HOW TO WASH WORKOUT CLOTHES AND COMBAT SWEAT SMELLS
Whether you pump iron, run marathons or practice yoga, you probably work up a sweat in your workout clothes. When you’re washing gym clothes, stubborn odors can be frustrating, but with the right cleaning method you can help get them back to smelling fresh and clean before your next workout. Use this guide to learn how to wash workout clothes and get tips for removing sweat smells from your fabrics.
WHY DO WORKOUT CLOTHES SMELL?
There are a few reasons why your gym clothes might smell, including sweat and bacteria buildup. And that odor might possibly hang on, if you use the wrong wash settings or cycles for the fabric type of each garment.
Your gym clothes come into contact with sweat, oil and bacteria that can embed itself into synthetic fabric, so proper washing and drying techniques are important for helping to remove the odor.
WASHING WORKOUT CLOTHES: A COMPLETE GUIDE
You can help remove sweat smells from your gym clothes by acting quickly and washing them as soon as possible. Turn your clothes inside out, pretreat them with baking soda or vinegar, rinse them thoroughly of vinegar, and then wash using the recommended temperature on the garment’s care label.
Use the instructions below to help get your gym clothes clean and ready for your next workout session.
WHAT YOU’LL NEED
Baking soda or vinegar
Laundry detergent
Soft bristled brush
1. CHECK YOUR CLOTHING’S LAUNDRY CARE LABEL
Most workout clothes are made from synthetic fabrics like spandex and may have specific washing instructions to help protect the integrity of the fabric. Consult each item’s care label for recommended wash temperatures and other instructions.
2. TURN CLOTHES INSIDE OUT
Flipping your workout clothes inside out helps you get to the inner layers of the fabric that come into direct contact with sweat and body odors. Turn each item inside out before pretreating and washing.
3. PRETREAT WITH BAKING SODA OR VINEGAR
Getting rid of workout odors starts before you even place the clothes in the washer. To help tackle tough odors, you can sometimes use a paste of equal parts baking soda and water or a solution of one part white vinegar and four cups warm water.
If you choose the baking soda method, apply the paste to the most affected areas of the garment like the underarms, chest and neckline. Gently scrub the paste into the fabric using a soft-bristled brush and let it sit for 30 minutes before washing.
If you opt for vinegar as your pretreatment method, soak your gym clothes in the solution for at least 30 minutes before rinsing thoroughly. It’s important to rinse out all the vinegar before transferring your clothes to the washer, as vinegar may damage your appliance.
4. WASH YOUR GYM CLOTHES
Select the appropriate water temperature per the laundry care label of your gym clothes, then add your laundry detergent and wash on a heavy-duty or deep clean cycle.
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HOW TO HELP GET SMELLS OUT OF GYM CLOTHES NATURALLY
You can help remove funky odors from your workout clothes with items you probably already have around your kitchen. Using a paste of baking soda and water or a solution of white vinegar and warm water is a natural way to help neutralize smells and help get your clothing fresh.
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HOW TO DRY WORKOUT CLOTHES
It’s important to dry your workout clothes completely before folding them up and placing them back in your dresser, as lingering moisture may reactivate any odors. Depending on the instructions provided by the laundry care labels of your items, you can either machine dry or lay the items flat to air dry. And avoid machine drying items, if you feel the odor is still lingering.
TIPS TO HELP KEEP WORKOUT CLOTHES FRESH LONGER
There are a few ways you can help prevent sweat smells from setting in. Explore the tips below to help keep your workout clothes smelling fresh for longer.
Wash your gym clothes ASAP. The longer your fabrics sit with sweat and body oils, the more likely it is for odor to set in. Wash sweaty clothes as soon as possible to help prevent lingering smells.
Don’t put damp clothes in the hamper. Sweat-soaked clothes may start to make the rest of your laundry smell if you ball them up and toss them into a pile of other clothes. If you can’t wash them right away, let them air dry before tossing them in the laundry basket.
Don’t overload your washer. Washing your clothes in smaller loads, rather than overstuffing it, can help each item move freely within the washer, helping your laundry get thoroughly cleaned.
- Avoid fabric softeners. Workout clothes are typically made from moisture-wicking synthetic fabrics, and fabric softener can sometimes leave behind a waxy coating on the fibers that can inhibit the moisture-wicking properties of the fabric.
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