I don’t know about you, but I feel like I am just saturated with sweat after every single run and workout these days. The humidity is just killer and often leaves me and my favorite workout clothes soaking wet. How you care for the sweatiest of workout clothes can help to extend their life. Here are a 5 tips on how to help your clothes keep up with you.
5 Tips to care for the sweatiest of workout clothes
Hang dry your clothes before adding them to your laundry basket.
The combination of wet clothes and sweat is an invitation for some scary mold to start growing.
Wash it out
Wash on cold cycle inside out as the dirtiest part of your workout clothes is the side that was touching your body. Resist the urge to add extra detergent as it will just cause a soap build up on your clothes. Fabric softeners can cause the sweat absorbing fabrics to break down faster. If your clothes are super smelly, instead add 1/2 cup of white vinegar to the wash with your detergent.
Hang Dry
Your workout clothes will last a lot longer and retain their shape better when hung to dry. The heat of dryers breaks down the lycra and sweat absorbing fabric. This is the drying rack I have which has tons of space on 2 sides and down below where I hang my sports bras to dry.
Use lingerie bags
Wash you sports bras inside a lingerie bag to keep them from stretching out and getting tangled up with the rest of your wash. Always air dry them.
[You might also like this Closet hack to organize all your workout gear]
Wet shoes?
Try placing balled up newspaper inside of your running shoes to soak up the water inside of them. P.S. Do not leave wet socks in your shoes.
Have any new tips for me to care for even the sweatiest of workout clothes? Happy running and sweating!
Linking up with the Friday Five-Running on Happy and Fairytales & Fitness
The newspaper trick is the greatest thing to happen to wet running shoes haha. I always keep a pair of old running shoes for the super wet/muddy days because if they get completely destroyed I can just throw them out after a run.
That is a great idea you never know when you might get caught in the rain. the newspapers help
I do all of these tips, especially the air dry method. I rarely put any of my gym clothes in the dryer. i also wash my gym clothes separate from my “regular” clothes and use a sports wash.
That’s a great idea to wash them separately
Boy do I need these tips! When I’m done running these days my clothing looks like I dipped it in a bucket of water! I tend to be so lazy about some of these things too. Like hanging my clothes dry. I know I should but I usually just toss them in the dryer.
Hanging my clothes to dry is a big one-I am kind of grossed out by the bacteria that can grow in the laundry basket.
This week I put on my fav OTF tee and it STANK. I need to re-wash with white vinegar. Have you tried that?
Yes it definitely works!
I like to try to hang dry all my workout clothes whenever possible. Lingerie bags have been awesome for my sports bras too!
Yes I always wash my bras in a lingerie bag so they don’t snag on other things
Great tips! What detergent do you use? I love that drying rack as it will come in handy during the winter. Lots and lots of layers to wear. I always hang my clothes to dry before adding them to the hamper but have not washed them inside out. Make sense. Good tip also on washing the bras in a lingerie bag. They’re already old but must still keep them a bit longer. 🙂
The lingerie bag helps keep the bras from snagging on other things so definitely a must for me. I usually use Tide Free or any of the”free” detergents.
I know I should hang up those sweaty clothes, but I don’t, and so far, no mold that I know of anyway, knock on wood!
I do hang dry after washing & I do wash inside out. I also use lingerie bags for bras, but in the summer I mostly wear tops with built in bras so I don’t have to — and that makes me happy — I have enough laundry to deal with as it is!
Luckily I can get away with that.
I never thought to wash my stuff inside out because I hate having to reverse it during folding/hanging. But it makes sense!
I’ve found that a small dollop of Tide Sport mixed with my usual free and clear detergent really helps with stinky teen workout clothes. Before them, I could just use vinegar and be fine. Teen boys are a whole new level of gross.
These are awesome tips! Definitely in need of this!
great hope they help
I do all of the above regarding cold wash, air dry, mesh bags, etc. I also remove my shoes’ insoles after rainy runs or especially sweaty endeavors and let those air dry in the sun (if there is any LOL).
I never think of removing the insoles good idea!
You seriously always have the most useful posts. Like my shoes are drenched right now and I never thought to put newspapers in them. I am literally thinking of were I have newspaper right now so I can do it.
I try and hang dry all of my cloths, it really does preserve them better.
The newspaper thing really works hope it helps!
Great tips. I have been working out a lot more lately, so these definitely come in handy. Love hanging them out to dry BEFORE putting them in the laundry.
Yes it really helps from keeping all the rest of your laundry from getting super gross as well
Ooh we hang dry our workout clothes but that’s mainly just to save energy. No wonder my stuff lasts a long time!
ha yes it does help!
Good suggestion to use a lingerie bag for sports bras!
Oh they really do help a lot!
I hang my wet clothes to dry after I run or workout and wash them too. I’ve started washing them separately too. I use oxy clean–I don’t know if it’s overkill, but I think it helps to get some of the sweat out.
I have not tried the oxy clean yet myself thanks for the tip
I’m bad. I put everything in the dryer.
I do put newspaper in my shoes. And it works.
Thanks for the tips
Oh your clothes will thank you if you don’t put them in dryer
I know but if you buy good ones like Skirt Sports you get lucky if you are lazy.
ha perhaps!
Such great tips! I could definitely put some of these to good use!
Thanks Emily!
These are great tips!
I have to admit I am not as good about hang drying my workout clothes as I used to be! I should get back to that practice!
yes it makes a huge difference
Great tips you have, especially the lingerie bag for washing sports bra.