weren’t magically brand new, but the stale smell was noticeably reduced.
5. Workout clothes and summer shirts lost that stubborn sour smell
July is hard on laundry. We had T-shirts that had been worn outside in 85-degree heat, sports bras, lightweight shorts, and those synthetic workout fabrics that can hang onto odor even after washing. Vinegar helped most with that sour, trapped smell that sometimes sticks in underarm areas and waistbands.
Now, I want to be honest: if something was heavily soiled or had a deep-set odor, vinegar alone was not a miracle treatment. But as a rinse-cycle helper, it definitely improved freshness. I noticed this especially on polyester and performance blends. Those fabrics often come out looking fine but still have a faint body-odor note if you know what to sniff for. During this test, that leftover smell was much less noticeable.
