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Sweat stains can be concealed: If possible, wear a cotton undershirt that can absorb underarm sweat and withstand more frequent washing. Photo: iStock

My brother and I joked and thanked a Russian yoga teacher who said at the beginning of the class: "We sweat when we train, so we won't bleed in the war."

The combination of her expression, perfect posture, and softly lit studio made us giggle. Her class made us sweat. a lot of.

According to fashion instructor Georgia McCorkill (Georgia McCorkill), "the combination of the salt in sweat and the deodorant people use" can leave sweat stains. She said, "Sweat itself is a kind of sterile thing, but when it mixes with bacteria on the skin, it will produce an odor related to sweat."

If not handled properly, sweat and odor will be stubborn. Here are some suggestions on how to avoid them.

When bacteria form on fabrics, stains and peculiar smells will be produced, so the best way is to wash them immediately after each wear. As McCorgill said: "The longer the sweat stays on the clothes, the more bacteria grow."

Yoga teacher and former professional athlete Ryan Mannix (Ryan Mannix) experienced "a lot of sports equipment cleaning." He recommends drying the clothes next to the laundry basket "so they don't sweat from sitting at the bottom", and machine washing everything in a cold cycle with liquid detergent before hanging it out to dry.

McCorkill pointed out that it is important to strike a balance between washing in time and not over washing, otherwise it will cause waste. She recommends wearing the same clothes for several days in a row before washing the clothes. Many sports equipment are made of synthetic fibers, such as polyester and elastic fibers, so please consider using a laundry bag to prevent microfiber contamination.

The McCorkill logo sometimes leaves stains on clothing for special occasions (such as silk), but it does not show up immediately, so the clothing can be put away without dry cleaning or washing. If the fabric is particularly delicate, sweat may cause a reaction over time, leading to odors or stains that appear after a few months. Washing your hands quickly or unloading at a dry cleaner can prevent this from happening.

When possible, wearing cotton undershirts that can absorb underarm sweat and withstand more frequent washing may also help extend the life of collared and silk shirts.

Laura-May Gibbs, the founder of Nagnata, a sportswear brand, recommends “clean locally immediately after exercise” and use natural soaps such as coconut oil or eucalyptus oil.

McCorkill agrees that on-site cleaning is a good idea because sweat stains may require more attention or higher temperatures than the recommended wash cycle for the rest of the clothing. She recommends using "laundry products specifically designed for stain treatment", but "be careful not to rub too much on fabrics that may hook or wool fabrics that may feel."

Due to their unique characteristics, natural fibers such as cotton, wool, and silk respond to sweat differently from synthetic fibers such as polyester and elastic fibers.

McCorkill said that polyester "has a complicated relationship with sweat because it absorbs oily sweat under the armpits," which can cause long-term odors. "Everyone thinks of a polyester top, they wash it and then put it on, but it still smells," she said.

This is partly because polyester has the same molecular composition as plastic, so it does not breathe. A 2016 study in Norway found that even odor-controlling synthetic fibers smell worse than natural fibers over time.

The way to avoid this is to choose natural fibers such as cotton and wool, which can respond to body temperature and reduce sweating. "The more natural the fiber, the less likely it is to produce odor," Gibbs said. The same goes for your deodorant, she adds: “When you remove aluminum from the antiperspirant, it’s less likely to produce sweat stains.”

McCorkill recommends cutting off the dyed armpits, or the part of the fabric that causes the smell, and replacing it with a piece of fresh fabric. For polyester garments with long-lasting odors, natural fibers can be used instead of this area to solve future problems.

If transforming a shirt into a sleeveless top or adding cotton underarm gussets is beyond your sewing skills, these can be done easily by a professional tailor.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, both Mannix and Gibbs advocated leaving sweat stains on fitness equipment alone. Mannix admitted with a smile: "If there is a stain, I usually leave it behind."

Gibbs insisted that they should be worn with pride: "You worked hard for those sweat marks!" So I hope now. .. You will not bleed in a war. -Guardian

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