Is It Really A Good Idea To Use Mouthwash To Freshen Up Your Laundry?

If your go-to workout or sweaty work shirts are constantly having to leave your rotation because of gross smells and stains, you've likely been searching for a solution. You can get mildew out of your laundry using these simple steps or eliminate grease from your clothes with baking soda or white vinegar, but what about those stains that congregate in our armpit region and don't seem to go away?

This TikTok post shows how spraying mouthwash on the armpits of your shirts and tops eliminates not only the smell but the stains as well. Using the mouthwash is actually quite simple. You simply spray a good amount of your favorite mouthwash (this particular video is using Listerine) onto the smelly, stained area, let it sit for about 10 minutes, and then throw it in the washing machine. Other methods, like this one on Reddit, say to pour the mouthwash into the bleach dispenser to get the same effect. The TikTok video claims that mouthwash works at not only getting the smell out but the built-in grime as well. Is incorporating mouthwash the best method for eliminating odors, though? 

We have already determined that mouthwash is a great way to clean your washing machine, but can the same be said for your actual clothes? There are a lot of commercial laundry sanitizers marketed to get rid of stains like this Tide spray or this Lysol spray, both from Amazon for under $10. While these work great for some, others, like those in the TikTok comments of this video, claim that they don't get rid of the hard buildup in their smelly clothes the way mouthwash does.

One bottle of Listerine will cost you about the same amount as a bottle of laundry sanitizer sprays. Before you grab the mouthwash under your sink, look at the ingredients. To ensure you don't stain your clothing, look for a sugar-free option that has an alcohol base, like this one from Amazon. An alcohol-free version is great for your mouth, but won't get rid of smells and stains the way you are hoping for.

If you have already tried laundry sanitizers and other laundry hacks to get the smells out of your clothes with no success, give this mouthwash trick a try. Use a test shirt first to make sure it doesn't stain your clothing. If you want to go a more natural route, there are other ways to keep your smelliest clothes fresh. Healthline recommends soaking your clothes in baking soda and water before washing. Just use ½ cup of baking soda in your sink and let your laundry soak for about 30 minutes, then throw the clothes into your regular wash.

Others recommend using ammonia to get rid of those nasty smells, specifically the ones caused by sweat (i.e. when you get that yellow color on your white t-shirts). Just avoid using bleach alongside any type of ammonia product as doing so creates a dangerous chloramine gas! Hydrogen peroxide is also a great option for getting stains out, and when paired with another hack, like the mouthwash, you'll have fresh, clean-smelling laundry from now on.