UKC

Hey, 

So I've had my fleece for around 4 years now and it has gotten to the point where no matter how much I wash it once I wear it and it warms up it stinks. I only ever use tech wash on it. I was wondering if base layer wash or anti bac washing detergent  would be able to properly clean it or would it damage it?

Cheers

Soak it in a strong solution of laundry disinfectant, eg Dettol laundry cleanser, then wash.

Fleece is polyester. Normal detergents will do no harm. I have never used tech wash for any of mine, over a 32 year period.

Use a normal 'anti-stink' laundry liquid, e.g. Dettol laundry liquid.

The only thing that will damage it is excessive heat: 40C will be fine.

∆∆∆∆∆ The above

Only thing to add is after soaking according to instructions, wash with *biological* detergent as hot as the garment allows in an intensive cycle 

Ditch the techwash (save that for your hardshells), use normal detergent, 40°C. 

Beware going too hot with biological washing powder/liquid: the enzymes will be denatured if you go too hot. So regardless of the garment's care label, you should not wash it above 40 degrees C if you're using biological washing powder/liquid.

soda crystals get rid of smell for proper stinky stuff - like climbing shoes and shin pads - not sure if bad for techy matererials tho

^All of this, but Dettol 'laundry sanitiser' in particular.  I only discovered that stuff quite recently, and it's been a bit of a revelation for stinky base layers but the shirts I wear to work especially.  Like your fleece they often used to be quite stinky as soon as I put them on and warmed them up, no matter how fresh they seemed to be out of the wash.

One that works quite well with climbing shoes (that don't tolerate too hot temps). Is to wash properly (as hot as it can be as per label, use normal washing detergent). Then dry, preferably using a tumble drier, but airdrying in also ok. Once dry, slap on a ziplock bag  (or two) and into the freezer for a few weeks. This is often enough, to kill all the bacteria. Often times, simple wash is not enough, which is why they start to reek as soon as they get warm and wet again (from sweat).

And once in use, after you get back home... quick rinse in warm water and drying often helps so that the reek doesn't come back that quickly (or as strong). 

N.b. the "organic" way to handle such things, is simply soaking the fleece in vinegar. It both cleans away the sweat, and also kills the bacteria that eat the gunk in sweat and cause the smell. So you could add that as the starting step.

Big thank you for this suggestion, which has revived several baselayers that I thought had gone past the point of no return. The armpits are now soft and fresh smelling, instead of stiff and whiffy.

When you start to get too hot, take the fleece off and put in rucksack. Put it back on once you’ve cooled down or if you stop. That’ll stop it getting soaked in sweat, which the bacteria feed off.

Yeah I know that but over time that just builds up, especially over a week or two of backpacking where washing it may not be an option