Having an active lifestyle is an investment. You do it for your health. But, the fitness clothes you wear are an investment you must take care of to make them last longer. Fitness clothes are not the same as your regular clothes; you have to wash them in a different manner.
Soak and rinse.
It is normal for fitness clothes to have unpleasant odors, especially after a long day of hiking. If you cannot immediately take care of them after your workout, let them air dry before sending them to the laundry pickup service. But, if you can take care of them immediately, you can soak them.
Soaking your fitness wear in white distilled vinegar removes the unpleasant odor. The vinegar breaks the bond between the fabric and bodily soil. You can prepare this solution with one part of white distilled vinegar to four parts of cold water.
You can soak your fitness clothes for 15 to 30 minutes before giving them a tumble in the washer.
Turn fitness clothes inside out.
You have to know that the grime on fitness clothes is on the inside. The breeding ground for the smell-producing bacteria is on the armpit’s seams. Moreover, residues of the deodorant and antiperspirant are around that area which builds up during your workout. Before throwing them into the washer, turn them inside out to ensure that the clothes are efficiently cleaned.
Use only the correct amount of detergent.
It is a myth that the more laundry detergent you use, the cleaner your clothes become. Do not use more than the specified amount of laundry detergent. Using too much detergent results in building up in its fibers. The residue build-up becomes a great opportunity for bacteria and fungi to breed and cause odors.
The solution for funky-smelling fitness clothes is a laundry sanitizer. You have to ensure that it is made for activewear fabrics to ensure it does not damage the fibers of your sportswear.
Do not use fabric conditioners or dryer sheets for your fitness clothes. This blocks the fibers of your moisture-wicking clothes, making them foul-smelling when soaked with sweat. So even when your clothes smell good after laundry or when you wear them at the gym, it will smell bad soon.
Air dry fitness clothes.
The ideal way to dry fitness clothes is on a drying rack. It is almost a “don’t” for fitness clothes to dry in a machine. If it leaves you no choice, you have to put the dryer on the lowest heat setting to avoid damaging the fabric. Before throwing them into the dryer, make sure to sniff your fitness clothes and ensure it has no odor. If there is, rewash it. Machine-drying causes the odor to set into the fibers. You do not want to go to the gym or go cycling in foul-smelling clothes, right?
Indeed, fitness clothes need some extra care. You cannot throw them in the hamper and wait for the weekend to give them a trip to the nearest laundry service.
