Why do things you sweat in hold onto that stubborn sweat smell, even after washing?
It has a lot to do with the material of clothing, not bacteria and not your hygiene. As bacteria break down sweat, they leave behind compounds that cling to fabrics. This is especially true for synthetic fibres like polyester and nylons, like are used in most of the gear and apparel you sweat in.
Bacteria themselves do not cause those recurring odours. This is why sanitisers aren't effective at removing embedded 'permastink'.
Traditional detergents clean surface dirt, and sanitisers neutralise bacteria but miss the residues that hang on to the fibres themselves. These left-behinds are what cause smells to keep coming back. When you're wearing those clothes again, the oily sweat residues and odorous compounds get warmed up by your body heat and mix with new sweat and start to evaporate. From here, they take on a new, especially foul kind of aroma, almost like an ammonia smell. Regular detergents and sanitisers can't help from here!
So, how does Gear Guard make a difference?
Gear Guard's enzymes target the extracellular DNA (eDNA) in those organic left-overs, removing the 'glue' that holds odours in fabric fibres. This then lets those compounds and residues be washed away. It usually takes two washes for the Gear Guard magic to really take hold.
Read more in our FAQs.
