Race into new fitness gear!
You have got great new workout gear. But how to make them last the year still looking shiny new? Simple. You’ll need to be as gentle on your workout gear as you are hard during your workout. Here’s how
Stop stuffing sweaty clothes in your gym bag
When it comes to odors in gym gear, fresh air is your friend. Free your clothes from the bag so they aren’t trapped in their own funk.
Start soaking
You probably have a nice soak after a hard workout, your clothes can benefit from a soak, too. A half cup of vinegar and honestly you can skip the fancy stuff, for about 20 minutes before you load everything in the washer should do the trick. Pre-soaking helps your clothes release tough odors without damaging the fabric.
Keep soaking
If your gear still isn’t as fresh as you would like, add another half cup of white vinegar to the wash. Baking soda is a fine alternative for soaking and washing.
Don’t overdo
More isn’t better so be careful about using too much detergent. Stick to the recommended amount so it rinses from your clothes properly.
Avoid fabric softener
Fabric softeners smell nice but when it comes to fitness gear they are somewhat equivalent to putting lipstick on a pig. Fabric softeners leave a film on clothing that can trap odors so you end up with their fresh breeze scent on top of your funk.
Turn inside out
Before you wash, turn your gear inside out. Most of the offending odors had a contact there first anyway.
Fresh air is your friend
Skip the dryer and hang your gear after the wash. Drying clothes can damage and shrink the fabric, reducing its lifespan. The dryer also bakes in odors making them harder to treat.
Be cool
It sounds counterintuitive but a cold-water wash is best for your workout gear. Cold water protects the fiber of stretch fabrics, like spandex, so they last longer without pilling, stretching or fading.
