Washing Workout Clothes

We have a Kenmore Elite HE4t.

Sport wash.

Normal cycle with heavy soil level on cold with second rinse.

Air dry on a wooden laundry rack.

We have a Whirlpool HE from Costco (couldn't tell you which one)...

I do normal cycle with cold water and cold rinse, and hang dry most things - especially bike stuff. I throw my oldest running shorts in the dryer on the lowest setting - newer ones I hang dry. I just use a HE detergent, which I'm sure isn't the best, but most convenient. I don't use fabric softener or dryer sheets on workout stuff - I read somewhere a long time ago that that stuff can impact the wicking properties of tech clothes.

I will say that my stuff has perma-stink probably because I should be using sport wash.

I use sport wash but not with every wash cycle only every so often.  Other than that I use woolite.  I always use gentle cycle.  We have an LG (I think this is the brand) HE washer.  I also dry everything (except swimsuits) using gentle cycle low heat.  I have had most of my workout gear for lots of years (some stuff 10 years but none less than 3 years) and have never had a problem or noticed any issues with the wicking properties of the fabric or anything.  I also use a dryer sheet because otherwise static is too big a problem.  I'm wimpy and can't stand being shocked by my clothing.

What?  I always thought Adco had testicles.  Crazy!

A Man's Guide to Workout Clothes:

1. Workout

2. Hang clothes to dry until wash day (mold is bad)

3. Throw in washer, normal detergent, vigorous cycle

4. Throw in dryer, normal cycle

5. Stuff in drawer, fold first if you're girly (I mean "metrosexual," sorry)

6. Repeat process

So your workout clothes are a little smelly when you put them on?  I've got news for you - they're a whole lot worse twenty minutes later.  Who cares?!  What's this - you're worried that your $9 Champion C9 shirt can't handle the rigors of wash day?  I still have and wear shirts and shorts I bought six or seven years ago.  They're supposed to be a little shabby and smelly - that's how you know I'm a "real runner."  If I were running in $150 alpaca sweaters it might be a different story.

Perhaps the problem isn't your clothing or detergent choice, rather the crowd you exercise with.  Drop your membership with the Purple Hat Women's Friday Morning Jog 'n Tea Social and join the local county ball-buster club.  Problem solved.

You're welcome.

DH can't stand the smell of some of the workouts clothes, while I care less (I am with you Matt).  So he insists I wash (at least) his workouts clothes in HOT water and vigorous cycle (I am the laundry lady) and put them in dryer.  I don't put my good/favorite workouts clothes in dryer, I just feel they wouldt last longer without it.

Have you guys noticed the smell issue is not just for workout clothes?  Certain polyester-made clothes - the worst one to me is the boy scout shirts & pants - smell HORRIBLE.  I haven't found a solution yet.  I read somewhere (Good Housekeeping?  No I don't subsribe it, probably at MIL's house) HOT cycle with anmonia?  helps.  Has anybody tried it? 

I use normal wash, standard detergent and tumble dry low....I don't recall an "after smell"

never tried amonia...

Matt- post of the year!  Okay, its early in the year, but still...

Yoshiko - now I'm no expert on relationships (as anyone who has been on this forum for any length of time can attest), but I'm not sure that if I had someone who was willing to do my laundry that I'd be that particular about how it got done.  Hmmm, may be I need to get some pointers from your DH.

Mike

Dearest Bannon:

Although I am the member of Team LIT (other than AdCo) most qualified to comment on his testicles, I will not.  I will also not comment on whether or not he is a cheap bastage who wants his workout stuff to last forever.

I will, however, say that "a little smelly" would be fine.  What AdCo's workout stuff gets if not washed in SportWash is more like "the stank" and is thus necessary to avoid.

Signed,

fights about the "proper" way to do laundry

PS:  my theory is if it says machine wash cold, tumble dry low, you can damn well machine wash cold, tumble dry low.  gentle cycle not needed.

HE washer, normal setting, extra rinse.  Line dry.  If the line is really full, I will dry fleece in the dryer on low with a dryer sheet.

I have not noticed perma-stink.  However, swimsuits do have that chlorine smell.

I <3 Mr Bannon.  *giggle*

Cold wash, cold rinse.

Air only setting on the dryer.

Scooby--don't you get static from the dryer?

Nope.

I throw in a Bounce sheet.

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4boysmom 

Scooby--don't you get static from the dryer?

I used to go through all that hassle...

I gave it up. Now stuff gets recycled through the stink tree then... 

I wash it and dry it along side everything else

I have not noticed any difference in wicking properties or lasting less long than any other article of clothing

I finally had to retire my favorite workout pants after 10 years due to DH complaining that others could see tush skin through the holes :( alas I do not think it was a laundry issue I think it was a worn and washed 3x a week for a decade issue, with a side of -at one point my arse got too big and pulled the seems :(  Don't tell they are still in the drawer cause I love them!

I will admit the scalding hot wash probably contributes to fading...but I don't so much care about that

That just means they are converted to pj's/lounge wear!

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by melistic 

I finally had to retire my favorite workout pants after 10 years due to DH complaining that others could see tush skin through the holes  Don't tell they are still in the drawer cause I love them!

 

:)  the great thing about 98% of my wardrobe being sweat ready; it's all lounge wear. The bad thing is it's really hard to dress for a wedding ;)
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrscoby78 

That just means they are converted to pj's/lounge wear!

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by melistic 

I finally had to retire my favorite workout pants after 10 years due to DH complaining that others could see tush skin through the holes  Don't tell they are still in the drawer cause I love them!

 

I use a front loader, normal detergent, and warm water.  The key is I put in a cup of baking soda too... that keeps anything from stinking and it's a heck of a lot cheaper than Sport Wash.  I smell like a goat on a hot summer day and this method even takes that out of the clothes...

DH takes quite a bit of crap from me.  I can at least do (and other things!) for him.

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alaska Mike 

 

Yoshiko - now I'm no expert on relationships (as anyone who has been on this forum for any length of time can attest), but I'm not sure that if I had someone who was willing to do my laundry that I'd be that particular about how it got done.  Hmmm, may be I need to get some pointers from your DH.

 

Mike

DH does all of the laundry... Bannon's way.

Until he started smelling me before I ever worked out.  So now he washes my stuff (occassionally) with Tide w/Febreeze in it. 

Regular wash.  Regular detergent, no softener.  Cold wash and rinse.  Hang to dry.  Never noticed any stink.  But for sure, I never put anything into the hamper when wet or damp, I let it dry fully first unless it gets washed right away.  My sports stuff even from 10 years ago still look pretty new (well, at least the wicking fabric stuff).

MBannon: You totally rock!

Sally

Perhaps we should ask T-man to weigh in. 

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Silly Sally 

  Never noticed any stink. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by MBannon 

What?  I always thought Adco had testicles.  Crazy!

 

A Man's Guide to Workout Clothes:

 

1. Workout

2. Hang clothes to dry until wash day (mold is bad)

3. Throw in washer, normal detergent, vigorous cycle

4. Throw in dryer, normal cycle

5. Stuff in drawer, fold first if you're girly (I mean "metrosexual," sorry)

6. Repeat process

 

So your workout clothes are a little smelly when you put them on?  I've got news for you - they're a whole lot worse twenty minutes later.  Who cares?!  What's this - you're worried that your $9 Champion C9 shirt can't handle the rigors of wash day?  I still have and wear shirts and shorts I bought six or seven years ago.  They're supposed to be a little shabby and smelly - that's how you know I'm a "real runner."  If I were running in $150 alpaca sweaters it might be a different story.

 

Perhaps the problem isn't your clothing or detergent choice, rather the crowd you exercise with.  Drop your membership with the Purple Hat Women's Friday Morning Jog 'n Tea Social and join the local county ball-buster club.  Problem solved.

 

You're welcome.

MB great post! That's pretty much my routine as well except the occasional special batch w/sport wash (when i have a 'critical mass' of stanky things).  To increase duration between washes this winter, i've been wearing my cycling shorts and jersey into the shower after each trianer session ... give 'em a good rinse off and hang dry, reuse, repeat, and wait for that special wash day

Wait, you're supposed to wash stuff?

Huh.

Quote:

Originally Posted by pcsronbo 

Wait, you're supposed to wash stuff?

 

Huh.

Ew just EWWW !!  it might be o.k. for some of us to skip a wash cycle. I do not believe the same rule applies to you, my friend. I'm suprised the Mrs. hasn't made you install a shower in the pain cave so your frozen sweat-cicles never even make it into the house