Musty bathing suits. Yes I've tried vinegar.

I have a couple of bathing suits that picked up a mildew smell at some point while stored away for a few months. (They were fine when I got back from my last trip.) Only discovered when I took them out to start pre-packing.

Don't care so much about the bottoms, which are Target brand, but the tops are somewhat expensive (to me) Freya underwired tops, and I'd like to save them. It seems like the more things I've tried, the worse the smell is getting.

1) Yes, many hours soaked in a sink with a couple of cups of vinegar.

2) No I don't use fabric softener.

3) Tried a cup of baking soda instead.

4) Tried salt

5) Tried oxyclean (which just injected a perfumery smell into the mildew smell).

6) Unfortunately I don't have private access to direct sunlight (inward looking apartment courtyard).

I'm getting almost desperate enough to try a small amount of bleach diluted in water, but thought I'd check here first.

I just used OdoBan on some musty clothes of my husbands. I put it directly in the washer (the concentrate) like laundry detergent. It does have a perfume type smell but that went away with the next wash.

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I just used OdoBan on some musty clothes of my husbands. I put it directly in the washer (the concentrate) like laundry detergent. It does have a perfume type smell but that went away with the next wash.

 

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Thanks, will google it.

Possibly put in paper bag with crumpled up newspaper

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Definitely, NOT bleach. If your suit is any kind of spandex or has elastic in it, that would not be good, it would destroy the elastic in it. It's the end of January, stores should have or be getting suits in now, if possible, spring for a new one.

If you can smell mildew, the spores are still in the fabric,

http://homeguides.sfgate.com/mold-out-bathing-suits-49123.html

I've seen odor eliminators for fabric at our local running store. It's usually somewhat pricy (to me), so you might be at the point of having to buy a new suit - especially since none of the other methods worked. :(

Eek!

Well, if you've nothing to lose....Apple cide vinegar + baking soda + washing soda:https://2beesinapod.com/2014/06/23/get-the-funk-outta-my-bathing-suit-how-to-clean-your-bathing-suit-after-a-beach-visit/

(and a commenter actually notes that she used a soak in strong black tea - if you have a darker color suit -and that helped her)

I have used this detergent to get the smell out of some of my son's gym and work clothes and it takes out smells better than anything else I've found. It's not cheap though so I guess it would depend how much you like the suits.

https://www.amazon.com/Atsko-Sno-Seal-Sport-Wash-Detergent-18-Fluid/dp/B00CQJE0BI/ref=lp_9381787011_1_10?srs=9381787011&ie=UTF8&qid=1517441719&sr=8-10

Thanks for the replies. A friend of mine makes their own laundry detergent and gave me some borax, washing soda and trisodium phosphate (something they used to put in laundry and dish detergents). I tried it on one of the cheaper pieces and I think it helped a bit (you also use citric acid or vinegar at the end to rinse). I suppose I'll try the rest tomorrow in the washer again (tonight's experiment was by hand). After that I'll start looking into the specialty products online.

Basically I've got two Freya tops that I have to order from the U.K. and replacement costs would be about $80 each, not that I can get the same styles now. Have a hard time finding tops that fit me right.

The bottoms in question are basic black skirted bottoms from Target, so less concerned about those. Would really like to save the tops, though. They've been with me on many cruises and it really seems like the problem developed when they were sitting in a drawer for too long. I guess I didn't go on enough trips lately. :)

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Love TSP - it's used to wash walls/remove grease (like, in kitchens ;-) as part of paint prep. So you should be able to find it at a hardware store (if anyone else needs it...)

After you've tried everything....hang them up and let them air out somewhere with good air flow. If that doesn't work...toss 'em....not worth the trouble!

If all else fails and you are going to throw them away, you might as well try a weak bleach solution. You have nothing to lose at that point.

Charcoal?

Coffee?

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I ran my suit in the washing machine ( delicate cycle) with laundry detergent. Worked for me.

I ran my suit in the washing machine ( delicate cycle) with laundry detergent. Worked for me.

I do that after each use. It works for me too.

there's a product here in the states called "lysol laundry sanitizer" It worked on some gym clothes that my DH left in a bag under his bed for about a month :')

A hard odor to remove. Might be worth a try, but I’ve never used this:

https://www.odorklenz.com/laundry/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIgMzGqfey2QIVi5V-Ch31FwxvEAAYAyAAEgKzIfD_BwE

Just read one of those lists on Pinterest.

Have you tried Borax?

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If you think sunlight will help - - I've been known to dry bathing suits in the rear window of my car while driving around. This is on road trips we've taken but they will dry.