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Gym Clothes are designed to keep you comfortable and cool during your workouts, but they also tend to get sweaty, smelly, and dirty.
If you don't wash and care for them properly, they can lose their shape, performance, and durability over time.
Not to mention, they can also harbour bacteria and germs that can cause infections and odours.
So how do you wash and care for your gym clothes to keep them fresh, clean, and long-lasting?
In this ultimate guide, we will show you the best practices and tips for washing and caring for your gym clothes, including:
- How often should you wash your gym clothes?
- What detergent should you use for your gym clothes?
- How to wash your gym clothes in the washing machine or by hand?
- How to dry your gym clothes?
- How to store your gym clothes?
- How to remove stains and odours from your gym clothes?
By following these steps, you will be able to enjoy your gym clothes for longer and avoid any potential health risks or discomforts.
Let's get started!
How often should you wash your gym clothes?
The first question you may have is how often should you wash your gym clothes?
The answer depends on how often you wear them, how sweaty you get, and what type of fabric they are made of.
As a general rule, you should wash your gym clothes after every wear.
This is because sweat, dirt, oil, and bacteria can accumulate on your gym clothes and cause them to smell bad, lose their elasticity, or even damage the fabric.
Washing your gym clothes after every wear will help prevent these problems and keep them fresh and hygienic.
However, there may be some exceptions to this rule.
For example,
If you only wear your gym clothes for a short time or a light activity, you may be able to get away with wearing them again before washing them.
Or if you have multiple sets of gym clothes that you rotate regularly, you may be able to extend the time between washes.
The type of fabric also matters when it comes to how often you should wash your gym clothes.
Some fabrics are more resistant to odour and bacteria than others.
For example,
Cotton is more breathable and absorbent than synthetic fabrics like polyester or nylon, but it also tends to hold onto moisture and odour longer.
Synthetic fabrics are more durable and wick away moisture faster than cotton, but they also tend to trap bacteria and odour more easily.
To find out what type of fabric your gym clothes are made of, check the label or tag on the inside of the garment.
It should tell you the percentage of each material used in the fabric.
For example,
A label that says "80% cotton 20% polyester" means that the fabric is mostly cotton with some polyester mixed in.
Here are some general guidelines for how often you should wash different types of fabrics:
- Cotton: Wash after every wear
- Polyester: Wash after every wear
- Nylon: Wash after every wear
- Spandex: Wash after every wear
- Wool: Wash every few wears or as needed
- Bamboo: Wash every few wears or as needed
Of course, these are just suggestions and you should always use your own judgment based on how dirty or smelly your gym clothes are.
If in doubt, it's better to wash them more often than less often.
Must Read: Gym Wear Tips: 8 Things You Should Never Wear
What detergent should you use for your gym clothes?
The next question you may have is what detergent should you use for your gym clothes?
The answer depends on what type of fabric they are made of and what kind of stains or odors they have.
As a general rule, you should use a mild or sportswear-specific detergent for your gym clothes.
These detergents are designed to be gentle on delicate fabrics and effective at removing sweat, dirt, oil, and bacteria from your gym clothes.
They also help prevent fading, shrinking, stretching, or pilling of the fabric.
You should avoid using regular detergents that are too harsh or contain bleach, chlorine, fabric softeners, or optical brighteners.
These ingredients can damage the fabric, reduce its performance, or leave behind residues that can irritate your skin or cause odours.
Some examples of mild or sportswear-specific detergents are:
- Persil ProClean Active Wear
- Tide Sport Odor Defense
- HEX Performance Advanced Laundry Detergent
- Rockin' Green Platinum Series Active Wear Detergent
- Nathan Sport Wash
You can find these detergents online or in most grocery stores or pharmacies.
You can also make your own homemade detergent using natural ingredients like baking soda, vinegar, or lemon juice.
However, you should always test a small amount of the detergent on a hidden area of the fabric before using it on the whole garment.
The amount of detergent you should use depends on the size and type of your load, the hardness of your water, and the instructions on the detergent label.
You should always follow the directions on the label and use the recommended amount of detergent for your load.
Using too much or too little detergent can cause problems like residues, odours, or poor cleaning.
Must Read: How to Choose the Best Gym Clothes for Your Body Type and Style
How to wash your gym clothes in the washing machine or by hand?
The next question you may have is how to wash your gym clothes in the washing machine or by hand?
The answer depends on what type of fabric they are made of and how dirty or smelly they are.
As a general rule, you can wash most gym clothes in the washing machine using cold water and a gentle cycle.
This will help prevent shrinking, stretching, fading, or damaging the fabric.
You should also turn your gym clothes inside out before washing them to protect the outer layer from abrasion and pilling.
However, there may be some exceptions to this rule.
For example,
Some gym clothes may have special care instructions on the label that require hand washing, dry cleaning, or air drying.
You should always check the label before washing your gym clothes and follow the instructions accordingly.
Some examples of gym clothes that may require special care are:
- Wool: Wool is a natural fibre that is warm, breathable, and odour-resistant. However, it is also delicate and prone to shrinking or felting if washed in hot water or dried in high heat. You should wash wool gym clothes by hand using cold water and a mild detergent. Gently squeeze out the excess water and lay them flat to dry.
- Bamboo: Bamboo is a natural fibre that is soft, breathable, and antibacterial. However, it is also delicate and prone to shrinking or losing its shape if washed in hot water or dried in high heat. You should wash bamboo gym clothes by hand using cold water and a mild detergent. Gently squeeze out the excess water and lay them flat to dry.
- Spandex: Spandex is a synthetic fibre that is stretchy, durable, and moisture-wicking. However, it is also sensitive to heat and chlorine and can lose its elasticity if washed in hot water or dried in high heat. You should wash spandex gym clothes in the washing machine using cold water and a gentle cycle. Avoid using bleach or fabric softeners and hang them to dry.
If you prefer to wash your gym clothes by hand, you can follow these simple steps:
- Mix up a cleaning solution. Add a teaspoon of laundry detergent such as Persil to a sink or small tub of lukewarm water.
- Wash your clothes in the solution. Gently move your garments around inside the sink or small tub.
- Rinse your clothes with clean water. Drain the sink or small tub and fill it with fresh water. Rinse your clothes until the water runs clear.
- Dry your clothes. Gently squeeze out the excess water and hang them to dry or lay them flat on a towel.
Also Read: Are Compression Clothes Good for Gym?
How to dry your gym clothes?
The next question you may have is how to dry your gym clothes?
The answer depends on what type of fabric they are made of and how quickly you need them.
As a general rule, you should avoid using the dryer for your gym clothes and line dry or air dry them instead.
This will help prevent shrinking, stretching, fading, or damaging the fabric. It will also save energy and money.
However, there may be some exceptions to this rule.
For example,
Some gym clothes may have special care instructions on the label that allow tumble drying on low heat or no heat settings.
You should always check the label before drying your gym clothes and follow the instructions accordingly.
Some examples of gym clothes that may allow tumble drying are:
- Polyester: Polyester is a synthetic fibre that is durable, lightweight, and quick-drying. However, it is also prone to static cling and pilling if dried in high heat or with other fabrics that shed lint. You should tumble dry polyester gym clothes on low heat or no heat settings and use dryer balls or sheets to reduce static cling.
- Nylon: Nylon is a synthetic fibre that is strong, smooth, and quick-drying. However, it is also prone to melting or shrinking if dried in high heat or with other fabrics that generate heat. You should tumble dry nylon gym clothes on low heat or no heat settings and use dryer balls or sheets to reduce static cling.
Some examples of gym clothes that may require air drying are:
- Wool: Wool is a natural fiber that is warm, breathable, and odor-resistant. However, it is also delicate and prone to shrinking or felting if dried in high heat or with other fabrics that generate heat. You should air dry wool gym clothes by laying them flat on a towel or a drying rack.
- Bamboo: Bamboo is a natural fibre that is soft, breathable, and antibacterial. However, it is also delicate and prone to shrinking or losing its shape if dried in high heat or with other fabrics that generate heat. You should air dry bamboo gym clothes by laying them flat on a towel or a drying rack.
- Spandex: Spandex is a synthetic fibre that is stretchy, durable, and moisture-wicking. However, it is also sensitive to heat and chlorine and can lose its elasticity if dried in high heat or with other fabrics that generate heat. You should air dry spandex gym clothes by hanging them on a hanger or a drying rack.
If you need to dry your gym clothes quickly, you can use some tricks to speed up the process.
Also Read: The Top 10 Gym Wear Brands You Need to Know in 2023
For example, you can:
- Wring out the excess water from your gym clothes before hanging them to dry.
- Use a salad spinner to spin out the excess water from your gym clothes before laying them flat to dry.
- Use a hair dryer to blow dry your gym clothes on low heat settings.
- Use an iron to press your gym clothes on low heat settings.
However, you should use these tricks sparingly and only when necessary, as they can still cause some damage to the fabric over time.
Also Read: How to Save Money and Time on Buying Gym Clothes Online
How to store your gym clothes?
The next question you may have is how to store your gym clothes? The answer depends on how often you use them and how much space you have.
As a general rule, you should store your gym clothes in a cool, dry, and well-ventilated place.
This will help prevent mould, mildew, or musty smells from developing on your gym clothes.
You should also avoid storing your gym clothes in plastic bags or containers, as they can trap moisture and odours.
Some examples of gym clothes that may require special storage are:
- Wool: Wool is a natural fibre that is warm, breathable, and odour-resistant. However, it is also delicate and prone to stretching or losing its shape if stored improperly. You should fold wool gym clothes neatly and store them in a drawer or a shelf. Avoid hanging them on hangers or hooks, as they can cause the fabric to sag or distort.
- Spandex: Spandex is a synthetic fibre that is stretchy, durable, and moisture-wicking. However, it is also sensitive to heat and chlorine and can lose its elasticity if stored improperly. You should roll spandex gym clothes tightly and store them in a drawer or a basket. Avoid folding them flat or hanging them on hangers or hooks, as they can cause the fabric to crease or stretch.
- Cotton: Cotton is a natural fibre that is breathable and absorbent. However, it is also prone to wrinkling or shrinking if stored improperly. You can either fold or hang cotton gym clothes depending on your preference and space availability. If you fold them, make sure to smooth out any wrinkles before storing them in a drawer or a shelf. If you hang them, make sure to use padded hangers or clips to avoid leaving marks on the fabric.
How to remove stains and odours from your gym clothes?
The last question you may have is how to remove stains and odours from your gym clothes?
The answer depends on what type of stain or odour it is and how long it has been there.
As a general rule, you should treat stains and odours as soon as possible after they occur.
This will help prevent them from setting into the fabric and becoming harder to remove later.
You should also avoid using bleach or chlorine-based products on your gym clothes, as they can damage the fabric, reduce its performance, or cause discoloration.
However, there may be some exceptions to this rule.
For example,
Some stains or odours may require special treatment methods or products depending on their nature and severity.
You should always check the label before treating stains or odours on your gym clothes and follow the instructions accordingly.
Some examples of common stains and odours on gym clothes are:
Sweat
Sweat is a natural by product of exercise that can leave yellowish stains or sour smells on your gym clothes.
To remove sweat stains or odours from your gym clothes, you can:
- Pre-treat the affected areas with a stain remover such as OxiClean or Shout before washing them in the washing machine or by hand.
- Soak the affected areas in a solution of vinegar and water (one part vinegar to four parts water) for 15 to 30 minutes before washing them in the washing machine or by hand.
- Add a cup of baking soda or a half cup of vinegar to the wash cycle along with your detergent to neutralize the odours and brighten the colours.
Blood
Blood is a common stain that can occur due to injuries, cuts, or menstrual cycles.
To remove blood stains from your gym clothes, you can:
- Rinse the affected areas with cold water as soon as possible after the stain occurs. Avoid using hot water, as it can set the stain into the fabric.
- Apply a stain remover such as OxiClean or Shout to the affected areas and let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes before washing them in the washing machine or by hand.
- Soak the affected areas in a solution of hydrogen peroxide and water (one part hydrogen peroxide to two parts water) for 10 to 15 minutes before washing them in the washing machine or by hand.
- Be careful not to use too much hydrogen peroxide, as it can bleach the fabric.
Deodorant
Deodorant is a product that can help prevent or mask body odor, but it can also leave white marks or yellow stains on your gym clothes.
To remove deodorant marks or stains from your gym clothes, you can:
- Rub the affected areas with a dryer sheet or a nylon stocking before washing them in the washing machine or by hand. This will help lift off the residue and reduce the appearance of the marks or stains.
- Pre-treat the affected areas with a stain remover such as OxiClean or Shout before washing them in the washing machine or by hand.
- Soak the affected areas in a solution of vinegar and water (one part vinegar to four parts water) for 15 to 30 minutes before washing them in the washing machine or by hand.
Conclusion
Gym clothes are essential for any fitness enthusiast, but they also require proper washing and caring to keep them fresh, clean, and long-lasting.
By following this ultimate guide, you will be able to wash and care for your gym clothes like a pro and enjoy them for longer.
Here are some key points to remember:
- Wash your gym clothes after every wear or as needed depending on how dirty or smelly they are.
- Use a mild or sportswear-specific detergent for your gym clothes and avoid using bleach, chlorine, fabric softeners, or optical brighteners.
- Wash your gym clothes in the washing machine using cold water and a gentle cycle or by hand using lukewarm water and a mild detergent.
- Dry your gym clothes by line drying or air drying them and avoid using the dryer unless necessary.
- Store your gym clothes in a cool, dry, and well-ventilated place and avoid storing them in plastic bags or containers.
- Remove stains and odours from your gym clothes as soon as possible after they occur and avoid using hot water, bleach, or chlorine-based products.
We hope you found this guide helpful and informative. If you have any questions, comments, or feedback, please feel free to contact us. We would love to hear from you.
