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When you think about it, our favorite gym team fabrics are pretty impressive. They can absorb sweat and stretch along with each of our squat and prone dogs. “We’ve been machine knitting cotton for hundreds of years, but that high-tech performance fabric, which is a combination of polyester and Lycra, is a relatively new thing,” says a Minnesota-based laundry expert and author of Laundry Love. : Finding Joy in a Common Task Patric Richardson. “It’s an incredibly sophisticated fabric.”
And as anyone who has ever forgotten to empty their gym bag knows, that fancy fabric can smell a bit. “Even though it draws sweat away from the skin, it has to go somewhere, so it sits on the fabric,” says Jennifer Lau, a Nike Canada master trainer and co-owner of Toronto’s FITSQUAD training center.
So how do you beat the stench? First, you can throw your workout clothes in the washing machine, says Richardson. As for what settings and soaps to use, the two pros break down the best way to get your gear squeaky clean.
What type of detergent is best for sports clothes?
“The thing everyone notices about performance clothing is that, even after washing, it often smells horrible,” says Richardson. That’s because the fabric is hydrophobic (repels water) and oleophilic (absorbs oil). Fun fact: “Sweat under the arms, between the legs, and behind the knees is oilier than anywhere else on the body,” says Richardson.
Getting that oil out requires a double whammy. Start with a tablespoon or two of detergent, a small amount because you want to minimize waste, Richardson says. She recommends opting for one that’s labeled for active wear, baby wear, hosiery, or swimwear, as all of these formulas are designed to rinse off completely.
Try Granger’s Active Wash$17, mech.ca, or Ivory Snow Fragrance Free Baby Detergent$12, amazon.ca.
Next, add a tablespoon of Richardson’s magic ingredient: oxygen bleach, an enzyme that dissolves oil. And before you panic, unlike chlorine bleach, oxygen bleach is completely color safe. You’ll usually find it in powder form, and you can look for “sodium percarbonate” (also known as “sodium carbonate peroxide”) in the ingredients list.
Try Aspen Clean Oxygen Bleach Stain Remover$20, aspenclean.com.
Thinking of adding a little fabric softener? Richardson cautions against when it comes to workout clothes. “You don’t want anything covering the fabric because it affects its performance.” And as Lau points out, “I don’t need my performance clothes to get any softer.”
What washer settings should I use?
You may think cold water is the way to go, but you need a bit of heat to activate the detergent and oxygen bleach to combat odor. Richardson recommends the “warm” setting and sticking to a fast cycle. “Polyester will loosen dirt very quickly, so there’s no need to put it on longer and beat it to death,” he says. A fast cycle also means you don’t have to worry about washing everything inside out to avoid damage and bunching from the repetitive motion of the machine, Richardson says, because it’s such a fast exposure.
To help protect delicate items like sports bras with lots of intricate detail, Lau likes to put them in a mesh laundry bag. “They’re especially good for bra cup linings,” she says. “I take them out of the bra, so they don’t bend or wrinkle, because the foam sometimes doesn’t come back [to its original shape].”
And while a gentle cycle might be tempting, Richardson prefers the quick setting because it includes a quick spin so your workout gear doesn’t get soggy. And that brings us to the next crucial tip…
Can I put my workout gear in the dryer?
“Spandex should never go in the dryer,” says Richardson. “You will lose some of that magnificent stretch.” Instead, you’ll want to hang your gear on a rope or clothesline. “It will dry very quickly,” adds Richardson. And following the same rule of no heating, never iron your training clothes. If necessary, you can give them a quick steam.
How often should I wash my training clothes?
Both Richardson and Lau agree that you should wash your sportswear every time you wear it. “A lot of high-performance gear is intended to be used a lot, so it needs to be durable to wear and clean,” says Lau.
It’s more about taking care of your skin than the clothes, says Richardson: “The truth of the matter is that you’re holding all that sweat and bacteria and you’re putting it on your skin. When the bacteria gets wet with sweat, it comes back to life.”
The good news is that you can mix your performance clothing in one load with any other clothing that can handle oxygen bleach, which is pretty much anything that isn’t wool or silk.
Should I let my gear air dry before washing it?
“If something smells really bad, I try to wash it that day and not leave it in the bottom of the laundry basket because it will stink up the rest of the clothes,” says Lau, who prioritizes washing sports bras and foundation. winter running layers: things that get sweatier. But if you don’t have a place to air-dry it, that’s fine too, says Richardson. “Once you use that oxygen bleach, it’s going to remove everything,” she says.
Do you hate the stench of the gym bag? “When you go to and from the gym, keep a separate laundry bag so that if you have sweaty clothes, it doesn’t stink up the rest of your clothes,” says Lau, who also recommends a loose dryer sheet in your gym bag to help. to mask the odour.
Try Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day Lemon Verbena Dryer Sheets$13, fine.ca.
What if my sportswear still smells after washing?
A quick warm cycle with oxygen bleach should work for all your clothes, but if there’s something that can’t be washed, Richardson has an unexpected trick: “You can spray vodka on it, it takes the smell out of anything.” .” He recommends finding the lowest-priced vodka he can, then putting it in a spray bottle and using it for his sneakers, gym bag, and yoga mat. And don’t worry, you won’t smell like a hangover, says Richardson. “When dried, vodka is odorless and colorless.”
Source: www.chatelaine.com