How To Get Odor Out of Your Underwear

Let's talk about a taboo topic—smelly underwear.

Throughout the day we sweat and our bodies release odors. So understandably, those odors get trapped in your underwear. It's perfectly normal in most cases. The smells usually go away after washing them.

But what if after doing laundry your underwear doesn't have that fresh smell?

Don't worry, you don't have to lose all hope quite yet. It could be that you're buying low quality underwear or possibly that you're not washing your underwear correctly.

Whatever the case, we're going to take a look at why having smelly underwear is worse for you than you probably realize, and the steps that you can take to get odor out of your underwear for good.

 It’s also important that you don’t feel embarrassed - it’s entirely natural for your underwear to have an odor after a certain period of time. Just understand that there are lots of options available to you!
remove odor from underwear

Why Odorless Underwear Is So Important

It is important that your underwear is kept as clean as possible and free from any type of odor. This might seem obvious at first, but here’s a closer look at exactly why you want to make sure your underwear is free from any type of odor.

Self-Confidence

There’s nothing like feeling clean and comfortable. If you know that your clothes are clean and that your body is clean, you will naturally feel more confident and focused on what you are doing.

You won’t have to worry about whether or not you are emitting any type of unpleasant odor - you will be free to engage in your personal relationships comfortably and without having to worry.

If you are self-conscious about your smell and hygiene, you might find that you fail to make the most of the various opportunities that life throws at you.

Hygiene

Smelly underwear also suggests that there is a presence of bacteria. This bacteria can have harmful effects on your health and lead to a range of infections.

Naturally, you will want to avoid different infections as much as possible. Those bacterial infections can become worse over time and you might find that your sensitive areas become affected over time.

You should consider cleaning your underwear properly as a health concern rather than something just to do with aesthetics. If you notice that your underwear is becoming discolored or smelly, you should take steps right away.

Comfort

Underwear is supposed to be comfortable. It protects your private areas and it should feel comfortable in terms of its texture and integrity.

If your underwear begins to fall apart over time and if it becomes smelly, you will find that it quickly becomes uncomfortable. This can be distracting and also affect your confidence.

This is one of the main reasons that it’s so important for you to keep your underwear clean and free from any type of scent.

Social Contexts

Over the course of your everyday life, there are lots of situations where you might find yourself in public areas with your underwear exposed.

You might be changing at the gym, for example, or be with your partner. In those situations, you want to be as clean and as comfortable as possible.

If you know that your underwear is clean and smells great, you’ll find it much easier to be yourself and focus on whatever you’re doing without your mind wandering.

how to get odor out of your underwear

How to Get Odor Out of Your Underwear

Now that we understand why it’s so important to have clean underwear, let’s take a closer look at the ways that you can actually clean your underwear effectively.

These tips can help you to live your life with confidence and make sure that your underwear is protected and kept in a new condition for as long as possible.

1. Monitor Your Underwear

First things first, it’s important that you proactively monitor the condition of your underwear. This can help you to make sure that it is in the best condition possible - you can go many months without looking at it properly, after all!

You should regularly check your underwear and assess how it looks. This means that you will want to look at things like:

  • The look of the underwear
  • The feel of the underwear
  • The scent of the underwear

If you notice that there are any particular issues with your underwear, you’ll want to take action. Here are just some of the steps that you can take to get odor out of your underwear.

2. Use Odor Blocking Underwear

You might find that you are a person that sweats more than the average person - that’s totally find but it might mean that your underwear can gather an odor more quickly.

If this is the case, you might want to invest in some great odor-blocking underwear. There are pieces of underwear out there specifically aimed at people like yourself and there are some great options.

3. Perform a Natural Wash with Lemon

Lemon is naturally acidic and it can help you to fight back against bad odors that are caused by bacteria. You could consider squeezing some natural lemon juice into a bowl of warm water and giving your underwear a natural soak before a wash.

This can help you to obliterate the odor from your underwear and give yourself the best chance of returning it to a near-new condition.

use lemon to get odor out of underwear

4. Clean Your Underwear Properly

You’ll want to make sure that you give your underwear a thorough and intense wash - this is often the best way for you to effectively remove an odor from your underwear.

This means that you should often wash your underwear on the highest setting possible (permitted by the washing guidelines) to remove any bacteria or germs.

You should also pay attention to the way that you dry your underwear. You will want to dry it quickly and effectively, avoiding any extended periods where the underwear is left wet at cold temperatures - those are the perfect breeding ground for bacteria.

seventh generation laundry detergent

Our Recommended Detergent

The Seventh Generation EasyDose detergent is our top recommendation for getting odor out of your underwear. Grab a bottle (or two!)

5. Follow Cleaning Instructions

One of the most important things to remember when washing any article of clothing is to follow the instructions on the label. If you follow the instructions properly, you will be able to protect the integrity of your underwear.

If you fail to follow the instructions, you might find that you deal damage to your underwear. It might shrink or suffer from tears due to higher temperatures and spin cycles.

Always work hard to respect the instructions and keep a diligent eye on them. If you have any doubts, you should often play it conservative and be safe rather than sorry.

This means avoiding excessively high temperatures and long washes. If you have delicate items, it’s also very important that you take care of them properly.

You should invest in a delicates bag to make sure that your underwear is safe and gets the best wash possible. These mesh bags can help you to prevent damage to your underwear during a wash.

6. Use the Best Laundry Detergent

A great detergent can become your secret weapon in the fight against bad underwear odors. We really recommend the Seventh Generation Concentrated EasyDose Detergent.

This is a really great option given that it uses exclusively organic ingredients. This helps you to avoid any chemical issues that might exacerbate the odor from your underwear.

The patented EasyDose feature also makes your detergent go further for you - perfect if you want to get the most from your investment and get great results every single time.

Getting Odor Out of Your Underwear is Possible!

We hope that these tips have helped you - there are lots of practical steps that you can take to remove odor from your underwear.

About the author

Kelsey Summers

Kelsey is the lead editor of Undywear.com. She's a fashionista who's written for Glamour, GQ and others. She enjoys breaking the stigma and taboo around underwear and writing about all things fashion.