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Stinky
OK folks - does anybody have a definitive way to wash cycling clothes and packs so they don't continually smell like ... well whatever that disgusting smell is.
Her indoors suggested something must have died in the wardrobe where all my clothes and packs and stuff are stored. It does indeed niff noxiously when the doors are opened, and despite investigation to try and find a dead rodent to blame it on it does seem to be the collected fragrance from a large number of tops, nicks, gloves and socks, all of them deposited in the wardrobe following a wash.
I have tried many things over the years, to no avail - so thought perhaps the collective may have an answer...
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not sure how to get the smell out....
However you can always try and mask the smell in the cupboard with some air fresheners, I have this little square styro-foam thing that smells like Vanilla and keep it in with my stinky sport shoes and it works really well.
What are you using to wash your gear with? After a long-ride sometimes my gear stinks, but after a soak with Napi-San and a run through the machine it smells like new.
I ride most days. When I take my clothes off I soak pants, socks, shirts & gloves in the laundry tub in water with a little Nappy San and dettol. After a good soaking then throw them in the wash.
This not only removes smells but stops bacteria which causes saddle sores (blind pimples that pop up in your groin area).
Don't have an issue at all. I just wash knicks and tops in the wash with other clothes. Gloves I just hand wash every few rides. I leave my back pack out and certainly would never put that in the cupboard. It only get a wash every now and then.
Had no issue with smell... ever
I am not only strong but smell strong too
To be fair I am definitely in the high perspiration and salt excretion camp...
It seems to be specifically around a variety of polyester and nylon mix.
Dettol is a good idea though.
Maybe I should correct what I said. The only issue with smelly items I have is my gloves but not bad enough to stink out the room.
Like you kiwiboy I sweat heaps. It wasn't until I started training heaps that I noticed my gear started smelling of ammonia and then I got saddle sores. I've got some mates who win lots of enduros so asked them and found the recipe I posted earlier. The elite guys suffer badly from bacterial problems which is why they know so much about the solution.
I also use Aussie Butt Cream on every ride and this has tea tree oil which is an anti-bacterial and also smells good.
That's as in "fungus", not "fun gal".
Mild napisan and dettol sounds like a good strategy. I wouldn;t go too strong with the Napisan, as its essentially a bleach which would not be good for spandex/lycra fibres.
Saddle sores are a pain in the butt. Anything that keeps them at bay is a good thing.
I always let my gear dry out after a ride, by airing them on my porch. Then when the wash machine is ready for them they go straight in from there. My helmet and armour, shoes etc all get left on the porch as well to air/dry out before either riding again or going inside to their hole in the wall.
My missus is in charge of the washing and she uses some smelly fabric softner with my clothes. They smell great when they are clean.
I also use that Aussie Butt cream as well. It makes such a difference, I'm not tough enough to do dry... LOL
@ Fatboy - thanks for the tip, I am no elite but have been suffering saddles sores for the past two months which is really frustrating. After reading your advice, my wife has Napisan and detol on the shopping list and I have received my order of Aussie butt cream so fingers crossed.
Steve reckon you should allready have Napisan and detol with the twins!
from a girls perspective who shares a house with her MTB mad boyfriend with stinky XC and DH gear
1. don't leave your riding gear in the wash basket waiting for the next wash.
As soon as you get home put everything in the wash. get yourself a 'bra' bag or one of those netted bags you can pick up at Woolies for a cple of bucks and put your gloves and knicks in them - it will protect them from getting thrashed by the machine. If you sweat heaps, also take the cushioning out of your helmet and put it in the 'bra bag' - these things stink if you don't wash them regularly. They will also start to perish if not kept clean. make sure any velcro is secure as it wrecks your gear.
2. camelback - if you are a sweaty person, every few rides take your gear out of it and if you can, chuck it in the washing machine. if you can't, lay it in the tub and sprinkle napisan or similar over it and water it down. leave it for a little while then rinse and dry it.
3. DH gear - stinkiest of the lot!
again wash all your clothes straight away, don't sit down and have a few beers & read a couple of MTB mags and then decide to wash, your stuff has already dried stinky!!
remove the inners of your DH helment and chuck them into a bra bag and wash them with your clothes.
with your armour - again sprinkle with napisan and water down a bit. let it sit for a little while and then come back and rinse thoroughly. Liquid wash is sometimes better than the powder as it washes out easier.
4. Shoes - don't forget to give your shoes a wash every so often as well. If you can remove the inners then again put them in a bra bag and throw them in the washing machine. Hose the shoes out.
And don't forget to hose out the bag you carry all this sweaty gear home in.
just a tip if you are travelling or driving to your MTB location, take a couple of plastic bags to throw your sweaty riding gear in so that it doesn't stink the car out on the way home!
Keeping your gear clean will extend the life of it as well - so it pays to be clean
@Chica and @Fatboy - great input.
Small modification to current processes looks like it might do the job. Possibly also time to EOL some of my gear - it is just hanging around stinking up the cupboard.
Best way to do it and it works 100% is take the smelly gear off whatever it is gloves, knicks, shirts lycra etc, straight into a bucket of hot/warm water mixed with Bi-carb soda and soak for 4-5 hours minimum (don't leave it in the bucket for more than a day or 2 as the water will start to stink worse than the clothes originally did). Then after the pre soak straight out of the bucket and into the wash. Works a treat and that's coming from a guy that reeks, at the end of a ride even I am offended by my odour.....
In the process of reviewing the contents of the gear wardrobe the culprits were identified - my road shoes tucked away in their bag (haven't seen much action recently) and the previous best-MTB now lying fallow in a box since being replaced. Oo poo.
Of course the ensuing cries of 'O right so you had a man-look the first time' were unfortunately clearly justified
d'oh!
LOL! I'd better make sure your missus and mine never meet... my ego would never survive the fallout
Surprised no-one uses Eucalyptus oil
I use Bosisto's 100% pure + Canesten antibacterial and antifungal hygiene rinse after every ride
(on my clothes - not me...hmmm...could be an idea)
Anyhoo, only need to put the washer on rinse in cold water to save money and water
Has me smelling as fresh as a daisy
Well, until I start riding again