Caring for athletic clothing requires a little extra know-how. It's not as simple as just tossing your clothes in the washing machine and hoping for all the stains or bad odors to be gone. Washing activewear without damaging delicate fibers and colors can be tricky, but doesn't have to feel overwhelming.
With the right tips, you’ll be able to keep those gym clothes looking fresh while preserving elasticity and fit. In this blog post, we’ll walk you through some important tips on how to properly wash athletic clothing without ruining them!
How To Remove Sweat Stains From ActiveWear
It's important to tackle body sweat stains, deodorant stains, or discoloration on activewear before throwing it in the washing machine. When cleaning stains, it is best to start by scrubbing with a soft toothbrush dipped in detergent. This will help to loosen up the soil before washing.
An oxygen-based spray can be used for the pretreatment of oil and food stains. To ensure that this doesn’t cause any damage or discoloration to the fabric, it is also important to test a small area of the clothing in an inconspicuous part of the garment.
How To Wash High-Performance Activewear
Athletic wear often has a distinct odor that is caused by a combination of sweat, bacteria, skin cells, and salt. This can lead to stubborn stains and unpleasant smells that can be difficult to remove.
To help keep your gym clothes smelling fresh and free from stains, it is important to understand how to wash them properly. If you want to know more about the best ways to clean your gym clothes, follow the steps we will list below.
Soak and Rinse
A quick and easy way to clean your activewear is by mixing one part distilled white vinegar with four parts cold water in a sink or plastic container. The garments should be completely submerged in this solution for 15 to 30 minutes before washing, or if the wash day is far away, it can be soaked for a half-hour and then rinsed with plain water.
Once the clothes have been treated, they should be allowed to drip-dry before being moved into the hamper. This method of cleaning activewear can help remove any sweat, dirt, stains, and odors that may have built up over time. It's also an effective way to keep bacteria and viruses at bay while preserving its color.
Additionally, vinegar has mild antiseptic properties, which further help in eliminating germs that might linger on the fabric. It's wise to check care instructions on each piece of clothing prior to introducing them to this solution as some delicate fabrics may not respond well to vinegar's acidic nature.
Sort and Turn Clothes Inside Out
The best way to keep your high-performance activewear looking great is to follow the proper washing protocol. To start, make sure to wash your clothes alone or only with fabrics and colors.
Always close any zippers before placing your garments in the machine and turn them inside out so that bacteria and dirt on the inner layer gets washed away. Doing so will help preserve the quality of your activewear and ensure it lasts longer than usual.
Add the Correct Detergent
A good rule of thumb when doing laundry is to use the right amount of detergent. Adding too much can lead to a buildup of detergent on clothing fibers, resulting in an ideal environment for the growth of bacteria and yeast.
To combat this issue, use a pre-measured detergent and safe on your delicate athletic wear. Tru Earth produces the right detergent for this job. Our detergent strips are a revolutionary way to make laundry washing easier, healthier, more economical and much kinder to our planet.
They are pre-measured liquidless detergent strips containing ultra-concentrated, hypoallergenic, eco-friendly cleaning power. The smart hypoallergenic laundry detergent formulation seeks out and dislodges dirt molecules and stains in order to keep them in suspension until they are rinsed away.
What's more, these strips are free of added dyes, parabens, phosphates, chlorine bleach, and 1,4-dioxane (as certified by independent laboratory tests). Our product is hypoallergenic and readily biodegradable in accordance with OECD 310D without any animal-based ingredients or testing on animals done by our ingredient suppliers or us.
By using the right type of laundry detergent, you'll not only be able to keep your clothes smelling fresh and clean for longer but also protect them from damage caused by over-washing with too much detergent.
No Fabric Softener
Even though fabric softener is often beneficial to clothing, your activewear does not react well to this product. Fabric softeners should not be used on performance fabrics due to their ability to cause them to degrade and become harder to clean.
Instead, white vinegar can be added to the wash cycle as a substitute; it will soften the fabrics, reduce odors, and has no negative environmental impacts.
Set the Washing Machine Cycle
It is important to practice mindful laundry techniques when cleaning high-performance activewear. Cold water on the gentle cycle should be used instead of hot water and vigorous agitation, as these can weaken the fabric's fibers and reduce the lifespan of your clothing.
Taking care when washing workout clothes is recommended in order to maintain their quality and performance benefits.
Air-Dry, WheneverPossible
Hang high-performance workout clothes on a drying rack to air-dry, as the heat of a dryer can potentially damage the fabric. However, if you must use a dryer, make sure to set it to the lowest heat setting available.
Doing so will help preserve the material and lengthen the lifespan of your workout clothing. Taking these precautions will ensure that your clothing remains in peak condition for each and every workout.
