Why Do Polyester Clothes Get So Stinky? | Textile science 101

Take me directly to the video on YouTube instead!

Do you ever have that problem where a question just worms its way into your brain and won’t let go? Because same.

I hope I am not the only one who got really curious about the answer to this question. 😅

Are you sure you want smell-o-vision for your entertainment? 💀

References

  • (1) Rachel H. McQueen. ResearchGate. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Rachel-Mcqueen-4 (accessed 2023-03-14).
  • (2) Withey, E. Passing the smell test. https://www.ualberta.ca/folio/2016/03/passing-the-smell-test.html (accessed 2023-03-14).
  • (3) Apocrine Sweat Gland – an overview | ScienceDirect Topics. https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/agricultural-and-biological-sciences/apocrine-sweat-gland (accessed 2023-03-20).
  • (4) Eccrine Gland – an overview | ScienceDirect Topics. https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/eccrine-gland (accessed 2023-03-20).
  • (5) Polyester clothes stink after exercise; cotton, not so much. ScienceDaily. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/09/140903163635.htm (accessed 2023-03-14).
  • (6) Press, R. Masks Under the Microscope. NIST 2021. https://www.nist.gov/feature-stories/masks-under-microscope
  • (7) Rayon – an overview | ScienceDirect Topics. https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/materials-science/rayon (accessed 2023-03-13).
  • (8) Rathinamoorthy, R.; Thilagavathi, G.; Brindha, S.; Gayathri, P.; Poornakala, N.; Pradeep, B. Odour Control Studies on Apparel Fabrics Finished with Methanol Extract of Terminalia Chebula. Fibers Polym. 2014, 15, 1669–1676. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12221-014-1669-7.
  • (9) Here’s why gym clothes smell so rank—and how to freshen them up. Popular Science. https://www.popsci.com/smelly-gym-clothes/ (accessed 2023-03-14).
  • (10) Providers, P. C. J. C. English:  This SEM Shows a Strain of Staphylococcus Aureus Bacteria Taken from a Vancomycin Intermediate Resistant Culture (VISA). https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Staphylococcus_aureus_01.jpg (accessed 2023-03-23).
  • (11) Staphylococcus – an overview | ScienceDirect Topics. https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/immunology-and-microbiology/staphylococcus (accessed 2023-03-23).
  • (12) Journal, I. F. Student Spotlight: Morphological structure of wool from different breeds. International Fiber Journal. https://www.fiberjournal.com/morphological-structure-of-wool-from-different-breeds/ (accessed 2023-03-23).
  • (13) McQueen, R.; Laing, R.; Delahunty, C.; Brooks, H.; Niven, B. E. Retention of Axillary Odour on Apparel Fabrics. J. Text. Inst. 2008, 99, 515–523. https://doi.org/10.1080/00405000701659774.
  • (14) Greenblatt, C.; Baum, J.; Klein, B.; Nachshon, S.; Koltunov, V.; Cano, R. Micrococcus Luteus – Survival in Amber. Microb. Ecol. 2004, 48, 120–127. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00248-003-2016-5.
  • (15) Micrococcus – an overview | ScienceDirect Topics. https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/immunology-and-microbiology/micrococcus (accessed 2023-03-23).
  • (16) Callewaert, C.; De Maeseneire, E.; Kerckhof, F.-M.; Verliefde, A.; Van de Wiele, T.; Boon, N. Microbial Odor Profile of Polyester and Cotton Clothes after a Fitness Session. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 2014, 80 (21), 6611–6619. https://doi.org/10.1128/AEM.01422-14.
  • (17) Abdul-Bari, M.; McQueen, R.; Nguyen, H.; Wismer, W.; de la Mata, A. P.; Harynuk, J. Synthetic Clothing and the Problem With Odor: Comparison of Nylon and Polyester Fabrics. Cloth. Text. Res. J. 2018, 36, 0887302X1877209. https://doi.org/10.1177/0887302X18772099.
  • (18) Mukhtar Abdul-Bari, M.; McQueen, R. H.; Paulina de la Mata, A.; Batcheller, J. C.; Harynuk, J. J. Retention and Release of Odorants in Cotton and Polyester Fabrics Following Multiple Soil/Wash Procedures. Text. Res. J. 2020, 90 (19–20), 2212–2222. https://doi.org/10.1177/0040517520914411.
  • (19) McQueen, R.; Moran, L.; Cunningham, C.; Hooper, P. Exploring the Connection between Odour and Clothing Disposal. J. Text. Inst. 2020, 112, 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1080/00405000.2020.1848114.
  • (20) McQueen, R.; Kowton, J.; Degenstein, L. More than Just Appearance: Management of Clothing-Related Odor in Everyday Life. Fash. Pract. 2022, 1–26. https://doi.org/10.1080/17569370.2022.2062830.
  • (21) Prestinaci, F.; Pezzotti, P.; Pantosti, A. Antimicrobial Resistance: A Global Multifaceted Phenomenon. Pathog. Glob. Health 2015, 109 (7), 309–318. https://doi.org/10.1179/2047773215Y.0000000030.
  • (22) Mehboob, R. Antibiotic Resistance: An Upcoming Pandemic. Pak. J. Health Sci. 2022, 01. https://doi.org/10.54393/pjhs.v3i06.379.(23) Chin, K.; Michelle, T.; Luang-In, V.; Ma, N. L. An Overview of Antibiotic and Antibiotic Resistance. Environ. Adv. 2022, 11, 100331. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envadv.2022.100331.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Looking for a specific post? Search or check the archive.

Latest videos:

  • Never Underestimate Textile Crafts Again!
    Never Underestimate Textile Crafts Again!

    Watch it directly on YouTube! (and maybe leave a comment?) I had entirely too much fun scripting this one. I hope you have fun watching it too! Wordplays, idioms and etymology are just endlessly fascinating! Especially when it is related to textiles and textile history. Thank you again to @JillianEve for sending me some footage…


  • Making a Simple Daily Wear Blouse Feat. Smocking
    Making a Simple Daily Wear Blouse Feat. Smocking

    Link to video. Keeping some projects small and manageable, just before we head into the more cosy autumn, spooky season. It doesn’t hurt that I finally got to use this glorious fabric that has lived in my stash for years either. Projects don’t all have to be big and ambitious or even symmetrical. You can…


  • Adjustable Pants That ALWAYS Fit!
    Adjustable Pants That ALWAYS Fit!

    I know it would probably have been easier to start my trouser-drafting journey with something adamantly NOT adjustable. But where is the fun in that? In retrospect, I very obviously should have interfaced the waistbands with some more structural canvas to help it out. Which I might add later. This project was so much fun.…