With the rise of so many workout fads and yoga activewear, you can only imagine how many new workout clothing lines have been coming up too. Designer brands branching out to “athleisure” and workout wear becoming fashion statements and street wear too. You can only imagine what percentage of people’s closets has evolved into Lululemon, Under Armour, Adidas, and Nike. These clothes aren’t exactly easy on the pocket. So, what would be the smartest thing to do to lengthen the lifespan of these investments?
- Don’t keep wet workout clothes on and hang them to air dry if you’re not doing the laundry just yet. Keeping them on traps moisture and bacteria and could result in a number of skin infections. Leaving them in a pile on your floor doesn’t do it any good either. Soak in 1 part white vinegar and 3 parts water for 15-20 minutes ONLY. The vinegar mixture helps eliminate any bad odors and stains. Be sure not to leave it longer, or else, it could damage the fabric.
- Separate workout clothes into colors and textures.
- Wash clothes and towels separately. Towel fibers can stick to workout wear and could be damaging to the fabric if the fibers are too stiff. A couple more items to watch out for before including them in the wash are items with fleece, zippers or Velcro.
- Sports bras should be hand washed or washed in a lingerie bag. If they come with removable pads, take out the pads and wash separately. Be gentle to avoid creating creases and folds on the pads. Turn them inside out before washing. This is to avoid colors from fading, and since most bacteria accumulate on the inside of clothing, then, it would be best to expose that side more.
- Read and follow washing instructions and use the delicate cycle. Although workout wear was made to be very durable, it’s still good to be gentle with washing them.
- Use baking soda and lemon juice. A couple of helpful things you can find in your kitchen. Add a cup of baking soda with your really wet and dirty workout clothes when you toss them in the wash. It helps get rid of bad odors. You may also add the juice of one large lemon to kill bad bacteria and smells that are difficult to get rid of.
- NEVER use more than the recommended amount of detergent. Better to use a little less than the recommended amount because the detergent may end up doing more harm than good. If possible, use detergents specific for active wear.
- NEVER use fabric softener. This locks in smells including the bad ones you want to get rid of and severely damages the special fabrics specific to athletic wear.
- Do not iron or put through a dryer. These could affect the fabric as well and best to leave your yoga pants and Lululemon tops hanging outside to dry. Maintain that they’re inside out so the colors won’t fade easily, and drying them in the sun helps get rid of other harmful bacteria too.
This is it. Thanks for reading!