# Embarrassing and Slightly TMI - Ammonia-Like Smell on my Clothes When I Exercise **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 1, 2022, 9:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embarrassing-and-slightly-tmi-ammonia-like-smell-on-my-clothes-when-i-exercise/974122 "2022-11-01T09:27:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Moonrise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moonrise/32/14764_2.png) [@Moonrise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonrise)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2022, 9:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embarrassing-and-slightly-tmi-ammonia-like-smell-on-my-clothes-when-i-exercise/974122/1 "2022-11-01T09:27:32Z")
Ever since I was a kid, I’ve always sweated a lot. Not only when I’m nervous or when I do sports - all the time. I sweat when I wake up. When I eat. When I drink hot beverages. When I play the piano. Needless to say, I’m well accustomed to the smell of it (and of course, I take showers daily, sometimes several times a day). But this is something else. I started practicising yoga again a couple of months ago and noticed a rather unpleasant ammonia-like smell on my clothes every time I do the more active classes. I most definitely have never smelled this before, including when I did yoga in the pre-Covid era. Of course, I wash my sports clothes after a single use but, since I have several outfits, I do not always do so right away. I also leave them to dry for several days. They smell all right when I take them off the rack, but the smell comes back almost as soon as I start exercising. My work clothes never smell like this, even after long, busy or particularly hot days. Any idea as to how to get rid of it ? ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2022, 9:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embarrassing-and-slightly-tmi-ammonia-like-smell-on-my-clothes-when-i-exercise/974122/2 "2022-11-01T09:31:47Z")
I sometimes notice an ammonia smell on my bra, just in the sweaty part under the breasts. But washing gets rid of it. ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2022, 10:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embarrassing-and-slightly-tmi-ammonia-like-smell-on-my-clothes-when-i-exercise/974122/3 "2022-11-01T10:46:59Z")
> [@Moonrise](#): > > I started practicising yoga again a couple of months ago and noticed a rather unpleasant ammonia-like smell on my clothes every time I do the more active classes. This is usually associated with what they call “prickly heat”. Frequently sweated-on garments will build up bacteria, and no washer ever really gets out the entire bacterial load. So once a garment is good and colonized, as soon as you start to sweat, the bugs start converting sweat to ammonia. At first it stinks, and then after a while the ammonia will irritate your skin with a prickly sensation. I used to have this struggle with Army field uniforms in very hot seasons when wore shared equipment that got sweated on a lot but didn’t get washed enough (if ever). The equipment contaminated my sweaty clothes that then picked up the bacterial load. In my case I blame nasty old parachutes but I bet yoga mats have some very interesting wildlife too. Here are some things you can do: 1. Most importantly, don’t let sweaty garments sit unwashed for any length of time. If it’s unavoidable, at least try to hang them up so they’re exposed to air until you can wash them. 2. Likewise, never let wet clothes sit in the washer. Get them straight into the dryer. 3. Prefer hot temperatures for washing and drying if you can. 4. Prefer synthetics over cotton. 5. Clothes that are colonized will contaminate other clothes, so wash the nasties separately 6. You can sanitize colonized clothes by using antibacterial detergent, or boiling them, or bleach, or exposing them to direct sun for a while. (This means prefer whites or color-safe items) 7. Sanitize your washer with a hot-water cycle with strong bleach/soap. And hand-wipe any interior nooks, ridges, or door gaskets, you wouldn’t believe the stuff that builds up there. Boiling is a hassle. Sun-airing can be hit or miss. Bleaching is good if your clothes can handle it. Hot water can break down your clothes faster. I found some black/reddish exercise clothes that would still look OK after a Povidone rinse, and I’d squirt that stuff right in the washing machine on a cold cycle. That’s a little extreme, but you get the idea, you can come up with what works for you. ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2022, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embarrassing-and-slightly-tmi-ammonia-like-smell-on-my-clothes-when-i-exercise/974122/4 "2022-11-01T13:12:58Z")
I am a profuse sweater too, I believe I can feel how you feel, but my sweat does not smell ammonia-like, that would worry me. I would ask a doctor if I were you, it may be a symptom of some homone change, kindney problems or diabetes. It is not necessarily that bad, there may be lots of other reasons, but better safe than sorry: a simple and unexpensive blood test may resolve the issue. ---
**Author:** ![Moonrise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moonrise/32/14764_2.png) [@Moonrise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonrise)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2022, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embarrassing-and-slightly-tmi-ammonia-like-smell-on-my-clothes-when-i-exercise/974122/5 "2022-11-01T15:10:57Z")
I had a blood test done in July and it came out fine. Plus, I’m pretty sure the smell comes from the (supposedly) clean clothes, not form my sweat. The latter has remained unchanged. > [@HMS\_Irruncible](#): > > - Most importantly, don’t let sweaty garments sit unwashed for any length of time. If it’s unavoidable, at least try to hang them up so they’re exposed to air until you can wash them. > - Likewise, never let wet clothes sit in the washer. Get them straight into the dryer. > - Prefer hot temperatures for washing and drying if you can. > - Prefer synthetics over cotton. > - Clothes that are colonized will contaminate other clothes, so wash the nasties separately > - You can sanitize colonized clothes by using antibacterial detergent, or boiling them, or bleach, or exposing them to direct sun for a while. (This means prefer whites or color-safe items) > - Sanitize your washer with a hot-water cycle with strong bleach/soap. And hand-wipe any interior nooks, ridges, or door gaskets, you wouldn’t believe the stuff that builds up there. Thanks, I’ll give some of these tips a try, although given the current economic situation, I’d rather avoid using the washing machine for only half a load. Mine doesn’t seem to have a function that uses less water/electricity. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2022, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embarrassing-and-slightly-tmi-ammonia-like-smell-on-my-clothes-when-i-exercise/974122/6 "2022-11-01T16:01:15Z")
I have a few long sleeve dress shirts that I’d never wear out (I hate long sleeves). But I have vitiligo, so I use one of the shirts to cover my arms when I’m mowing. I wear the shirt once a week in the spring/summer/fall, and I do not launder it, since it is not something I’d ever wear around others. It gets filthy over time. One weekend my gf noticed how filthy my long sleeve dress shirt was. Oil, gas, squashed berries, dirt, you name it. She was shocked when I told her I only washed it during the winter, to prepare for spring. “It must really stink!”, she said, then she took a whiff and was puzzled by its total lack of stink. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2022, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embarrassing-and-slightly-tmi-ammonia-like-smell-on-my-clothes-when-i-exercise/974122/7 "2022-11-01T16:04:22Z")
> [@HMS\_Irruncible](#): > > Here are some things you can do: > > 1. Most importantly, don’t let sweaty garments sit unwashed for any length of time. If it’s unavoidable, at least try to hang them up so they’re exposed to air until you can wash them. > 2. Likewise, never let wet clothes sit in the washer. Get them straight into the dryer. > 3. Prefer hot temperatures for washing and drying if you can. > 4. Prefer synthetics over cotton. > 5. Clothes that are colonized will contaminate other clothes, so wash the nasties separately > 6. You can sanitize colonized clothes by using antibacterial detergent, or boiling them, or bleach, or exposing them to direct sun for a while. (This means prefer whites or color-safe items) > 7. Sanitize your washer with a hot-water cycle with strong bleach/soap. And hand-wipe any interior nooks, ridges, or door gaskets, you wouldn’t believe the stuff that builds up there. That’s interesting. Most of those are not feasible for bras. (And I don’t have the issue with any other garments.) Perhaps I should be quicker to discard bras that smell funny. I do have an issue with rashes from the bras/sweat. ---
**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2022, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embarrassing-and-slightly-tmi-ammonia-like-smell-on-my-clothes-when-i-exercise/974122/8 "2022-11-01T16:09:08Z")
I notice this if I have something sugary right before a workout, like a soda. But something like an apple doesn’t do it. Perhaps the sugar comes out in my sweat and helps the bacteria produce lots of ammonia. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2022, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embarrassing-and-slightly-tmi-ammonia-like-smell-on-my-clothes-when-i-exercise/974122/9 "2022-11-01T16:09:24Z")
Just a WAG, but maybe your body metabolism has become somewhat acidic. It could be that you have too meat-heavy a diet without enough fruit/vegetables? ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2022, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embarrassing-and-slightly-tmi-ammonia-like-smell-on-my-clothes-when-i-exercise/974122/10 "2022-11-01T16:44:01Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > That’s interesting. Most of those are not feasible for bras. (And I don’t have the issue with any other garments.) Perhaps I should be quicker to discard bras that smell funny. I do have an issue with rashes from the bras/sweat. Consider the cold Povidone soak for bras (we’re talking about maybe a tablespoon per gallon). No guarantees on staining, but I found that white synthetics only pick up a bit of a yellow tinge. Might not be a concern for undergarments, especially reddish and darker colors. And it will definitely, without question, annihilate the bacteria. And again for whites, bleach is your friend. ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2022, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embarrassing-and-slightly-tmi-ammonia-like-smell-on-my-clothes-when-i-exercise/974122/11 "2022-11-01T16:51:10Z")
I noticed this as well when I started to exercise regularly. The ammonia smell definitely is a thing and you are not alone… > **[Smelling Ammonia After Exercise | Livestrong.com](https://www.livestrong.com/article/448648-smelling-ammonia-after-exercise/)** > > When your sweat smells like ammonia it's time for you to cut back on protein before a workout. Load up on carbs instead. Your sweat will smell sweeter. _When too much nitrogen is present in your system, your body depends on the kidneys to process the excess nitrogen. This process creates urea, which can then be expelled through your urine._ _However, when there is too much for the kidneys to even process, then the excess nitrogen is secreted as ammonia through your sweat. When you exercise and sweat at a greater rate than normal, enough ammonia escapes for you to actually smell it._ _To treat the ammonia smell in your sweat, switch your diet to consume more carbohydrates. Your body’s first choice for energy is typically carbohydrates according to [Medline Plus](https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002469.htm). When you consume enough carbohydrate sources, your body is less likely to use amino acids from protein to create energy, reducing the amount of nitrogen produced in your body._ _Choose complex carbohydrate sources such as legumes or whole-grain breads or cereals._ ---
**Author:** ![Moonrise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moonrise/32/14764_2.png) [@Moonrise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonrise)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2022, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embarrassing-and-slightly-tmi-ammonia-like-smell-on-my-clothes-when-i-exercise/974122/12 "2022-11-01T18:58:08Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > Just a WAG, but maybe your body metabolism has become somewhat acidic. It could be that you have too meat-heavy a diet without enough fruit/vegetables? I’ve never eaten much vegetables and fruit but, if my diet has changed, it is in the opposite direction, from “none at all, ever” to “a banana a day plus some rocket and dried tomato 3-4 times a week”. Also, I eat less meat than I used to, from “every day” to “3-4 times a week”. ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2022, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embarrassing-and-slightly-tmi-ammonia-like-smell-on-my-clothes-when-i-exercise/974122/13 "2022-11-01T19:19:14Z")
Well this explains something I’ve wondered about but never felt comfortable mentioning to anyone. As I go about my daily activities in a large city, about two or three times a week, I pass someone who smells distinctly of ammonia. The “ammonia people” have no common defining factor. They can be male, female, old, young, professionally dressed or casual. I never knew the cause, but amused myself by imagining that they were aliens disguised as humans and I was the only one who could identify them by their unique ammonia smell. Bacteria and excess nitrogen is more scientific, but less fun. ---
**Author:** ![Napier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2022, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embarrassing-and-slightly-tmi-ammonia-like-smell-on-my-clothes-when-i-exercise/974122/14 "2022-11-01T19:23:59Z")
Ammonia emitter here. But not all the time. Often I don’t, but sometimes it’s VERY strong. I’d heard it had something to do with protein, and the item linked by snowthx is consistent with that. If it was an issue, for example if I had to share close quarters with a summer hiking partner, I’d definitely try avoiding protein before hiking. ---
**Author:** ![Moonrise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moonrise/32/14764_2.png) [@Moonrise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonrise)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2022, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embarrassing-and-slightly-tmi-ammonia-like-smell-on-my-clothes-when-i-exercise/974122/15 "2022-11-01T19:35:18Z")
> [@SpoilerVirgin](#): > > … they were aliens disguised as humans… That would explain a lot of things about me, not all smell-related. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2022, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embarrassing-and-slightly-tmi-ammonia-like-smell-on-my-clothes-when-i-exercise/974122/16 "2022-11-01T20:14:58Z")
Have you had covid? Changes to perception of smell are a fairly common (and lasting) symptom; it might be that your clothes smell like they always did, and you’re perceiving them differently. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2022, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embarrassing-and-slightly-tmi-ammonia-like-smell-on-my-clothes-when-i-exercise/974122/17 "2022-11-02T02:07:52Z")
I see. Hmmm…then maybe your ammonia smell still is diet-related, but just for the opposite reason as you mentioned. ---
**Author:** ![Moonrise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moonrise/32/14764_2.png) [@Moonrise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonrise)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2022, 9:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embarrassing-and-slightly-tmi-ammonia-like-smell-on-my-clothes-when-i-exercise/974122/18 "2022-11-02T09:32:15Z")
Which would be problemtic as my diet is healthier now… Plus, I started eating more vegetables and fruit in early 2020 and was fairly active during Covid (cycling, running, working out) but I only started noticing the smell very recently. ---
**Author:** ![Moonrise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moonrise/32/14764_2.png) [@Moonrise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonrise)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2022, 9:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embarrassing-and-slightly-tmi-ammonia-like-smell-on-my-clothes-when-i-exercise/974122/19 "2022-11-02T09:32:56Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > Have you had covid? Yes, in mid-July this year. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2022, 10:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embarrassing-and-slightly-tmi-ammonia-like-smell-on-my-clothes-when-i-exercise/974122/20 "2022-11-02T10:02:10Z")
Timing seems like it might fit (the changes are apparently often related to the recovery of the sense of smell, after covid hits it). Weird suggestion: ask someone else if it smells like ammonia… [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embarrassing-and-slightly-tmi-ammonia-like-smell-on-my-clothes-when-i-exercise/974122.md?page=2)