Stinky perpetual scents explained: Strategies to eliminate persistent odors
The issue of permastink, a persistent and unpleasant odor that plagues many runners and sports enthusiasts, has long been a concern in the world of athletic apparel. A new project called Fabriotic aims to tackle this problem by creating less-odorous bacterial communities in clothes, using spores of Bacillus bacteria and probiotic laundry care products.
The Culprit: Polyester Sports Clothing
Permastink is almost exclusively related to polyester sports clothing. The chemistry of the fibres, combined with the odorous compounds and odour precursors, make it difficult to remove the smell completely. Oily odorous compounds may more selectively absorb onto polyester, making it hard to clean up sweat smells and bacterial waste.
The Science Behind Permastink
The odor in clothes is caused by natural bacteria on our skin, particularly Staphylococcus and Corynebacterium. These bacteria feed on chemicals in sweat and skin oils known as sebum. As they break down these substances, they excrete strong-smelling compounds, including sulfur-containing ones like thiols and dimethyl disulfides, and fatty acids like propanoic acid and isovaleric acid.
The Solution: Effective Methods to Reduce or Eliminate Permastink
Several effective methods can help reduce or eliminate permastink in polyester sports clothing.
Specialized Textile Treatments
One solution is the use of specialized textile treatments like the biocide-free Sanitized® Odorex™ technology. This treatment creates a passive odor-neutralizing effect on fabrics, is highly wash-resistant, and is compatible with synthetic fibers. It helps extend garment life and reduces the need for frequent washing.
Antimicrobial Treatments
Applying antimicrobial treatments that control and prevent odors by inhibiting the bacterial buildup responsible for permastink is another approach. These treatments are often added during garment manufacturing or as post-production finishes.
Enzyme-Based Detergents
Enzyme-based detergents, such as Sweat X Sport, break down sweat-causing bacteria and their residual compounds that create lingering odors. These detergents are specially formulated for sport wear and have proven effectiveness against permastink.
Household Remedies
Household remedies like baking soda or washing soda can also help neutralize stubborn odors when applied as a paste or soak before washing. However, they may not fully remove permastink, which can be very persistent without specialized treatment.
For best results, combining textile treatments that prevent odor buildup with enzyme detergents and occasional odor-neutralizing soaks is the most effective strategy to reduce or eliminate permastink in polyester sports clothing.
The Impact on the Environment
The contamination of clothes with permastink has a significant impact on the environment, contributing to post-consumer textile waste. In the UK, 1.4 million tonnes of post-consumer textile waste is produced each year, with 50% disposed of in household waste bins. By addressing the issue of permastink, we can help reduce textile waste and promote a more sustainable fashion industry.
In conclusion, understanding the science behind permastink and employing effective methods to reduce or eliminate it can help runners and sports enthusiasts maintain fresh-smelling clothing, contribute to a cleaner environment, and extend the life of their athletic apparel.
The new project Fabriotic in the realm of science aims to combat the issue of permastink by cultivating less-odorous bacterial communities in athletic apparel, particularly polyester sports clothing, which is the primary culprit for this persistent odor.
With the impact on the environment being significant, the contamination of clothes with permastink contributes to post-consumer textile waste, prompting the need to address this issue to reduce textile waste and foster a more sustainable fashion industry.
