How to get fish smell out of fishing shirt?

Nothing feels better than a successful fishing adventure and multiple catches, but what does not feel good is the fish smell in your favorite fishing shirt. At Dagon Apparel Company, we understand this challenge entirely through our years of fishing experience and hundreds of customer reviews.

This guide will discuss multiple ways to eliminate fish odor from your premium and technical fishing top.

Why Fish Smells Stick to Clothing

It is important to understand why fish odor clings so stubbornly to the fabric. Fish blood contains trimethylamine oxide, which breaks down into compounds with potential odors. These compounds later bond with fabric fibers, creating a fishy smell that feels bad and is challenging to fade.

Effective Methods to Remove Fish Odor from Your Fishing Shirts

Here are some washing tips to remove fishing odor from your premium fishing fabric:

Wash in Warm Water

Warm water washing is among the most effective techniques against fish odor. It helps break down the odor-causing oils without damaging the fishing shirt fabric.

It is important to note that warm water is highly effective against fish odor, but using hot water can permanently damage the fabric of fishing shirts.

So, whenever you buy a fishing shirt, read the temperature instructions and wash your performance shirt within the temperature limits.

Borax and Ammonia

Borax and ammonia are excellent for neutralizing stubborn smells, although they should never be used together. Both ammonia and borax are very useful against fish odor but have different guidelines for usage.

How to use ammonia

Household ammonia can be the strongest remedy against fish smell. It neutralizes the acidic odor compounds and makes your shirts smell fresh again. 

To wash fishing shirts in ammonia, add ¼ cup of ammonia in the wash cycle, but never combine it with bleach, detergent, or cleaning products.

How Borax Works:

To wash your fishing shirt, you can add ½ cup of borax to the washing machine along with your natural detergent. This natural mineral salt breaks the proteins in fish odor molecules and eliminates odor at a micro level.

Soak in the Baking Soda

Baking soda should be the angler's front line of action against fish smells. Soaking the fishing shirt in baking soda is highly effective against fishing smells and also helps protect the performance, moisture-wicking, and UPF capabilities of the outdoor wearable.

Here is the complete method to wash your shirt with Baking Soda

• Fill the basin with cool water.

• Add ½ cup of baking soda and stir until dissolved.

• Submerge your shirt completely

• Let it soak for 4-6 hours or overnight.

• After removing your shirt from the basin, wash it with regular detergent.

Baking soda is naturally alkaline and neutralizes the acidic compounds that cause fish to smell.

Natural Deodorizers

White vinegar and lemon juice are natural deodorizers that work effectively against the fishy smell.

Vinegar Method

Vinegar's acetic acid neutralizes odor molecules without harming technical fiber. You can add a cup of vinegar to the washing machine during the rinse cycle.

Lemon Juice

Adding ¼ cup of lemon juice to the detergent provides additional deodorizing power. The citric acid in lemon breaks down fish odor while leaving a fresh scent.

Drying your Shirt

Air drying is considered the best mechanism for your fishing shirt, while machine drying should be avoided. If your shirt fabric can withstand sunlight, hang it in the sunlight to kill bacteria; otherwise, hang it in a shaded area. Ensure good airflow around the hanging garment. 

Before storing your shirt, make sure it is completely dry. This will eliminate any remaining odor and preserve the technical features of your fishing apparel.

Dagon Apparel is passionate about helping you enjoy every aspect of your fishing experience, whether designing premium fishing shirts or educating our clients about caring for them. With proper care, our fishing shirts are designed to look and smell great for all seasons.