How to deodorize a smelly gym bag?

Smartbag 25

89,00 €

Tepee 45

109,00 €

Smartbag 40

99,00 €

Plume 20

79,00 €

Tips for removing bad odors

Sports bags are often abused. Between storing sweaty clothes and muddy shoes, it’s not uncommon for a men’s sports bag to become impregnated with bad odors. Fortunately, even if your men’s sports bag smells really bad, there’s no need to throw it away. First, give the bag a good cleaning. If that doesn’t eliminate the unpleasant odor, try deodorizing the smelly gym bag with baking soda or other common household products.

1- Washing the sports bag

We’ve detailed the steps for cleaning a bag in our How to Wash a Duffle Bag guide. You will discover practical and effective advice for machine washing.

We generally start cleaning the bag with an impregnated sponge:

water,
or a soapy solution based on dishwashing liquid or Marseille soap,
or a solution, half water, half vinegar.

Then, the opened bag is dried in a shaded place outside for several days. However, be sure to only place your bag outside in clear, dry weather. Avoid leaving it in humidity or under direct sunlight.
If you cannot leave the bag outside, leave it open in a cool, dry place indoors.

Once it’s completely dry, check to see if it still smells. If so, wash the bag again with soap or vinegar. If the smell persists after washing the bag a second time, try another method to deodorize it.

2- Use baking soda

In the category of grandmother’s tips that work to deodorize, we find the use of baking soda. The latter is a natural deodorant, so it is ideal for absorbing bad odors from your bag. The method is simple:

Pour a 500g box of baking soda into a thin sock or stocking and tie the end tightly.
Place the sock and gym bag in a large resealable bag, such as a tied trash bag.
Leave the bag sealed for at least a full day after closing it. This way, the baking soda can absorb any contaminants present in the air inside the plastic bag.
After 24 hours, check for odors in the gym bag. If it still smells bad, put it back in the plastic bag for another day, or longer if necessary.

That’s all! This simple technique generally gives good results.

Ingenious tips:

For stubborn odors, you can pour the baking soda on the inside and outside of the bag. After a few days, vacuum thoroughly with the dusting attachment on your vacuum cleaner. However, it may be difficult to remove all the residue from the bag.
If you don’t have baking soda, any thin, absorbent product will also work, such as activated charcoal, cat litter or foot powder.
You can leave the bag sealed longer if you wish, especially if the odors are very strong. The longer you leave the gym bag with the baking soda, the better the result will be. Baking soda won’t hurt your bag, especially if it’s sealed in a sock!
After a few days, it may be a good idea to replace the baking soda. If you change the baking soda every 3-4 days but the smell persists after about 2 weeks, consider trying a different approach.

3- Deodorization with other household products

Textile deodorizing spray

For a quick approach, spray the bag with an air freshener spray. If you have a deodorizing spray on hand, such as one used for clothes or shoes, lightly spray the bag inside and out. However, avoid saturating the bag with product and allow it to dry completely before using or storing it.

Tip: It’s a good idea to test your spray on an inconspicuous area of the bag, like the bottom or under one of the flaps, to make sure it doesn’t damage the colors . Keep in mind that some discolorations will only appear when the fabric is completely dry.

Be careful, a good gym bag perfume or scent can help cover musty or musty odors; however, it will not eliminate the bad smell.

Softener wipes

Place fabric softener wipes on and around the bag for a few days. Fabric softener sheets are excellent for absorbing odors from fabrics and other natural materials. To concentrate the effect, place the sports bag covered with fabric softener wipes in a larger plastic bag. Leave it in place for about 24 hours or until the smell is gone.
If the wipes do not absorb odors within 2 to 3 days, replace them with fresh wipes. If the bag still smells after 2-3 days, try another approach.

Coffee beans

Fill a mesh or permeable fabric bag with coffee beans and place it inside the gym bag. Leave it inside for at least a week. Coffee beans not only absorb foul odors, but they also leave behind a slight coffee smell, which can help cover up lingering odors.

Tip: If you don’t like the smell of coffee, try making your own potpourri using ingredients like lavender, thyme, vanilla or citrus peels.

Newspaper

Fill your bag with newspapers. Porous newspaper can help eliminate odors, and will also help prevent your bag from losing its shape when you’re not using it. Leave the newspapers in place for about 2 weeks. If the smell persists, try another option.

Tip: Tissue paper can also work if you don’t have newspapers

Ultimate solution for deodorizing a gym bag

If you have tried washing your bag and deodorizing it using various home solutions, but your bag still smells bad, you may want to consider having it cleaned by a professional dry cleaner.

Our other guides around men's sports bags: