Have you been sweating it out at the gym? Well, that’s amazing! But, while the workout is worth the effort, it is quite frustrating to end up with smelly clothes!
Sweaty active wear needs special care if you want to ensure it doesn't smell after it is washed.
While you can simply add your regular clothes to the washing machine and give it a good spin, with active wear, you have to be extra careful. So, if you’re wondering how to get smell out of your workout clothes, we’re here to help!
Let’s run you through essentials to keep in mind for getting odor off gym clothes
How Often Do You Need to Clean Your Active wear?
After you've hit the gym or returned from a run or hike, you'll notice that your active wear is all sweaty and smelly. Rather than letting these clothes sit, it’s advisable to wash them with liquid laundry detergent after you wear them. Letting these clothes sit and wearing them without washing will only lead to a bacteria build-up in them.
However, it may not be possible to wash your gym clothes every time you wear them. On such days, you can let them air-dry before you put them into the hamper. Drying these clothes buys you some time so that you can wash the clothes later without worrying about smell or bacteria.
Steps To Wash Your Activewear:
Turn The Clothes Inside Out
Activewear is built to absorb sweat, and most of the sweat and bacteria buildup is towards the inside of the clothes. So make sure you turn the clothes inside out before you soak the clothes. This not only helps you get rid of the grime better but also keeps your clothes brighter for a longer time.
Soak The Clothes
Are your workout clothes still smelly after you give them a thorough wash? This might be because you don’t soak them enough before you wash them. To get rid of all the unpleasant odors and accumulated bacteria, you need to soak your sweaty activewear in a white distilled vinegar solution.
Add one part of vinegar to four parts of water and soak your smelly workout clothes in this solution 20-30 minutes prior to washing them. Do ensure you close up any zippers before you put the clothes in the washing machine, to avoid any technical snags. After a good soak, your clothes are now ready to be washed!
Use An Antimicrobial Liquid Detergent
As activewear is mostly made of delicate fabrics, it’s best to use liquid laundry detergent. Since powdered detergent can ruin the fabric, you would want to choose a good quality liquid detergent instead. If you find an antimicrobial liquid detergent, it’s all the better!
Along with gently cleaning your gym wear, the antimicrobial liquid detergent can also help get rid of all the bacteria in your clothes. Make sure you choose the best detergent for running clothes. Detergents that come with a pleasant fragrance will leave your gym wear smelling fresh and brand new!
Set the Washing Machine Right
As active apparel can get easily damaged, you need to ensure you choose the right washing settings. Hot water washes are a big no for activewear, as it can damage the delicate fibers in the fabric. Frequently washing activewear with hot water can reduce the lifespan of the clothing. So, always choose cold water and a gentle cycle setting to keep your activewear fresh and clean for a longer time.
Quit Using the Dryer
Using the dryer to dry your activewear should be the last resort. So, avoid using the dryer and use a drying rack to air-dry your smelly workout clothes instead. Also, rather than drying your clothes inside, quickly dry them outside; the sun and fresh air will dry them quickly and get rid of all unwanted odor.
Moreover, drying clothes outdoors is environmentally-friendly and can help keep your clothes in great condition for a long time! So, the next time you’ve done up your laundry, you know what to do: head straight outdoors to dry all the wet clothes.
Summing Up
These simple steps make getting odor out of gym clothes a super easy task! And yes, don’t forget to use the best detergent for running clothes; you can simply add it to your washing load to get fragrant, sparkly clean activewear in no time! We hope these tips helped you learn how to get smell out of workout clothes!
