How to Wash Athletic Clothing

Are there demons wafting from your laundry basket? Does your gym bag resemble a fifth-grade science experiment? Has your favorite running shirt lost its wicking power? Your workout clothes take quite a beating. Here’s how to pamper them so they perform well and don’t scare away the neighbors.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Sweaty and stinky clothes should be washed as soon as possible. If soon is not an option, hang them up to dry instead of throwing in a hamper.

2. For smells and general mildewy-ness, add ½ to 1 cup of vinegar to your wash. You can also pre-soak with vinegar, then wash regularly.

3. Use a gentle detergent. Or try a special laundry detergent designed specifically for performance clothes. (See link below.)

4. Don’t use fabric softeners on performance fabrics—they compromise the wicking power of your clothes.

5. 

   To maintain shape, hang up sports bras, cycling gloves and anything else with elastic. In fact, you can save energy and hang all your sports clothes instead of using the dryer. The same features that wick moisture away will help them dry quickly.

6. Resist the urge to wear your workout clothes more than once, particularly if you are a cyclist. You’re just asking for a rash.

7. Wash baseball caps in the dishwasher to maintain shape.

8. Sweat stains are tough to eliminate, especially on light-colored bras and shirts. Keep your eye on your shirts’ armpits and at the first sign of stains, pre-treat with vinegar or a stain-removal product before washing. Also, let your antiperspirant or deodorant completely dry before putting on your clothes.

Tips & Warnings

• For easy hang drying, use a pant/skirt hanger with multiple hooks.
• Use mesh laundry bags to separate things that shouldn’t be tossed in your dryer.
• Keep your gym back in the front seat of your car instead of the trunk so you won't forget it over the weekend.
• When in doubt, follow the advice on your clothing labels.

Resources

• Sport-Wash
• Good Housekeeping

Who Can Help Sponsored

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[ewmcguire]

on 12/18/2007 Glad you and your bras liked the article!

[Healthygirl78]

on 12/18/2007 Thanks for the tips-- my future sportsbras will have a better fate!