Recently I cycled to a singing rehearsal, removed my jacket upon arrival, and was horrified to smell a distinct odour coming from me! It is not the familiar scent that you smell at the gym when there are men working out, but there was a distinctive odour that I found unpleasant. I wash all my exercise clothing after a single wear: not so good for the environment, but I have a sensitive nose and cannot stand the smell of prolific bacteria. Regular detergent is just not cutting it for me. Nor is it getting the sharp ammonia like smell out of my husband's polypropylene technical undershirts.
After some research, I found a range of options:
1. Soak in one cup of baking soda and some water.
2. Soak in Borax before washing.
3. WIN High Performance Sports Detergent. A US company designed a superoxygenated formula that works thus:
"Using a unique technology, Win Detergent's scientifically designed super oxygenated system directly targets offensive odors and stains. This powerful oxy cleaning technology eliminates the embedded sweat molecules and odors that overwhelm the fabric. Simultaneously, these same ingredients also react with soil and organic materials causing them to either decolorize or disintegrate. Once in a soluble form after oxidization, dirt and odors easily wash away." -- from its website.
This product is widely available in the US and online. In Canada it is only available at Shoppers Drug Mart for around $6 for 946 mL.
Bicycling Magazine reviewed the product in June 2008 and felt that the product removed smell no better than ordinary Tide, not justifying the cost. He recommends it conditionally: "If you want the highest level of performance out of your riding gear or have clothes that seem to always smell no matter what you do, WIN is a winner."
In October 2007, Runner's World briefly reviewed four different detergents.
The reviewer noted that while WIN detergent removed the smell at first, but after a short time, the smells came back.
4. No Sweat Activewear Detergent. A Canadian company, with the Bio Blast formula developed by an inventor in North York, Ontario.
According to its website:
"No Sweat 's unique active ingredient Bio-Blast ™ actually eliminates odor caused by bacteria and oil lurking beneath the surface." It also claims to be the first detergent to remove armpit stains and ring around the collar.
This detergent may be purchased directly from the manufacturer for sale in the US and Canada. The cost for their special promotion is $30 for 4x500 mL, or around $15 a litre, plus shipping costs. The cost for a larger amount is $70 for 4x4L plus $15 for shipping. This works out to $5.31 per litre. The availability in local stores was limited mostly to Hot Yoga establishments.
5. Assos Active Wear Cleanser. The eye popping price, $63 US for one litre was enough to stop me from further researching it. (Note, added January 2012: This was selling at West Point Cycles in Vancouver, $25 for 300 ml--sorry, I don't recall the exact size. This would last you about 30-60 washes). This wash is highly rated and prized by those who buy it to cleanse their top end kits, judging by the reviews on Wiggle. Since everything I own is not "top end" I don't need the Ferrari of sports detergents.
6. Hydrogen Peroxide added to regular wash.
Products like Oxy Active are Hydrogen Peroxide in its chemically solid form after it contacts water.
7. Penguin Sport-Wash, Base Wash by Nikwax, and Granger G-Wash Cleaner were favourably reviewed by Runner's World, with no real differences noted between them. (January 2012 note: The Penguin Sport-Wash is selling at West Point Cycles in Vancouver for $14 for the 500 ml size. They also sell samples of Penguin if you don't want to commit to a large bottle).
[Update, January 2012:
8. Halo Proactive Sports Wash Laundry Detergent ($10.42 for 1 L). I found this on Wiggle, which ships free to Canada for a minimum order. It has great reviews on Wiggle. I included it here as a low cost alternative to the others.]
In the end, I chose to use Oxy Active. With a front loading washer, I have found that adding OxiClean, or an equivalent like Oxy Active, available at Zellers or Walmart, dissolved in warm water and added manually to the clothes before starting the wash with regular detergent, is effective enough. Problem solved.
