Keep Your Tri Apparel Fresh With These Odor-Eliminating Options
Take the stench out of your tri life with these defunkifying products.
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Defunkify Active Spray
$20 (32-ounce spray), Defunkify.com
Touted as eco-friendly, Defunkify Active Spray contains water, peppermint and rosemary oils, and ionic silver designed to stop “the enzymatic reaction that causes odors.” There’s no staining with Defunkify, and the clean-smelling peppermint is an alternative to chemical scents.
Tip: Spray Defunkify on sweaty socks and other clothing that doesn’t make it to the washing machine right away; once laundered, they’ll come out smelling fresher. Also try Defunkify’s powdered Active Wash Laundry Detergent ($20, 40 ounces/56 loads).
Hex Performance Anti-Stink Spray
$10 (13.5-ounce aerosol can), Hexperformance.com
Designed to destroy bacterial odor on gear that shouldn’t go in the washing machine—shoes, helmets, wetsuits, certain bags—Hex works while you wait: Spray liberally and let it dry. (Some gear—like noxious footwear—requires extra dousing.) Hex promises its aerosol is biodegradable and contains no VOCs or CFCs—it’s also alcohol-free and comes in both scented and unscented options.
Tip: For washable activewear, check out Hex’s concentrated eco-friendly Anti-Stink Laundry Detergent ($10, 32 ounces).
Nathan Power Wash Sport Performance Odor Eliminator
$10 (8-ounce spray), Nathansports.com
This eco-friendly, plant-based sport-performance odor eliminator doesn’t block stink—it wipes it out and leaves gear with a natural citrus scent. Perfect for shoes, gear bags, and clothing.
Tip: Spray stinky workout clothes, then lightly scrub, before laundering. Also check out Nathan Power Wash Performance Laundry Detergent, a biodegradable formula designed for technical activewear ($25, 64 ounces).
Febreze Fabric
$5 (27-ounce spray), Febreze.com
The OG of de-stinkers, Febreze is designed to be used on fabrics of all kinds (except those that might water spot, like leather, suede, and silk). The product contains water, alcohol, an odor eliminator derived from corn, and fragrance that packs a strong scent. Although Febreze spray isn’t supposed to be rinsed, stale activewear that’s bound for the washing machine comes out smelling fresher when doused before laundering.
Tip: Febreze also makes a Fabric Refresher Extra Strength spray for the worst reek ($5, 27 ounces).
Gear Aid Revivex Odor Eliminator
$9 (10-ounce pouch), Gearaid.com
Deodorize activewear, wetsuits, shoes, bags, and more with this biodegradable, water-activated liquid concentrate that can be used in the wash, or as a dip or spray. The company doesn’t recommend rinsing after dipping or spraying gear (don’t worry, the product doesn’t have an overwhelming scent); alternatively, add 1 ounce to a washing machine’s fabric softener dispenser or during the final rinse cycle.