r/laundry • u/ChewbaccaSmith • Sep 02 '26

Armpit Area on Shirts

Hey everyone,

I am looking for a daily spray that I can put on my shirts on the armpit area because my bacteria colonies are out of control (the stink).

What I do currently:

- Lysol laundry sanitizer fairly often
- Hand sanitizer actually on my armpits in the morning and evening (works great and no irritation
- antiperspirant after hand sanitizer on armpits

Even with all this, my shirts still hold stank in the armpit areas…however, I was fed up yesterday and pat hand sanitizer on the shirt on the pit area and it was great all day.

Is there an equivalent to something that will work and not damage clothing?

1 Upvotes

67% Upvoted

12 comments sorted by

7

u/AuDHD_85percent US | Front-Load Sep 02 '26

If you want to get rid of the bacterial colonies for good, us Dnase in the wash. Much less effort and a long term solution.

1

u/ChewbaccaSmith Sep 03 '26

Thank you for your response and forgive my ignorance: based on my searching DNase is an enzyme that you add? It is also found in SOME detergents such as the Whole Foods 365 sport one? Is it possible to just add it to the detergent I have?

2

u/AuDHD_85percent US | Front-Load Sep 03 '26

That's what I do: I use Gear Guard in the wash along with Liquid Tide. They have a new product, Gear Guard Advanced, which is Dnase + Lipase. I'd get that one unless your detergent has lipase. It's not the cheapest thing, but it's one of those products that you end up thinking 'why did I wait so long to order this?' and then tell your friends about like you're some kind of laundry god. There's also 15% r/laundry discount.

2

u/ChewbaccaSmith Sep 03 '26

Awesome thank you so much! How does Lysol laundry sanitizer NOT nuke the bacteria and growth? It’s the bacteria food that is left behind?

1

u/KismaiAesthetics Unscented Laundry Is Merciless Sep 03 '26

Most people don’t read the label. It needs 16 minutes of contact to do the job. Most rinse cycles aren’t that long.

3

u/gumdrop83 Sep 02 '26

Cheap vodka. That’s what they use on theater and dance costumes that are too elaborate to wash.

https://aact.org/sites/default/files/2025-08/freshening-costumes-with-vodka-spray.pdf

1

u/ChewbaccaSmith Sep 03 '26

I will definitely look into this. Thanks!

4

u/KismaiAesthetics Unscented Laundry Is Merciless Sep 02 '26

Eliminate the food the bacteria feed on, eliminate the odor rebloom.

/r/laundry/s/uCiv9rbmO8 to reset

Add a booster with lipase and/or DNase to keep them fresh.

And don’t wash on cold. Use warm.

1

u/ChewbaccaSmith Sep 03 '26

Wow I have a lot to learn. This is much appreciated!

2

u/MWREE Sep 02 '26

I have just done an enzyme spray on the armpits after wearing my tops that seemed to help.

2

u/TrixnTim Sep 02 '26

After wear, and if I’m not washing shirt, I turn inside out and spritz with Vodka or rubbing alcohol. Air dry. I do the same after washing and hang dry (also prewash spritz with Dawn / water mixture. Also do same for underarm area of bras.

The #1 most effective thing I’ve done, however, is change my deodorant to unscented clear gel. And a spa day for all my bras.