When your workout is finished, you feel refreshed, energized, and accomplished. But when it comes to putting those sweaty clothes in the laundry, sometimes no amount of washing seems to remove the smell from shorts, t-shirts, socks, sports bras, leggings, and sweatpants. To make cleaning your workout clothes a “no sweat” experience, here are five tips for removing the smells, sequenced from the fitness finish to the drying process.
Never Toss Work Out Clothes On The Floor
Many of us stay in those sweat-laden clothes to run a few errands, grab a cup of coffee, or watch a little TV at home before hitting the shower. Not a good idea. Staying in your clothes let’s bacteria grow, adding to the odor issue. You should also avoid taking that grimy gear and tossing it onto the floor or in a laundry hamper. Again, bacteria will continue to bloom and the smells will intensify. If your clothes are particularly sweaty, you should wash them as soon as possible. If these steps aren’t possible, at least try to air them out a bit.
Consider Pre-Wash Soaking
Prep work can go a long way towards eliminating the smells. One popular option is to soak your clothes in a tub or sink for 15 to 30 minutes in cold water with a cup of white vinegar (a great bacteria killer). Another option is to add an ounce of laundry detergent to a half gallon of water and squeeze the juice of a whole lemon into the mix. Citric acid in the lemon juice is effective at breaking up the oils that have soaked into the clothing, particularly on socks. A final pre-wash step is use a brush to scrub the neckline and armpits and any other particularly smelly spots. You may also want to clean or at least spray that gym bag with vinegar to keep them fresher the next time. Turn your clothes inside out before washing.
Less is More… More or Less
What you put in the washing machine, and what you leave out, can go a long way towards removing bad smells from your clothes. First, ditch the fabric softener. which puts a protective barrier on your clothes that locks in the odors. Plus, fabric softeners can damage any garments made of stretchy materials like Spandex or Lycra often found in a lot of workout clothing. These materials are used because they’re so effective at limiting water absorption, which is useful when your in the gym, but not so good when you want to get the gym out of your garb. Next, cut back on the amount of laundry detergent you use. Extra detergent ends up trapped, along with dead skin cells, in your clothes. Consider using half the recommended amount or passing on detergent altogether. There are also certain laundry detergents made specifically for workout gear. Like fabric softener, laundry detergents can harm stretchy fabrics.
That white vinegar or lemon juice you pre-soaked your clothes in? Consider adding a cup or two of vinegar or the juice of a lemon to the laundry machine as well. Baking soda, often used to reduce odors in your refrigerator, can be effective here too. Adding a cup to the machine is a good option.
Cool It!
Think you need scalding temperatures to remove the funk? Maybe, but washing in cold water is a better option as the hot water can hurt those precious clothing fibers. Don’t have access to a washing machine or not enough quarters for the neighborhood laundromat? Freeze the clothes. Yep. Put them in a plastic bag and place your clothes in the freezer. The frigidly cold air can get rid of odors, though this is not as good a choice as a good wash.
Dry Differently
Mother Nature can be a real asset when smell is an issue. When your clothes come out of the wash, let them air dry either indoors or outside. Sunshine and fresh air are effective odor busters. Keep them inside out so colors don’t fade. If you can’t hang them and need to use a clothes dryer, use a very low temperature or, if available, use the machine’s air dry option.
With a little planning and care, you can get rid of the nasty nose offenders. If you really want to make sure your clothes are as fresh as can be, consult a professional laundry and dry cleaning service. Professional services are a great way to guarantee your laundry is done right.