Wash and remove bacteria from activewear after every use to prevent long-term odors.
Use distilled white vinegar and baking soda withheavy-duty laundry detergent.
These odor-busting cleaners can remove lingering bacteria and freshen your clothing without damage.
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Read on for a tried-and-true method for getting your workout clothes their cleanest.
The smell of vinegar is also strong, but it will evaporate away.
Allow your garments to drip dry thoroughly before tossing them in the hamper.
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High-performance activewear is a stretchy, breathable fabric designed to move with you during a workout.
It keeps you cool by wicking sweat away from the body and into the fibers.
This fabric is typically made from blended synthetic fibers, like nylon microfibers andelastane.
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Other stainslike food or oilcan be removed by pre-treating the fabric with an oxygen-based spray.
Test the fabric in an inconspicuous spot before treating the whole stain.
Most high-performance activewear contains flat-lock seams made with a special sewing machine.
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If a seam unravels, repair it by hand with matching thread and a needle.
High-performance fabrics will not unravel when ripped, but holes may become bigger when the material is stretched.
Storing High-Performance Activewear
High-performance activewear is best stored folded.
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Hanging it can stretch elastane fibers and create pucker marks that won’t go away.
How Often to Wash High-Performance Activewear
Workout gear requires washing after every use.
Repeatedly wearing items builds up layers of body soil and bacteria.
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Sort, wash in cold water, andline dryto make your investment last.
New washing machine models often come with an “activewear” setting.
This setting effectively removes soil yet uses a delicate action to maintain fabric longevity.
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If you don’t have an activewear setting, use the delicate cycle with cold water.
Traditional detergents may only cover the smell.
Meanwhile,a vinegar soakshould break bacteria’s bond on the fabric.
These methods are not recommended for washing workout clothes since heat breaks down their fabric fibers.
Instead, opt for natural (but powerful) cleaners like vinegar and baking soda.
Clothes Moths and Carpet Beetles: Identifying and Controlling Fabric Pests.North Carolina State University Extension.
Abney, Sarah E et al.Laundry Hygiene and Odor Control: State of the Science.Applied and environmental microbiologyvol.
14, 2021, e0300220.
