm sink using the regulation tablet of hotel supplied facial soap.

just do not use HOT water... it will cause all your taped seams to become... un taped seams...


ask me how I know... ($400 water proof jacket now just a jacket)

You could use patchouli. It smells strong, but probably better than your one year old sweat.

I know this is a little late! but someone may find it useful
 

Have you thought about the use of baking soda I use it as a final rinse in the washing cycle and it does the job, I first used it to clean my bike jacket (stinky jacket) and then found it had many uses, theres loads of different recipes on line for its different uses! its cheap too!
all the best
Jim
PS not sure its a good idea to carry white powder around with you though!:nono:

i put stinky stuff in the deepfreeze (-18) at work overnight, the bacteria that cause the pong die off.