If you love working out, playing sports, or even just engaging in an active lifestyle, you have probably invested in buying gym clothes or active sportswear. You also probably know that these are not cheap, each piece likely costing you a pretty penny. As such, these should be properly taken care of so that they last as long as possible. This doesn’t stop at wearing and storage, though. The proper care and caution should be practiced when washing gym clothes as well.
How to Wash Activewear?
To help you preserve and care for your activewear, we have come up with 7 tips to follow when washing them.
1. Immediately wash your activewear after use.
After usage, activewear will usually be full of sweat and dirt. If you store your activewear before washing them, this could easily lead to bacteria formation, making it harder to wash them and keep them clean. As such, it is best to clean your clothes directly after using them. If this is not possible, then it is best to at least dry your activewear before putting them into your laundry hamper.
2. Turn your workout clothes inside out when washing them.
Bacteria from sweat and dead skin cells usually cling to the side that’s in direct contact with your skin. When washing gym clothes, turn them inside out so that the water and the laundry detergent can easily access and clean the dirtiest parts of your activewear.
3. Use the proper activewear laundry detergent in its right amount.
The choice of laundry detergent and the right amount to use when washing is vital, whether washing gym clothes or regular clothes. There is a common misconception that adding more and more laundry detergent will make your clothes cleaner. This is not true. Excess laundry detergent leaves soap buildup or residue, which can trap odor and dead skin cells, creating an ideal environment for fungi to develop.
You may opt to use regular laundry detergents when washing gym clothes. However, pick one that is natural and free from any harsh ingredients that could discolor your clothes. For workout clothes that are excessively dirty, there are several special activewear laundry detergents available in the market like Tide Sport or Sport Suds, giving you specialized options just for washing gym clothes.
4. Avoid bleach and fabric softeners.
Bleach is a very powerful substance that can cause discoloration in your clothes. As such, you should avoid using this when washing gym clothes.
It’s tempting to use fabric softeners, especially when they make clothing smell good. However, they have the tendency to damage flexible fabrics. Moreover, they leave behind a coating that can actually trap foul odor in your activewear, making its use counterproductive.
5. Wash them gently.
As with any other clothes, washing gym clothes must be done with the proper carefulness. Whenever possible, it is best to hand wash your workout clothes. If not, use the delicate setting in your washing machine. This way, you can ensure that your workout clothes won’t get damaged or destroyed while cleaning them.
6. Avoid heat.
Whether it is while you’re washing gym clothes or drying them, avoid the use of heat because this can break down the elasticity of your clothes and cause them to shrink. As such, use only cold water when washing and do not use a machine when drying them. Instead, the best way to dry them is by hanging them.
How to Get Smell Out of Gym Clothes?
If washing gym clothes did not do the trick, there are other methods you can try to eliminate a bad odor in your gym clothes. One trick is to soak your workout clothes in a mixture of water and vinegar for at least an hour before washing them again. You can also add vinegar to the laundry detergent when washing them. Vinegar eliminates the lingering odor and can also break down detergent buildup. Aside from vinegar, you can add baking soda while washing, too. Baking soda acts as a natural deodorizer and cleaner, neutralizing smells without damaging your clothes.
Remember that following the right procedure and choosing the right materials to use are important factors when washing gym clothes. While we encourage you to follow the tips above, we strongly suggest that you consult a laundry professional or better yet, leave it to them to handle your delicate fabrics. Drop off your workout clothes at Kelly’s Dry Cleaners, a Pagosa Springs, CO dry cleaning shop, and have our team wash them professionally!
