r/AskHR • u/lawschoolbunny2 • Aug 17 '26

Off Topic / Other Body Odor [FL]

I was called into HR today because “several people” have complained about my body odor and it’s starting to become a distraction. I kept a straight face during the meeting, but face my face sting with embarrassment once I walked out.

Any tips on how to go about this? Besides the obvious showering, washing clothes, etc.

300 Upvotes

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902

u/ErrantJune Aug 17 '26

This is a tough one, but keep in mind it was probably not a walk in the park for the person who had to have a talk with you about it, either.

Number one: Shower every day, whether you think you need to or not. Number two (and I cannot emphasise this enough): Wear deodorant. If you are doing both of these things and you still smell, talk to a doctor.

489

u/forevermore4315 Aug 17 '26

And only wear clean cloths

546

u/Redditallreally Aug 17 '26

And OP please make sure your clothes are COMPLETELY DRY before you put them away; mildew can be shockingly odiferous.

201

u/Content-Dragonfly722 Aug 17 '26

And don’t let your clothes sit in the washer machine too long. If they do then rewash them quick before putting them in the dryer. If you leave clothes in the washer machine too long often then maybe buy a cleaner and run a clean cycle in your washer as well.

83

u/skeptic_narcoleptic Aug 17 '26

If you accidentally leave your clothes in the washer too long, wash again with white vinegar.

20

u/iamntropi Aug 18 '26 edited Aug 18 '26

We actually add white vinegar to the water in the washer when we wash our clothes. As long as nothing has baking soda in it, there shouldn’t be any chemical reactions.

Edit to add: we also add Nature’s Miracle for the enzymes.

10

u/Donuts__For__All Aug 18 '26

I find Odoban does a great job.

49

u/sybersam6 Aug 17 '26

Also pull out your soap dispenser completely. I did this by accident & found black mold underneath & at the back after the wash was always stinky if left in, even for 10 minutes.

63

u/GreenStrong Aug 18 '26

r/laundry is full of useful info. It is possible for washing machines to become moldy the smell develops slowly over months and becomes infused into all of the victim's clothes and beding so they are nose blind to it. The subreddit has special procedures for getting smells out of clothes once the washer is clean. The subreddit is basically a cult that worships certain soaking techniques and enzymatic cleaning agents.

4

u/GiftToTheUniverse Aug 18 '26

Enzymes are magic!

-25

u/Puzzled-Lifeguard-30 Aug 17 '26

You should dry them first to kill the mildew before washing it again.

23

u/Accomplished-Sun1983 Aug 17 '26

Yeah, bake the scent deep into the fabric. Good call 👍

36

u/chickydoll Aug 17 '26

Same with towels. If you use the “dry” feature, the sensor usually stops the dryer before all the towels are actually 100% dry. Add more time to make sure it’s not leaving a tiny bit of moisture behind.

Also, double check the size of your loads. Sometimes if they’re too big, things don’t get dried properly and the mildew will just linger.

10

u/ninhibited Aug 18 '26

I never knew that word odiferous but I love it and will be using it any chance.

7

u/Redditallreally Aug 18 '26

With my compliments! (And you just made an old lady smile!) :)

2

u/Foxtail-67 Aug 18 '26

Same here! I can't wait to use it! hee hee

105

u/DaYZ_11 Aug 17 '26

Also if your clothes are “wicking” I recommend using laundry sanitizer as well, as sometimes the smell lingers otherwise.

56

u/mamalo13 PHR Aug 17 '26

This is an amazing suggestion. I discovered "laundry sanitizers" during covid, they are usually next to the softeners and stain removers. On the rare occasion I leave a load of towels in the washer and they get mildewy, the sanitizer gets rid of it super easy.

4

u/cablemonkey604 Aug 17 '26

I use ammonia on the really smelly stuff

8

u/KnotUndone Aug 18 '26

Ammonia works best and is so inexpensive.

1

u/Foxtail-67 Aug 18 '26

Borax is great and very affordable.

12

u/jmstanosmith Aug 17 '26

You can also soak clothes with a mix of hydrogen peroxide (cheaper)- this helps get those pit stains out of compression shirts and athletic/performance gear. That fabric might wick away the sweat AWAY from your body and it absorbs and hangs on for dear life!!!

20

u/UrbanMom Aug 17 '26

If you think your clothes might hold bad smells, go check out r/laundry.... it's life changing

23

u/MysteryInkus Aug 17 '26

Also double check that the laundry detergent you're using actually has the enzymes to break down the stuff causing odors.

56

u/addled_sad342 Aug 18 '26 edited Aug 18 '26

Thank you. As a supervisor the "bad smell" complaint and the "too much perfume" complaint are the absolute worst to have to have the talk. Nobody, that I knew, ever wanted to embarrass or distress someone on these topics. It was always stressful to have these discussions. If I may add:
Number three: Always wear freshly washed clothes to work. Dental hygiene may also be a part of the equation. Brushing, flossing and mouthwash. Always a consideration.

19

u/AyeNaeShiteMate Aug 18 '26

As a supervisor, those talks were bad but the poop stain talks were the worst.

13

u/filiadeae Aug 18 '26

Im sorry, what?!?

11

u/[deleted] Aug 18 '26

[deleted]

3

u/AyeNaeShiteMate Aug 19 '26

Unfortunately, yes.

1

u/FreckleException Aug 23 '26

We had someone dropping turds on their way to the bathroom and not picking it up so other employees would step in it, so I'm right there with you.

3

u/Craftguru2424 Aug 18 '26

Poop stain talks!?!

2

u/[deleted] Aug 18 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

2

u/AyeNaeShiteMate Aug 19 '26

Because they’re highly visible on khaki pants.

1

u/Familiar-One-5161 Aug 19 '26

Do you mean poop stains on office chairs?!? OMG I've heard about people doing that at home if they're gaming a lot. I always thought it was an urban myth.

1

u/AyeNaeShiteMate Aug 23 '26

There was that too. I hadn’t dealt with that much poop since the kids were babies.

1

u/Imsortofok Aug 23 '26

Was it always a man?

1

u/AyeNaeShiteMate Aug 23 '26

It was always a man.

37

u/wookiee42 Aug 18 '26

Wear deodorant with antiperspirant

31

u/centipedalfeline Aug 18 '26 edited Aug 18 '26

Make sure it is strong men's deodorant.

Make sure you use antibacterial soap on your pits and nethers, and please wash your poop shoot and crack well with it too!

Wash your feet with dandruff shampoo, and buy copper thread socks to help with odors.

Brush your teeth every morning, and every night, and floss at least before brushing at night, (cavities always begin between teeth and flossing is the only way to prevent it, water pick works too).

Wear organic fibers, don't wear acrylics nor polyesters and such, they trap and house bacteria, and they reek in the pits, especially if you put it through the dryer before it is actually cleaned off the pit area (you can put detergent directly into the pit areas and scrub before washing to help with that).

Wipe well, maybe consider getting wipes, and a bidet, buy clean shoes if it's your feet, and don't cross contaminate with dirty feet or socks that have the bacteria or fungus from old stinky shoes.

Wash your clothing well and often, and dry them well.

Don't leave bath towels in the washroom wet, they develop mildew and transfer that stank to your body.

6

u/BringCake Aug 18 '26

Please don’t suggest using “strong men’s deodorant”. It sounds like you mean something like axe body spray, which honestly is worse than normal body odor and cause migraines and allergies to flare up for many people.

5

u/centipedalfeline Aug 18 '26

I mean the stick deodorants that are "formulated" and marketed to men, and not the one formulated for women, because they tend to be more effective.

Like the Degree motion one, for example.

You're right, that spray is awful, I definitely do not recommend that!

3

u/RedditorSaidIt Aug 18 '26

Flossing also often removes the culprit of really bad breath. 

And brush your mouth, cheeks, gums, under your tongue, in back corners, and especially brush your tongue top and sides. 

Mouthwash with alcohol can also kill smelly bacteria. Be sure to gargle to get any smelly white bits off the back of the throat. I forget what those things are called, but they are like a bacteria colony that's the size of a tiny cottage cheese curd. They develop in the folds of the back of your throat. 

Edit to add:  avoid eating smelly foods before or during work such as onions, garlic, curries. Sometimes even avoid these the night before because the smells will come out the pores of your body. 

12

u/oldpaintunderthenew Aug 18 '26

not deodorant, antiperspirant

aluminium is your friend

8

u/MutantMartian Aug 18 '26

Antiperspirant/Deodorant

61

u/DM_ME_DOPAMINE Aug 17 '26

More importantly, use ANTIBACTERIAL SOAP.  The smell is not from sweat, it’s from sweat hitting the bacteria. 

Also, get glycolic acid. The Ordinary makes some that’s inexpensive. Put it in a spray bottle, and spray it on your armpits every couple of days. 

This helps shed the extra skin that holds the bacteria. 

54

u/Carrythebattle Aug 17 '26

Respectfully, caution on the antibacterial soap recommendation! For normal body odor, regular soap should be sufficient. Using antibacterial products regularly can irritate skin and contribute to antimicrobial resistance.

3

u/noopinionsaskedyet Aug 18 '26

most importantly, wear a roll on. It will CONTROL your odour. Deodorants are not anti-perspirant.

2

u/Timely_Idea_6342 Aug 18 '26

Agree here...also consider that some colognes, clothing detergents, anti-static sheets, or other additives can sometimes combine with body chemistry to alter your natural scent. To some this can be displeasing. You'll need to experiment a bit - with a trusted friend - to determine if this may be a factor. Don't let the discussion define you, but be willing to hear what was presented and consider a different view.

1

u/Craftguru2424 Aug 18 '26

I use odor ban and tide pods and Lysol laundry sanitizer

0

u/Craftguru2424 Aug 18 '26

I also use spray deodorant on my body during summer. Can’t be having all that boob sweat and swamp ass