If you are a regular reader around here, you know I have a little activewear obsession. I pretty much live in my running and workout clothes. As such, I want to make sure that they stay in as good shape as I do! I’ve learned a few easy tricks to help my running clothes last longer. This post contains Amazon affiliate links.
How to help your running clothes stay in good shape
With a few easy steps, your workout clothes can go the distance with you. How well you wash your clothes, hugely impacts how well they wear and last.
Allow them to air dry
As tempting as it is to just peel off your sweaty clothes and throw them into the hamper, don’t do it. Allowing wet clothes to sit in a basket for days can encourage the sweaty smell to linger and can lead to bacteria growth. Obviously, most of us don’t do laundry daily. Allow your clothes to air dry before throwing them into your basket.
Don’t re-wear dirty clothes
Again, bacteria can build up on your clothes along with the sweaty smell. You are basically putting the dirtiest parts back on your skin. Pretty gross huh? Waistbands can stretch out with wear and re-wearing gear without washing it can lead to a faster breakdown. Re-wearing clothes again may also encourage the odors to remain on the fabric.
Wash inside out on cold water cycle
Wash your athletic wear inside out so that the dirtiest parts are assured to get washed completely. Zip up any zippers to help avoid them getting stretched or snagged on other pieces.
Use a lingerie bag for sports bras & small items
Fasten any loose straps or hooks and consider washing your sports bras in a lingerie bag. This helps to avoid the hooks getting accidentally attached to other items and stretching them out. Go ahead and throw your gloves in there too so they stay together. Yes, you do need to wash your gloves too.
Air Dry
Setting up a station to air dry all o your performance wear and sports bras extends their life dramatically. This also protects from the fabric pilling and wearing down of lycra or spandex. A drying rack is easy to store when not in use.
Avoid fabric softener
Sure it smells good but, fabric softener can break down the elasticity of athletic wear made of spandex and lycra. Wash in cold water with liquid washing soap as it may be more gentle on your running clothes.
Wash all gear at the end of the season
Make sure that all jackets, headbands, gloves, etc. are washed at the end of each season so they are fresh and ready the next year.
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Taking a few extra steps to care for your clothes will help them work as hard as you do. Happy running!
Thanks for helping to make the Runners’ Roundup a huge success by visiting all of the hosts: Laura, Me, Debbie, Jen, Lisa
What an excellent post, Deborah! So practical!
I never use a dryer for any of our clothes. In fact, here in South Africa, our apartment doesn’t even have a dryer. It really helps the clothes to last longer and it’s environmentally friendly, too.
Allowing the sweaty gear to air dry before throwing them in a hamper is a very good point. Once the sweat has seeped through the clothes for days, it’s hard to get the smell out! Ugh!
yes, I agree that allowing the clothes to dry completely does help to prolong their wear
I actually do laundry pretty much every day thanks to having 2 runners and a toddler in my house. When we skip a day we get SO backed up! I try so hard to air dry all my running clothes but when my husband switches the wash he always misses an item or two. At least he’s trying to help?
I do remember the days of doing more laundry with little kids! Now I do it twice a week and it sure does pile up in the winter with the layers
I actually don’t use fabric softener on any of my laundry. My son had really bad eczema as a child and I learned how bad it is for your skin. But I do follow all of your tips. Air drying is definitely the key to longevity!
yes, it sure is. Some of my gear I have had for years and it is still in perfect condition
I’m a huge believer in air-drying! I have two drying racks, and they are almost always loaded up with my pretty gear 😉 I was a lot of my clothes inside-out, if there’s decorative details or screen-printing, but had not thought of just washing everything that way. Duh!
I know it makes sense right!?
oh no. I’m guilty of not doing any but the last one.
But if you buy good quality clothes, you can put them in dryer. My clothes have lasted years and years. And they still look good.
I don’t put any of my Lulu or Athleta etc in the dryer. You are definitely a minimalist! I love it
Deborah, thanks so much for sharing. My exercise routine certainly looks different than previous years, but I can certainly incorporate these tips for daily use.
I’ve certainly been guilty of using the dryer too often. Love the air dry before throwing in the hamper tip!
thanks Andrea glad the tips helped you. Hope you are doing well thinking of you
I do most of these. I hadn’t heard the tip to air dry clothes before putting them in the hamper.. but I do laundry so often, they’re not sitting there for long. The one thing I would add, is I use Hex laundry detergent, and it really helps to get rid of any weird, lingering odors.
Yes, the air dry does help. I have tried a few of the special detergents but was not wedded to any of them.
i always air dry all my athletic wear, and I also use a sports detergent as well. I have some running clothes that are a few years old and still look pretty new!
agree they can last for years if you take good care of them
Just today I mistakenly threw one of my SS tops into the dryer. I know it’ll be fine, but I really do prefer to air dry them & always kick myself when one sneaks into the dryer.
I sweat heavily so I rarely rewear something without washing it, but with the wool clothing sometimes I do. Usually because I don’t have something clean to wear . .. .
I am also a big sweater even in the wintertime! I am always surprised that me jackets are so sweaty even on a cold day
I love my fabric softener for that smell but didn’t realise it could affect longevity! Thanks for that tip! Happy to say I do the rest well (mostly!)!
It does smell good I agree!
I wash it all on cold and air dry pretty much everything except my socks. You should update your workout clothes regularly, too, but at the expense of them, I like to keep everything as long as possible.
Air drying helps a lot. Updating my clothes does not seem to an issue ha 🙂
100% air dry! I’m adamant about it for every piece of running clothing and it really does help it make them last longer.
It sure does!