7 Essential Tips to Keeping Your Gym Clothes Fresh & Clean | Daniel Appliance Company (2024)

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7 Essential Tips to Keeping Your Gym Clothes Fresh & Clean | Daniel Appliance Company? ›

The most important rule is to wash your workout clothes each time you wear them. If you re-wear them, odors accumulate and further set into the fibers and are more difficult, or impossible, to remove later. Washing your garments after each use is one of the best ways to keep your athletic gear smelling fresh.

The most important rule is to wash your workout clothes each time you wear them. If you re-wear them, odors accumulate and further set into the fibers and are more difficult, or impossible, to remove later. Washing your garments after each use is one of the best ways to keep your athletic gear smelling fresh.

“Before tossing workout clothing into the washing machine, fill up a large, gallon-sized container (or even the sink) with cold water. Next, add a cup of white vinegar and a cup of baking soda. Submerge the sweaty workout clothes and soak for at least 30 minutes before putting them through a wash cycle.”

Pre-soak your Workout Clothes: Soak your clothes in cold water for about half an hour before washing. This process loosens the embedded sweat and dirt, thus making the subsequent washing more effective. Use Suitable Detergent: Your best bet is a sports detergent designed for workout clothes.

Try a White Vinegar Soak

Mehas says to combine ½ cup of vinegar with 2 cups of water (4:1 ratio) and let the garment soak for 15 to 30 minutes. This is effective for de-stinking washable shoes, garments, and linens, and can even help tackle stained garments.

Vinegar is a natural cleaning agent that effectively removes odors and stains from your washing machine. It is safe for both the environment and your machine, as it does not cause any harm or damage. The recommended amount of vinegar to use in a top load machine depends on the load size, ranging from 1/2 to 4 cups.

Vinegar: Add one cup of vinegar to a bucket of cold water and soak your smelly clothes for up to 30 minutes. Baking Soda: Add one cup of baking soda to your wash load with your detergent and wash in cold water. Lemon Juice: Squeeze the juice of one lemon into your wash load to extinguish odor-causing bacteria.

The Watch-outs of Adding Vinegar and Baking Soda to Your Laundry. Although vinegar and baking soda are safe to use in both regular and HE washing machines, they are considerably less efficient than high-performance laundry detergents at delivering an outstanding and odorless clean.

TOP TIP: Baking soda and white vinegar is an ace cleaning combination for any tough stain.

Fill a sink with one part distilled white vinegar and four parts cold water. Submerge the activewear and let it soak for 15–30 minutes.

What is the best soak for athletic clothes? ›

Soak your workout clothes in a vinegar-and-water solution to combat odor that can build up over time. Distilled white vinegar works its magic by cutting through body oils, helping release bacteria and odor. Simply submerge garments in one part vinegar to four parts cold water and let them soak for 15-30 minutes.

Unlike jeans, which can withstand a few wears before being washed, athletic clothes should be cleaned much more frequently. Patric Richardson of The Laundry Evangelist says exercise garments should be cleaned after every workout. When running errands, like going to grab a coffee, they can be worn twice before washing.

Workout clothes are made to wick away moisture while you work out, which helps keep you cool and comfortable. Because of this, the inside of your workout shirts, pants and other items are more exposed to sweat and body oils. Turning your workout clothes inside out helps provide a more targeted clean.

Limiting frequent bathing can lead to dirt, sweat and dead skin cells build up leading to Your clothes have a strong smell. You can reduce these effects by showering regularly and washing with mild soap and warm water. Sweating in the groin area can attract fungi and bacteria that lead to bad odors.

Adding vinegar directly to the wash with your laundry detergent may compromise its cleaning performance. Laundry detergents are formulated for specific pH levels, which may be disrupted by the acidity of vinegar, leading to less effective cleaning. It's best to avoid mixing them to ensure optimal results.

Try Vinegar

“Swap your usual detergent with a vinegar soak before washing,” Kropf advised. “Vinegar is a natural and effective way to break down oils and neutralize bacteria. After the soak, wash your clothes as usual, preferably with a detergent specifically designed for sportswear.”

It's simple: “Freshly washed workout clothes still smell sweaty because they aren't thoroughly clean,” explains Mary Marlowe Leverette, a cleaning and fabric care expert and consultant to detergent manufacturers, textile distributors, and consumer laundry appliance developers.

Sweep up loose dirt, hair, and other debris from surfaces after each workout. Wipe down equipment after each use. Use disinfecting wipes, or simply wipe with a damp towel followed by a dry cloth or paper towel. Clean up any spills immediately to prevent them from getting on floors, carpets, or equipment.