You’ve just finished a satisfying workout—sweaty, energized, and feeling accomplished. While your focus might be on the PR exercise you just finished, it's essential to also show some TLC to your activewear with a proper wash and dry. Your workout clothes will not only smell fresh but also last longer, maintaining their performance and quality by following proper care techniques.
Let's explore the steps to pre-wash, wash, and dry your activewear effectively, so they can keep you with your workouts.
What To Do With Your Activewear After A Sweaty Workout
After an intense workout, resist the urge to toss your sweat-soaked activewear into the hamper right away. Instead, let your workout clothes air dry for a few hours to avoid possible mildew and inspect them for any visible stains. Lay your workout clothes on to of your hamper.
Step-by-step Guide: Pre-treating Workout Clothing For Stains
If your activewear has any stains, it’s best to treat them immediately to prevent them from settling and becoming more challenging to remove later.
Fill a clean plastic container or fill your sink with cold water.
Submerge your workout clothing and use your hand as an agitator for a few minutes.
Treat the stain with a small amount of enzyme-based detergent or gentle detergent. Never use bleach, that could damage the fibers.
Rinse your workout clothing with cold water.
Proper Care Before You Wash Workout Clothes
A way to ensure your workout clothing keeps the integrity of material and free from snagging, you can place your workout clothing in a mesh bag normally used for delicates or intimate apparel. Mesh laundry bags can help maintain the quality of your activewear from potential piling or snagging from other pieces of clothing.
Also taking the removable bra pads out of your sports bra can help avoid any mis-shape or the awkward twisting of the pads if left inside during a machine wash.
How To Wash Workout Clothes
It’s time to wash you workout clothes, here is a step-by-step guide to properly wash them:
Start with sorting your activewear by color and fabric type. This prevents any potential color bleeding or damage caused by mixed loads.
Turn your workout clothing inside out— it's like giving them a secret armor to shield the fabric surface and keep those prints and logos intact.
If you have a mesh garment bag, place them inside. Avoid washing activewear with materials prone to pilling, such as towels or garments with zippers, which could cause abrasion.
Use a gentle detergent and following the instructed amount according to your load size. Avoid using bleach or fabric softeners which can damage the fibers overtime.
Say no to hot water! Opt for cold water, it can help preserve the shape and elasticity of your activewear while preventing color fade.
Choose the delicate or gentle cycle on your washing machine. How To Dry Workout Clothes
How To Dry Workout Clothes
After a successful wash, it’s time dry your workout clothes, but skip the dyer is possible. Here is a step-by-step guide to properly air dry your activewear:
sing a drying rack, lay your clothing on it in a well-ventilated area, away from direct sunlight or any heat sources. Sunlight or heat can disturb the integrity of the material or shape of the garment.
Let the natural air dry your work out clothing over night.
If you need to use a dryer, use a low temperature and low-tumble setting.
Final Takeaway- How To Wash & Care For Workout Clothing
So there you have it! Your ultimate guide to pre-washing, washing, and drying your activewear clothing so it can last longer and keep up with your sweaty workouts.
