Repeating clothes without washing them is bad for your skin health, not to mention that you could be walking around smelling funky. 

It’s especially risky to do this with a shirt since it’s in direct contact with your skin, meaning it absorbs a lot of sweat, body oils and dead skin cells that can cause acne and unpleasant smells. 

But sometimes you have no choice but to repeat a shirt without laundering it. Maybe you’ve gone backpacking and you only have a couple of shirts, or you are on a trip and your luggage gets misplaced, or maybe you want to cut down on laundry.

Whatever the reason, here are some tips on how to wear the same shirt for days without stinking. 

1. Wear an Undershirt 

If you don't wear an undershirt, you are missing out. And no, a regular tee under your shirt doesn't count as an undershirt. An undershirt, as we explain in this in-depth guide, is a thin and lightweight shirt that fits snugly under your outer shirt. 

One of the benefits of an undershirt is protecting your shirt from sweat, body oils and dead skin cells — all the stuff that attracts odor-causing bacteria. This keeps your shirt cleaner and fresher for longer. 

If you get the Hercleon Apollo antibacterial undershirt, you can wear the undershirt itself for several days without washing and it will stay fresh and clean.    

2. Use Deodorant/Antiperspirant

Sweat is the main reason your shirts get stinky. Sweat itself is odorless; the problem is the bacteria that loves to feed on fats contained in your sweat. They are the ones that cause body odor. 

Applying deodorant attacks the bacteria, which eliminates the sweaty smell. Use a stick or roll-on deodorant on your armpits and a spray deo for the rest of your body.  

But if you sweat a lot, deodorant on its own is not enough to keep your shirt smelling fresh. You’ll also need an antiperspirant. Antiperspirants block skin pores, preventing sweat from getting out. 

You can easily find products that combine the effects of deodorants and antiperspirants. In fact, most of what we call deodorants are also antiperspirants. 

3. Refresh It Without Laundering 

You can refresh a shirt without washing it. Just hanging the shirt up somewhere airy can keep it from getting smelly. If you can, hang it outside in the sun. Sunshine is a natural deodorizer. 

A quick spritz with a fabric refresher spray can also eliminate any lingering odors and give the shirt a nice smell. 

If you’d rather not use a fabric refresher spray, you can make your own DIY deodorizer using baking soda or white vinegar. 

Sprinkle baking soda on the shirt then leave it for an hour or overnight. You can then shake out the baking soda and put on the shirt. 

White vinegar also works great at removing odors. Mix a 1:1 water and vinegar solution in a spray bottle and spritz it lightly on the shirt. Leave it hanging overnight to fully dry. It should be smelling fresh and clean in the morning.     

4. Get an Antibacterial Shirt 

Bacteria are the reason your shirt stinks. So what if you could target the bacteria? That’s what Hercleon’s range of antibacterial clothing does, including the self-cleaning HercShirt. It actively fights off odor-causing bacteria, ensuring the shirt stays fresh and clean. 

You can wear it for days or even weeks without worrying about stinking. Just air it in after each wear and that’s enough. 

5. Choose Darker Colors  

Even if you manage to keep your shirt smelling fresh, it can still get dirty and stained. If you know you may need to repeat a shirt (e.g. when you go backpacking), pack dark colored shirts that don’t show dirt easily.