8 Ways on How to Keep Gym Bag From Smelling
Most of us grab our gym bag as we head out the door, without giving much thought to the condition the bag is in. You may have been using the stylish and branded gym bag for months, but never once thought to run in through the wash! If this sounds like you, chances are that gym bag you’re carrying around isn’t smelling so nice.
There are several tricks to keep a gym bag from smelling, no matter how stinky your gym clothes or towels are after a good workout! Check out these eight ways on how to keep a gym bag from smelling:
1. Dryer Sheets
Dryer sheets can be used when storing clothes away. By putting a few sheets in with the clothes, your clothes will be left smelling fresh instead of musty. The same thing goes for your gym bag.
Take a few sheets of unused dryer sheets and place them in your gym bag. Go ahead and keep them in there until they lose their fresh scent. All you need to do is keep replacing them and you’ll have the best smelling gym bag at your gym!
2. Tea Bags
Another way on how to keep gym bag from smelling is to use tea bags. Tea bags aren’t just for your morning dose of caffeine. They are also great at helping to kill odours.
For this trick, grab a few unused tea bags (not the one that was in your cup of tea) and place them into the gym bag in question. You will want to let the tea bags sit in your gym bag overnight for the best results. Then, once you wake up in the morning, remove the tea bags and your gym bag should smell brand new.
Pro Tip: Do your gym shoes smell too? Are they a large part of what’s causing your gym bag to smell? You can also fill them with unused tea bags and leave them in overnight to help kill the bad smell they have going on.
3. Lysol Wipes
Not only do Lysol wipes have a fresh smell, but they also disinfect your bag and get rid of all those germs. Wipe your gym bag down regularly to keep it smelling fresh and help it stay germ-free.
Some gyms even have these on hand so you can wipe your bag down before you even leave.
4. Silica Gel Packets
Do you normally throw away those small white packets that come with new shoes and other items? These also work great in gym bags since they soak up sweat from your clothes and prevent negative odours from accumulating. So, the next time you come across some, be sure to hold on to them for this purpose.
5. White Vinegar
Sometimes a simple clothes detergent isn’t enough to get the smell out of your gym bag. If this is the case for you, kick your washing up a notch by adding half a cup of white vinegar to the rinse cycle. This will go a long way in helping you remove the smell from your gym bag and clothes.
Pro Tip: If you still find your bag and gym clothes smelling bad after this method, purchase a detergent that is specifically designed to get rid of bacteria-causing odours. Keep this on hand for whenever you need to wash your gym bag and clothes.
6. Essential Oils
Another effective way to keep your gym bag from smelling is to use essential oils. For this method, fill a spray bottle with a few drops of your favourite essential oil and water. Then, empty your bag and spray some of the mixture inside. This should leave it smelling fresh.
A good essential oil for this job is tea tree oil since it has antibacterial and antifungal properties. A bonus? It also smells good!
There are other essential oils that you can try like lavender, lemongrass, and chamomile.
7. Dryer Ball with Essential Oil
Another way to use essential oils to freshen up your gym bag and stop it from smelling is to purchase a dryer ball and put around 6-7 drops of your favourite essential oil on it. Lavender works well for this purpose.
All you need to do is throw the dryer ball and essential oil mix into your gym bag, then throw it into the dryer on the steam setting or a regular heat setting for around 10 minutes. This should definitely help freshen up your gym bag!
8. Air it Out
One of the worst things you can do for your gym bag is to leave stinky gym clothes in it, especially when it’s closed up. Once you return home from the gym, put your clothes through the wash. Once that’s done, air your bag out. There’s nothing like fresh air to freshen it up!
Smelly gym bags no more! Hopefully, one or more of these tricks will be your go-to the next time your gym bag needs a little freshening up.
