How to Reduce Body Odor

Sweating is a normal process that helps your body to maintain the optimal temperature. But if your sweat meets the bacteria on the surface of your skin, it can create an unpleasant smell. 5-Minute Crafts would like to show you several ways to make your body odor go away naturally.

❗ If you notice that your sweat smells weird or that you’ve suddenly started sweating way more than usual, consult your doctor.

1. Keep your body clean.

✅ Take a bath or shower every day to reduce the growth of bacteria on your skin. Pay special attention to the areas where you tend to sweat.

✅ You should also wash your body after working out, playing sports, or sweating.

✅ Use a washcloth on your armpits, groin, and skin folds.

✅ Lather your skin with antibacterial soap to reduce the number of bacteria on it.

✅ Once you’ve finished washing, dry yourself completely with a towel.

2. Get rid of armpit hair.

✅ Shave or wax your armpits regularly to make cleansing more effective and to control your body odor better.

3. Put on an antiperspirant at night.

✅ Put on your antiperspirant before going to bed to give it a chance to work while you sleep and are not sweating. Otherwise, if you apply it in the morning, your sweat might wash away the product.

4. Wear breathable fabrics.

✅ For daily use, choose natural fabrics, such as cotton, wool, and silk, that will allow your skin to breathe and your sweat to evaporate away.

✅ For working out, you can wear synthetic fabrics that wick moisture away from the skin.

5. Use hydrogen peroxide.

✅ Make a solution by mixing 1 teaspoon of 3% hydrogen peroxide with 1 cup of water.

✅ Wipe this mixture on the areas where you tend to sweat more (like your underarms, feet, and groin) with a washcloth to destroy the bacteria that cause body odor.

6. Try a vinegar foot soak.

✅ Take a basin and add 1 cup of vinegar and 2 cups of warm water to it. Continue adding 1 part vinegar and 2 parts water until the basin is completely full.

✅ Prepare your feet by washing them with soft soap.

✅ Soak your feet in the vinegar solution for 10-20 minutes. Then wash your feet off with soft soap again.

✅ Repeat every day or until the foot odor disappears.

7. Spray your shoes with rubbing alcohol.

✅ Spray the insides of your shoes with rubbing alcohol (isopropyl alcohol) in the evening and let them dry completely. Repeat this every day until the smell disappears.

✅ Continue to spray your shoes weekly to keep the odor away.

❗ Don’t spray the skin on your feet since the alcohol can dry it out. Always wear socks and make sure that your shoes are completely dry before wearing them again.

8. Change your diet.

✅ Avoid drinking too many caffeinated beverages.

✅ Cut down your intake of spicy or strong-smelling foods (like curry, garlic, spicy peppers, and onions) and sulfur-heavy foods (like broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage) since they can make you sweat more or develop a stronger body odor than normal.