The Reason Sports Clothes Still Smell Even Though They Have Been Washed And How To Overcome It

Illustration of drying a sports shirt (istockphoto)

JAKARTA - When exercising, the clothes used are usually exposed to more sweat than everyday clothes. Bacteria and sweat on these sports clothes often stick strongly, so clothes still smell even though they have been washed.

Quoted from Huffpost, on Wednesday, November 5, 2025, clothes for sports are usually made from synthetic materials. These materials allow the body's bacteria, sweat, and natural oil to stick strongly to clothes while exercising.

Body oil can be trapped in this groove (synthetic dress), making it even more difficult to remove. That's why the smell is a common problem with cloth for sport," said lead scientist for Procter & Gamble, Mary Johnson.

Not only that, clothes used for sports are usually placed in bags in damp conditions after exercise. This can worsen bacterial deposits and sweat, which makes the shirt smell even more.

Thus, the smell on the sport's clothes can be stronger even though it has been washed. Moreover, not all detergents have a good ability to remove the smell.

Therefore, it is advisable not to put down a sports suit that is still wet with sweat in the bag or in a closed place. This is because bacteria can grow faster within 6 to 12 hours.

Then let clothes or towels after you exercise dry first, before placing them in a closed place or wash them. If not immediately washed, the sports clothes should be placed in a basket that is different from other clothes.

In addition, Johnson also recommends using detergents that suit your type of sportswear. He also recommends the use of more detergents to make clothes more fragrant and fresh.

The dose (determined) is based on the size of your load (wear) and how dirty it is. Using too few detergents does not only mean that your stains will not disappear, but also allows body dirt to accumulate on the fabric which results in smell, cold, and dull," Johnson concluded.