Laundering Running Gear
dewd2
Posts: 2,445 Member
How do you wash your clothes? I have had issues with running shirts becoming smellier and smellier over multiple runs/washes. I finally decided to look up what was happening and I discovered I am doing almost everything wrong. I never allow my clothes to completely dry after a run (they just go in the basket until I wash them a few days later), I use fabric softener and I dry them in a dryer. Apparently all of this is wrong.
I did some research and found several detergents made for synthetic fabrics. I also found some 'home remedies' that include vinegar and baking soda. What do you use?
I did some research and found several detergents made for synthetic fabrics. I also found some 'home remedies' that include vinegar and baking soda. What do you use?
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Replies
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I am a very sweaty runner.
What I do -
I hang my clothes to dry after a run. Nothing fancy, just lay them across the hamper or something so they don't end up bundled up while wet.
Then when I do wash them, I add about 1/4 cup of vinegar and laundry detergent. No fabric softener.
I do not put them in the dryer, I hang to dry but if I had something that went in the dryer, I would not use a fabric softener sheet.
I do sometimes use those new scent beads but i checked and they should not interefer with wicking.
But yeah, you are doing pretty much everything wrong, lol. I used to be bad for leaving my clothes balled up while sweaty. I found a huge difference just changing that. And I find the vinegar helps.
The fabric softener helps trap the smell and affects the wicking ability. Dryer will break down the elastic/stretchy material in the garments (if you have any, you may not).0 -
I had the same problem. I now pre-soak all my running clothes (and heart rate monitor strap) for 30 minutes in vinegar (I add about 2 cups to warm water in the washing machine - no soap) before doing a regular wash and it has made all the difference. I don't need to do it every time, just every month or so.0
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Mine frequently stay wet until the weekly load of laundry because hanging sweaty clothes just makes the house smell sweaty and there's no way I'm hand-washing that stuff on the daily. When we do wash it, it's just normal detergent + a splash of vinegar (someone on this board told me about the vinegar!) and then hang dry.0
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Thanks for the responses. I'm going to try a vinegar prewash this weekend. I also ordered a couple "sport" detergents from Amazon to try out (WIN Sports and Sports Suds). Yesterday I hung my sweaty clothes on the edge of the basket when I got home. Unfortunately there's not much I can do for a few hours while my clothes sit in my gym bag after my lunchtime runs...0
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I hate the smell of my stinky running clothes, but I hate the smell of vinegar even more. Can you smell the vinegar while the clothes are washing or drying? My washer is upstairs in the main hallway, so don't want the whole house to smell like vinegar.0
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I hang mine to dry after each run. Then when I launder them, I use a sports detergent and wash the clothes on delicate-cold, then dry them on delicate. Because they're all moisture wicking, it really doesn't take very long to wash or dry them. I haven't had any issues with shrinking.0
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We just by Tide with Febreze. Problem solved for us.0
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I hate the smell of my stinky running clothes, but I hate the smell of vinegar even more. Can you smell the vinegar while the clothes are washing or drying? My washer is upstairs in the main hallway, so don't want the whole house to smell like vinegar.
The only time I can smell it is when I am putting it in the washer. The smell doesn't stay with the clothes.0 -
Thanks for this! I couldn't stand the smell of me today while I was out there sweating!!0
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I rinse my running clothes in the shower after running. They are already wet (and in the summer, dripping wet) so rinsing off the sweat (and the bacteria because that is what causes the smell) and the shaking (not wringing) the excess water off is a start. I have a place to allow them to hang to dry at work. At home, it isn't an issue (having a place). Just don't let them sit all bunched up without a way to dry. The bacteria loves the warm and moist environment.
In laundry, I use Tide Sport and Oxy-Clean. Tide Sport alone does a nice job (it has Fabreeze as part of its odor fighting formulation and has a pleasant fragrance) but the Oxy-Clean, or similar oxygen bleach, seems to finish the job and take care of most staining. That has been through experimentation and I find that it seems to work the best for me for cleaning, stains, and odor. Usually, just warm water, but occasionally get the water temperature up. Note: never use liquid laundry detergent on Gore Tex fabric. Either use a cleaner intended for breathable, waterproof fabric or use a good powdered laundry detergent with fabric softener. I don't use much Gore Tex in running, but I have a jacket I might use when the weather is really cold and wet.
I always use the gentle/delicate cycle for washing and rinsing. On my washer, the spin cycle is slower than for normal loads. So, after the cycle completes, I'll run in through the final normal "extended spin" cycle to spin out as much water before drying.
Never use fabric softener either liquid or in the form of dryer sheets for the running clothes. The wicking nature of the hi-tech fabrics gets inhibited by fabric softener (especially socks and sock liners).
Some clothes can be dried in the clothes dryer, others have to be hung to dry. Read the label.
I've done the vinegar route before. It works, but I feel like I'm missing the oil and a salad afterward.0 -
Anyone ever try vodka in your running shoes?
http://womensrunning.competitor.com/2015/09/shoes-gear/try-this-boozy-trick-for-smell-free-running-shoes_462340 -
With the exception of my sneakers, I've never had a problem with smelly gear. I leave things balled up for a day or 2, wash with Tide free and clear (or whatever their gentle/hypoallergenic is called), dry with a dryer sheet, then fold and put away.
What detergent are you using?0 -
I had been using 'ALL" with Downey Dryer Sheets. I've since switched to WIN and have also tried Sport Suds. No dryer sheets. So far I have noticed some improvement (no one passes out in the locker room since I switched
). I think the real test will be how my newer clothes smell in a couple months. I just purchased a couple pair of running pants and a couple new shirts. 0 -
I always hang my clothes to dry on the hamper before throwing them in with all my other clothes. I don't usually have a problem with them making my room smell like sweat. I wash my clothes with all of my other ones and throw in a cup of Downey Unstoppables to help them smell good. I also never dry my running clothes in the drier, regardless of what the tag might say. I just feel like the drier puts a lot of wear and tear on my clothes. I've had some of my running shirts and shorts for years and they don't smell at all and still look brand new!0
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Anyone ever try vodka in your running shoes?
http://womensrunning.competitor.com/2015/09/shoes-gear/try-this-boozy-trick-for-smell-free-running-shoes_46234
Absolutely not that is a CRIMINAL WASTE!
Just one (stupid) question - what type of vinegar, just the white stuff you can clean your windows with??? Thank you
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Anyone ever try vodka in your running shoes?
http://womensrunning.competitor.com/2015/09/shoes-gear/try-this-boozy-trick-for-smell-free-running-shoes_46234
Absolutely not that is a CRIMINAL WASTE!
Just one (stupid) question - what type of vinegar, just the white stuff you can clean your windows with??? Thank you
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Sport Suds is the best stuff. I sweat a lot. During the summer I was soaked every day. Since I started using this stuff everything smells fresh and clean. I even leave my stuff in the washer all week to do one big load of work out stuff. It takes a few washings but will even get the stuff that already has a set-in stink back to normal.
http://www.amazon.com/Sport-Suds-Washing-Machine-Cleaner/dp/B00KQ0VV66/ref=pd_bxgy_121_img_2?ie=UTF8&refRID=09YJ8TH5SCGPXW0XB2FQ0 -
I've been using several brands over the past 6 weeks and I can say for certain that they are working on my new clothes. Some of my older shirts are still stinky but I never did use the vinegar as was suggested. I may have to try that.
So far I like the WIN brand the best. Sports Suds is OK but the smell is too neutral. I also tried a brand called HEX from my local supermarket. I like it but the packaging is horrible. It makes quite a mess on my counter. I will not get that brand again.0 -
only after a run. A large glass with ice, lemon and soda really helps me get off my *kitten* and pick them up and knock the mud off and put them to dryAnyone ever try vodka in your running shoes?
http://womensrunning.competitor.com/2015/09/shoes-gear/try- this-boozy-trick-for-smell-free-running-shoes_46234
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Tide pod and hang dry and never had an odor problem (my friends and family would definitely say something).0
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I've been using several brands over the past 6 weeks and I can say for certain that they are working on my new clothes. Some of my older shirts are still stinky but I never did use the vinegar as was suggested. I may have to try that.
So far I like the WIN brand the best. Sports Suds is OK but the smell is too neutral. I also tried a brand called HEX from my local supermarket. I like it but the packaging is horrible. It makes quite a mess on my counter. I will not get that brand again.
I use HEX because it was the only one my super market had. The packaging is indeed awful. I just pour it directly into the washer instead of using the little cut that comes attached. But seriously; there's a reason every other detergent comes in a hard-sided jug and not a weird bag, HEX!0 -
I use the Sam's Club house brand detergent, because it's cheap and it works. I have a 4 tsp (1.3 Tbsp) measuring spoon that I will fill level for small loads and rounded for running clothes. I also put distilled white vinegar in the fabric softener container, up to the max fill line. This is less than the half cup I was using in my old washer, perhaps about a quarter cup; but it seems to be enough. I also make sure to wash my shirts inside out, to get the armpit odors taken care of.
I pitched a lot of smelly shirts before I learned to use distilled white vinegar and wash the shirts inside out.0 -
After the run I hang my clothes to dry. Once in a while I may use a little vinegar, but thats maybe 2 or 3 times in a year. I wash mine in cold water with Purex detergent, no softer, and then I hang them to dry. I never had a stink problem on my running clothes.0
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I use white vinegar in place of fabric softener and wash on a normal cold water cycle. They end up smelling like the detergent I use (Tide Pods with Febreeze).
Actually, I use white vinegar as fabric softener on all my laundry. It's fantastic on towels . . . they get SO fluffy 0 -
We just by Tide with Febreze. Problem solved for us.
This is what I do as well.... I throw my sweaty clothes in the hamper, wash on the weekend in the Tide Sport with Febreeze and then tumble dry on low heat. I haven't had any issues with smelliness...
I also have a front load washer, which can sometimes smell if you don't leave the door open to allow the washer to dry out when not in use. This smell can transfer onto your clothes, so if you have a front load washer, make sure you leave the door open when not in use. You can clean your washer to get rid of the smell too. I use Affresh cleaner in mine. #employee0
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