If you are obsessed with workout wear as I am, then this post is for you. Athletic wear is not cheap. At least not the one I like and buy. With investment purchases comes, investment of time and care. I have shared Basic Clothing Care Tips and How To Take Care Of Your Clothes but athletic wear is another ball-game all together. Below are some of the best things you can do to keep your workout gear looking and feeling fresh for longer.
1. Let your clothes breathe before washing
While your initial thought might be bury your smelly gym clothes at the bottom of your hamper, letting them air out before washing them will make them much easier to clean. When you take them off, hang your dirty workout garments somewhere they can dry out (away from clean clothes) to make getting the odors out at laundry time a breeze.
2. Pre-soaking in vinegar helps
A little bit of vinegar can go a long way when washing your gym clothes. For an especially foul-smelling load of clothes, soak your clothes in a half a cup of white vinegar mixed with cold water for at least an hour before washing. This will help remove unpleasant odors and break down sweat stains and buildup.
3. Wash your gym clothes in cold water
Believe it or not, hot water might hurt your dirty gym clothes more than it could help. Extreme heat can actually break down the elasticity of stretchy textiles, like the material of your yoga pants and running shorts, leading to shrinkage and a shorter lifespan for your clothes.
4. Don’t machine dry them
Just like hot water can hinder the longevity of your gym clothes, so can hot air. So instead of drying your workout gear on high heat in the dryer, consider air drying them out on a special hanger or clothes rack, or at least using the lowest possible heat setting.
5. Wash inside out
You probably already knew that washing your clothes inside-out will help safeguard colors, but it can also give your dirtier items—a.k.a. your active wear—a deeper clean in the washer, too. Considering that the inside of your clothes is where all the gross body bacteria accumulates (arm pit stains, anyone?) turning your workout gear inside-out before washing will give them a more direct and thorough clean.
This was so helpful! I didn't know to wash my workout clothes inside out or with cold water. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI had no idea about pre-soaking with vinegar! Thanks for sharing that tip!
ReplyDeleteLee
I never realized there was a special way to wash it. I usually just throw it in with everything else.
ReplyDeleteI'll admit I wasn't taking extra care to do anything different with my athletic wear so these are some helpful tips. THanks for sharing! xoxo, Sarah
ReplyDeleteThis helps a lot actually! I work out daily so my washing machine is on all the time! I will try to soak my workout attire in vinegar. Thanks a lot.
ReplyDeleteI had no idea there was a special way to wash work out clothes but now that I think about it, it makes sense. Thanks for the tips.
ReplyDeleteThese are great tips! 8 could use more workout wear. I always forget to wash inside out!
ReplyDeleteThese are great tips. Another cute outfit too!
ReplyDeleteGreat tips! I don't usually think that much about my activewear because I don't spend a lot on it so I don't mind if something happens to it + I'm already sweating in it, etc. BUT you make a good point about wanting it to last and keep the colors. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteLove the tips and I use a fabulous laundry soap called Defunkify which is amazing at cleaning my workout clothes and my husbands work clothes. It cleans the funkiest of clothes.
ReplyDeleteI have never used vinegar, but I have always washed workout clothes together with a special detergent!
ReplyDeletethis was truly the post I have been needing! my husband and I both workout almost every single day so our sweaty gym clothes add up very quickly. have been thinking of researching the best ways to wash them but always slips my mind. thank you for sharing this!
ReplyDeletexo Laura Leigh
https://louellareese.com
I never thought to pre-soak m workout clothes in vinegar but I'll have to give it a try!
ReplyDeletewww.rdsobsessions.com
Thanks for sharing these wonderful tips. I have never used vinegar before so would use it next time, also great idea about airing the clothes insted of placing it in the washing basket
ReplyDeleteThese are great tips! I usually just throw them in the washer and call it a day. I need to switch it up!
ReplyDeleteLove this as I have a load of workout wear to wash right now. Have never tried a vinegar pre-soak. Good to know!
ReplyDeleteNow I know I need to soak my workout clothes in vinegar. That's really help as I never knew it can help to clear the odor.
ReplyDeleteI ruined so many pairs of Lululemon pants back in the day not knowing the proper way to wash them! Thanks for these great tips!
ReplyDelete