Exercise Clothes - to wash or hang dry?

macnotes
macnotes Posts: 210 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Just a survey out there....I have a few really good quality, moisture whicking shirts and capris/pants which I use for outdoor bootcamps and runs. I also ride to work and wear the same clothes. What I'm wondering is how often you wash your gear and do you wear the same gear more than once a week?

I don't want to ruin my expensive work out clothes, but I don't want to stink anyone out either. And I sweat, a lot.

And as a side note, do you wear the same shoes or cycle through them for each work out?

Replies

  • Carolyn_79
    Carolyn_79 Posts: 935 Member
    I wear the same shoes every time. When working out at the gym I wash my workout clothes after wearing once because I know I stink, lol. When I was working out at home I'd wear them twice and then wash them. I never put them in the dryer though.
  • macnotes
    macnotes Posts: 210 Member
    Do you wash them on a gentle cycle, cold water, special soap?

    I like to dry them (I know the elastic in them gets worn out) just because I think the hot heat would dry up all the stinky!
  • mandasimba
    mandasimba Posts: 782 Member
    Oh my. Somebody failed me when it comes to matters of the home. I just throw everything in - washer and dryer, normal cycle. Jeans, hoodies, blouses, trousers, underwears, gym clothes... occasionally some keenex and chapstick.

    I've yet to have problems with clothes, but if anything did get ruined, I suppose it just wasn't meant to be :p
  • conidiring
    conidiring Posts: 230 Member
    They have special detergent for "Sports" clothes that takes out the stank. I wash mine every week (after one wear) as I get really stinky and couldn't stand to put them on again without washing. I also dry in the dryer (oh, goodness no!). I switch between two pairs of shoes so they have a chance to air out in between as I work out 6 days a week.

    Edited to add: I wash in hot and dry in hot as well.
  • Carolyn_79
    Carolyn_79 Posts: 935 Member
    Do you wash them on a gentle cycle, cold water, special soap?

    I like to dry them (I know the elastic in them gets worn out) just because I think the hot heat would dry up all the stinky!

    Yes, gentle cycle, cold water, and just my regular laundry detergent.
  • lisapr123
    lisapr123 Posts: 863 Member
    I wash after every workout. Cold water with either Active Wash or powdered detergent (they're supposed to be better for wicking clothes). Most of the clothes go on a drying rack.

    A lot of my workout clothes are 3+ yrs old, so it seems to be working in terms of helping them last.

    Shoes: Most of mine are sport specific. I have running shoes, cycling shoes (that clip on the pedal) and general gym shoes that I'll wear for walking or general cardio.
  • macnotes
    macnotes Posts: 210 Member
    Shoes: Most of mine are sport specific. I have running shoes, cycling shoes (that clip on the pedal) and general gym shoes that I'll wear for walking or general cardio.

    You bring up a good point...I only have running shoes and wonder with all this boot camp stuff if I should get some sort of different, possibly more supportive shoe for things like sideways movement....
  • froeschli
    froeschli Posts: 1,292 Member
    Shirts i definitely wash after one use, bras 1 or 2, pants 1 or 2 - depending on how much i sweat... i work out at home and go running on my own, but i still don't like being smelly... my running jacket gets washed at the first whiff of smell... depending on the outside temperature, that's every week or two...
    i try and use cold wash and mild detergent, hang dry, but honestly, when it comes to doing laundry, sometimes i just want it to be over, so i toss everything in on hot, and into the dryer as well...

    shoes, well, running shoes for running, hiking, for hiking and walking, barefoot for most other activities. if i went to a gym, i'd have a dedicated pair too, since you shouldn't wear 'outside' shoes for indoor sports (mostly because they are grubby, i think).
  • Toddrific
    Toddrific Posts: 1,114 Member
    I wash mine after every wear. If you notice a peculiar smell, you can use vinegar. Some of the compression/wicking clothing can get strange smelling even after washing.
  • juicemoogan
    juicemoogan Posts: 994 Member
    If someone knows how to make shoes less stinky please let me know.
    haha

    because i have those shoe odor powders, i frebreeze them, I have washed the insoles (but not the whole shoe) as i dont want to put them in the dryer and i need them for working out so i cant leave them for like 2 days to dry.

    nothing lasts.
  • BrianSharpe
    BrianSharpe Posts: 9,248 Member
    The big thing with wicking fabrics is to avoid fabric softeners. At home we toss workout clothes in with regular laundry and do a 2nd rinse in clear water & then hag up the wicking fabrics, the rest gets the fabric softener and into the dryer or hung up for knits)
  • LuckyLeprechaun
    LuckyLeprechaun Posts: 6,296 Member
    If someone knows how to make shoes less stinky please let me know.
    haha

    because i have those shoe odor powders, i frebreeze them, I have washed the insoles (but not the whole shoe) as i dont want to put them in the dryer and i need them for working out so i cant leave them for like 2 days to dry.

    nothing lasts.

    put them into the freezer. Wait 48 hours.
    It's not permanent, but it does last a long time. For my husband, it did, anyway.
  • AmyRhubarb
    AmyRhubarb Posts: 6,890 Member
    I wear 'em once & they get washed, about once a week or whenever I run out of sports bras. :laugh: Need a couple more of those things, waiting for a sale!

    I've got enough stuff now that I usually separate the lights & darks (along with hubby's running shorts & anything of the kiddo's that goes through on delicate), use my regular homemade laundry soap with a splash of liquid oxyclean, delicate cycle, hang to dry. Sometimes I run them through the dryer with no heat to get some more of the water out of them before I hang them up.
  • BrianSharpe
    BrianSharpe Posts: 9,248 Member
    If someone knows how to make shoes less stinky please let me know.
    haha

    because i have those shoe odor powders, i frebreeze them, I have washed the insoles (but not the whole shoe) as i dont want to put them in the dryer and i need them for working out so i cant leave them for like 2 days to dry.

    nothing lasts.

    I have 2 kids who play soccer and their cleats & shin pads could be used for biological weapons until I came across (I forget where - this isn't my original idea) the suggestion to use a UV-C sanitizing wand. We got one from costco for $50 or so and it works miracles as the UV actually kills the bacteria that causes the stench.....
  • macnotes
    macnotes Posts: 210 Member
    ^^^neat suggestion! I should get that for my husband's work boots! eeew
  • Azdak
    Azdak Posts: 8,281 Member
    Just a survey out there....I have a few really good quality, moisture whicking shirts and capris/pants which I use for outdoor bootcamps and runs. I also ride to work and wear the same clothes. What I'm wondering is how often you wash your gear and do you wear the same gear more than once a week?

    I don't want to ruin my expensive work out clothes, but I don't want to stink anyone out either. And I sweat, a lot.

    And as a side note, do you wear the same shoes or cycle through them for each work out?

    I wash my stuff after every use. Warm/cold water. I usually use the delicate cycle, but I don't think it makes any difference. I have put them through the regular cycle a number of times because I wasn't thinking and they hold up fine.

    I wear the same types of shirts for work and work out a lot, so I usually have enough to make a full load every weekend. Some of my shirts I have washed at least 100 times.

    When I dry these clothes, I put them on the second lowest setting. To me, excess heat is a bigger problem than machine washing.

    Over time, all technical fabrics will start to retain odor. There are special detergents out there that are especially formulating for technical workout clothing. I got a good deal one time and got 4 bottles of the stuff, so I used it regularly. Then I ran out and stopped because it's a little pricey ($15 for a 48 oz bottle). After a couple of months, I can notice the difference, so I need to break down and get more.

    And maybe I'm wrong, but I use dryer sheet fabric softeners for all my tech clothes. It never has seemed to affect them and trying to go without leaves them unwearable.
  • macnotes
    macnotes Posts: 210 Member
    Do you really think people can notice if your clothes smell bad or not? I just wonder because sometimes after working out outside, being drenched in rain, I don't notice too bad of a smell...but maybe that's just me trying to smell my own smell and that doesn't stink...Thanks for the advice. I'm sure my work out mates will appreciate it :)
  • ccmccoy09
    ccmccoy09 Posts: 284 Member
    If I didn't sweat much or it's a home workout, I'll hang everything out post-workout and wear it a second time. Not pants though. I wash everything in cold water using Tide with Febreeze. I don't know if it's any better than regular detergent but I like the way Febreeze smells. I don't put anything in the dryer. The dryer fries the elastic and will make your clothes stretch out. Probably not enough to notice if you're staying the same weight, but you'll definitely notice the elastic isn't so elastic-y once you start dropping a few pounds!

    I rinse my expensive fancy Moving Comfort running bras in cold water after every use, by hanging them on the shower head and running it cold before my shower.

    Also, humans get used to their own smell. Other people may be able to smell you when you can't. Better safe than sorry. Febreeze is your friend.

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