Page 76 - South Mississippi Living - July, 2025

HEALTHY LIVING
It's summertime and we are outside. In the South, we love shorts, activewear, sweatsuits, and yoga pants. Athletic gear is a big business.
Unfortunately, not all clothes are aerated like traditional cotton. A lot of athletic gear is synthetic, readily reacts with the body, and can stink. This is because warm, damp clothes from summer sweat can harbor bacteria and fungi. That is why, during this heavy heat, it is important to keep yourself and your clothes clean and odor-free.
A lot of popular clothing, especially athletic wear, is made out of synthetic fabric. This fabric may be good at pulling moisture away from your body as you sweat, however, this process may keep sudsy water from seeping through the fabric via wash, and your sweaty odors may not be easily washed away.
Bacteria, fungus, and more can then grow in these spots in the fabric, irritating the skin and causing additional body odor. This could mean regardless of how much you wash, you may still smell unpleasant.
Although your body may be drying after a jog, outside play, or gym workout, your clothes still have damp areas. Removing your attire right after exercising and letting it dry before placing it in the hamper is important. They can air out while you shower and clean up. Once they're dry, you can put them in the hamper. Leaving damp clothes in the hamper can lead to mildew forming on your workout gear and other garments. This can, in turn, transfer onto your skin in the future, causing further surface irritation and smells. Be sure to wash your clothes as soon as possible after wearing them.
There are several things that can be done to prevent odors and prolong the use of your favorite summer items. In addition to expected hygiene practices, which may be doubled during the extreme heat in the Southern summer, clothing precautions should also be taking place. Turn clothing inside out before washing so sweaty parts are more easily exposed. Wash sweaty clothes soon after wearing them, or let them
dry before entering a hamper. Avoid overloading washing machines with clothing so pieces can adequately move around in the water. And if all else fails, sniff them when they come out of the wash. If they smell, throw on some baking soda and try again.
story by Dr. Nickie Harris-Ray
76 | July 2025
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