Do your Jockey underwear stink?

gailuvscats · Sep 7, 2008

I have been buying 100% cotton, jockey underwear for more years than I care to admit. This year I bought some new, and they reek of chemical smell! I washed them twice in hot water and soap, still stink. I just soaked them in vinegar water for two days, I don't think it helped much. they are drying now.

I searched the web and came across a blog by someone with the same issue, and someone else wrote that it is a fumigant, and everything is fumigated these days. What???

I wrote to the company, not heard back yet.
I am going to have to find new underwear. Anyone else have this issue, ideas on how to get the smell out?

mrblanche · Sep 7, 2008

My guess would be that they got fumigated while in their shipping container. Poisonous gases are pumped into those containers after they are loaded to kill anything that might be hitchhiking amongst the boxes. Don't think that's important? We have formosa termites and fire ants thanks to shipping things in from other countries. Hawaii is very strict, because there is a common snake in some places that they seriously do not want there.

I have been there when those containers are opened, and you do NOT want to stand close to those doors when they are first aired out.

weldrwomn · Sep 7, 2008

I think that Jockey makes their underwear in Mexico. I like Hanes but I don't know where they are made.

mrblanche · Sep 7, 2008

Originally Posted by WELDRWOMN

I think that Jockey makes their underwear in Mexico. I like Hanes but I don't know where they are made.

They may still be shipped in by container, since that is the most common way to move freight out of Mexico into the U.S.

This is why you shouldn't eat banana peels, by the way. Fumigated for bugs before shipping.

roxsam · Sep 7, 2008

Originally Posted by WELDRWOMN

I think that Jockey makes their underwear in Mexico. I like Hanes but I don't know where they are made.

I am not sure about what they have in Mexico, but I do know their is a HUGE Jockey warehouse in Jamaica. I imagine they have them all over though

I don't have any specific underwear brand I am loyal to, lol.

cheshirecat · Sep 7, 2008

I buy my underwear from a company that does custom orders. Some things they have in stock ready to ship but most are made to order.

Because I have problems with my arthritis they I have things tailored to make dressing easier.

They use 100% cotton and/or organic cotton. And they are made in America.

They are a bit more expensive but I haven't bought from anyone else in years.

Not sure if I can post the website. Let me know. Or PM me and I'll share the link.

gailc · Sep 7, 2008

I am not loyal to any one brand either.

I wonder if you bought a box of 20 Mule Team Borax if that would help??

BTW the vast majority of long stem roses that are imported into this country are dipped in a fungicide before being packed into boxes. And they have been bred with almost no odor so I wouldn't be sticking your nose in a bouquet!

rapunzel47 · Sep 7, 2008

If you're not brand loyal, may I suggest Fruit of the Loom? I'm also a 100% cotton devotee -- used to buy Jockey all the time, loved the cut, then they got more expensive and I started looking around. Tried Hanes, didn't like the cut, found my way to FOTL, and have been more than satisfied for many, many years -- and no smell.

gailuvscats · Sep 7, 2008

I will have to check out the fol kind. after soaking in vinegar and water, I washed them again in a load of hot water and soap, and then let them in the sun to dry. The odor has diminished a lot, but it is still there in spots. Maybe where the sun wasn't hitting? dunno. I know I will never buy them again without first opening the package and smelling them. I will not go through this again.

laureen227 · Sep 7, 2008

Originally Posted by rapunzel47

If you're not brand loyal, may I suggest Fruit of the Loom? I'm also a 100% cotton devotee -- used to buy Jockey all the time, loved the cut, then they got more expensive and I started looking around. Tried Hanes, didn't like the cut, found my way to FOTL, and have been more than satisfied for many, many years -- and no smell.

i'm just the opposite - i prefer Hanes to FOL - the cut of Hanes is better for me.

gemlady · Sep 7, 2008

I am so glad you are talking about clean, unworn undies. Otherwise this would be TMI.

spudsmom · Sep 7, 2008

Originally Posted by gemlady

I am so glad you are talking about clean, unworn undies. Otherwise this would be TMI.

starryeyedtiger · Sep 7, 2008

I think my mom wears that brand. I'll have to ask her if hers do that

I only wear Victorias Secret- never had any issues with those before- they're really good quality too and hold up a long time. Maybe you could try buying a few pairs from them?

sarahp · Sep 7, 2008

Originally Posted by gemlady

I am so glad you are talking about clean, unworn undies. Otherwise this would be TMI.

I was thinking the same thing when I read the title

I wear Bonds 100% cotton underwear - it's an Australian brand that has a great fit, and fun colours! Every time we go home, I stock up

zissou'smom · Sep 8, 2008

At my work we got in a lot of new clothes-- my boss said they have formaldehyde on them sometimes, and that's why they smell. All I know is, most clothes reek when you first pull them out of their wrappings to put them on the sales floor. Now I never ever wear anything without washing it, who knows what is on there!

As for your undies...

Once I bought a shirt, and anytime it got wet it reeked like heck. A bad, bad smell, so bad you couldn't wear it if you thought you might sweat-- excuse me, *glisten*. I find it happens most often with patterned prints that are dyed whole (so like, only on the one side, the inside still white).

dixie_darlin · Sep 8, 2008

Originally Posted by gemlady

I am so glad you are talking about clean, unworn undies. Otherwise this would be TMI.

Here's a Question:
How many of you went and sniffed your underwear?

And what did your S/O think when you did it

I know, I know

persi & alley · Sep 8, 2008

Anybody here remember the burn the bra movement?
As a perfectly innocent male observer

may I suggest a burn your underwear movement? BTW, Persi put me up to this, I would never have thought of it on my own.

laureen227 · Sep 8, 2008

Originally Posted by StarryEyedTiGeR

I think my mom wears that brand. I'll have to ask her if hers do that

I only wear Victorias Secret- never had any issues with those before- they're really good quality too and hold up a long time. Maybe you could try buying a few pairs from them?

VS doesn't work for me, either... i'm most definitely sticking w/Hanes!

aprilsunny · Oct 10, 2010

I bought some last year and the stink was so bad. Could not remove it with multiple washings and leaving them outside in the sun for a few months. A year later and they still smell. Never wore them but kept the receipt. I DO recognize the smell as NILODOR, a chemical we used in university biology classes to mask even worse smells like rotting flesh.

The question I have is what could be so bad in the factory where these are made, that try have to put nil odor on to make them smell "less offensive"? Mine were manufactured in Costa Rica. Did a dead chicken fall in the vat?

I recently looked for the same brand and they smell faintly of the same odor. I told the cashier and she is getting the product rep. to call me. I'm glad I found this site and your similar experiences. I will let you know what the rep. says and also send along a copy of this thread. The company should have to explain itself.

butzie · Oct 10, 2010

Originally Posted by spudsmom

I wear undies from Victoria's Secret. They smell a little perfumey

Do your Jockey underwear stink?

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