Do your workout clothes seem to wear out too quickly? Maybe your washing technique is to blame. Although it is tempting, you cannot just throw your activewear into the washing machine with all the rest of your clothes. It needs special care and will last for years if laundered properly. Find out the best ways to care for your activewear and save money by not replacing items.

 

Your Kamo Fitness sports gear and activewear are made from special fabrics that require special cleaning to avoid damaging the fibers in the clothing. Leggings and yoga pants that lose their elasticity (stretch out and become loose) are not being washed properly. The fabrics in these clothing items are delicate and should be washed separately from your everyday clothes.

 

Substances like cooking oil, grease, and fabric softeners can shorten the life of your activewear causing you to spend more money to replace favorite items more frequently. Follow these tips for extending the life of your activewear and delicate clothes.

 

 

1. Turn Items Inside Out Before Washing

This is important for two reasons. For one thing, the inside is closest to your skin and will be the dirtiest (sweat, oils, and skin products), and turning them inside out helps preserve the color and logo or printing on the front from fading.

 

2. Wash in a Garment Bag

During a wash cycle, clothing gets twisted around can get tangled up with other clothing items. If you wash your activewear in a mesh clothing bag it prevents it from being tangled and snagged on hooks, zippers, and velcro strips. Avoiding the twisting in the washing machine also preserves your clothes from damage from breakage.

 

3. Cold Water Wash, Gentle Cycle

There are two ways to wash delicate clothes. Delicates can include activewear, lingerie, and anything else that require special cleaning. One way is to wash by hand in cold water, but that is very time-consuming. And the second is to use the cold water setting on your washing machine on the “gentle” cycle. Cold water wash and rinse, along with a mild detergent will get them clean without damaging the fibers.

An added benefit of washing in cold water is that it consumes less energy because you’re not heating the water, so your electricity bill will be lower as well.

 

4. No Fabric Softeners or Bleach

Fabric softeners are the biggest enemies of athletic clothing. The residue they leave on the fabrics decreases the moisture-wicking ability and can trap odors and bacteria in the fibers. Bleach is another one to avoid because it turns the elastic fibers in spandex brittle causing them to break easily. When the elastic breaks you’ll see little “strings” poking out through the fabric and it the garment won’t fit as well as it used to.

  

5. Ditch the Dryer

Air drying is better for your athletic wear due to the heat generated by the dryer. Heat causes your clothing to shrink and lose its shape. The best way to dry activewear is to lay it flat on a towel or hang it over a standing rack. No ironing is ever needed.

 

How to eliminate odors that linger on activewear:

 

1. Plain White Vinegar

Adding a cup of vinegar to the rinse cycle can help to get rid of any detergent residue that could be responsible for the odors. Be sure to only add the vinegar during the rinse cycle. To make it easier and more convenient, pour the vinegar into the softener compartment of your washer machine. It will only be dispensed during the rinse cycle.

 

2. Baking soda

Adding a ½ cup of baking soda to your wash load can help to eliminate odors and leave your laundry smelling fresh and clean.

 

Additional Tips:

Change clothes immediately after working out.

Hang dry your activewear after washing.

Wash immediately after wearing.

 

If you follow these simple tips your activewear will last a long time and you will have more money in your clothing budget because you will not have to replace clothing that cannot be worn anymore or got damaged.