How to Care for Your Gym Clothes: Maintenance Tips

Who cares about gym clothes? It’s the workout; it’s the goal that matters! We can buy new gym clothes whenever we want, right? Not right? It doesn’t happen this way. When we invest in sportswear, we would like to keep it safe. It is about the money spent on it, but not just that, fitness lovers love their fitness attire, too. So many reasons to ask “How to Care for Your Gym Clothes.”

Let’s see how to keep our activewear safe so that it stays in our gym bag for a long, long time.

Why Proper Care for Gym Clothes Matters?

Why should it not? This should actually be the real question. It is something we wear; it’s natural that we would like to keep it safe from wear and tear and clean as well, so it feels awesome when we are using it.

Our activewear is usually made from polyester, spandex, Nylon, and cotton blends. The ratio of these fabrics can vary for different products, but these are the basic fabrics. They are awesome for sweat-wicking and breathability, as well as for comfort against skin. But, they need to stay clean to give us just what they promise, i.e., comfort and performance.

Our activewear collects lots of sweat from our intense fitness activities. If they are not taken care of, they will start smelling pretty bad pretty soon. You won’t be able to put them on if they stink from your last session. So yeah, you need to keep them clean for a fresh and pleasant feeling every time you wear them.

Your gym clothes will also have bacteria in them from your sweat and dirt, which is generally picked up from the air around you. So, if your gym clothes aren’t clean, they can cause bacterial infections. So, you have to keep your gym clothes clean.

So, should I wash them in the washer after each use? NO! Washing them too much and intensely can ruin the fabric. You need to know how to care for your gym clothes properly so that they not only smell fresh and clean but also stay in shape and in good condition for a long time.

With proper care, your gym clothes will be as flexible as always; they will smell nice, they will feel fresh, and they will be with you session after session.

Pre-Wash Tips for Gym Clothes

Proper care for your gym clothes starts way before you throw them in the washer. Just a little attention before the wash and your activewear will be fresh, clean, and in great condition. Plus, your activewear will be safe, it will smell great, and it will give you a great start before each session.

1- Separate Your Laundry

Why mix them up when you know they need special care? Gym clothes should always be washed separately. Throwing them in with rough fabrics like denim or towels can damage the delicate material of your activewear. Keeping them on their own ensures they stay safe and last longer.

2- Turn Clothes Inside Out

This might sound unnecessary, but trust me, it works. Turning your gym clothes inside out protects the outer layer from wear and tear during washing. Plus, it makes sure the sweat and odors trapped inside are cleaned thoroughly.

3- Pre-Treatment

Instead of throwing your gym clothes in the washer for a long and strong cycle, which will destroy the fabric, let’s just settle for a stain removing spray before washing. With stain removing spray, a gentle wash will give you spotless clothes very quickly.

Washing Your Gym Clothes

Let’s come to the main thing—how to wash gym clothes so that they remain in great condition and make you feel like a champion.

Simple as it is, it is very important that you follow the right way of washing your gym clothes. Here is what we would like you to do it the right way.

1- Use the Right Detergent

A lot of detergents that we use for our cotton clothes may not be so good for our gym clothes. They may lose their elasticity, and you may lose your ability to be flexible if you end up with a harsh detergent. Focus on finding a very mild detergent that is also fragrance-free.

This is because your gym clothes are usually in dark colors, so they aren’t heavily stained. They also repel stains, so you don’t need strong chemicals for stain removal. All you need is a gentle detergent for odor and sweat removal while gently treating the fabric.

2- Choose the Right Settings

Since we don’t need heavy cleaning and tough stain removal services, no need to go for hot water. You’d need cold water and only a gentle and short washing cycle for your gym clothes. Hot water may make your clothes shrink and the elasticity may disappear too. Without flexibility, the gym clothes will be as good as garbage.

3- Avoid Fabric Softeners

If you use cold water and gentle detergents, you should not need extra fabric softener. Your gym clothes will be soft without any extra treatment. And even if you feel the urge to use softeners, don’t do it. This is because they coat fibers and end up reducing the moisture-wicking properties of gym clothes.

4- Skip the Overload

Wash them separately, like not with other clothes. You may also want to skip overloading your machine. If it’s too full, your clothes may not come out as clean as you want them. So wash them in batches and use a gentle cycle.

Drying Your Gym Clothes

Drying your gym clothes is just as important as washing them. If you’re not careful, you could end up ruining the very fabric that keeps you comfortable during workouts. Proper drying helps preserve the elasticity, color, and performance of your activewear. Let’s look at some simple tips to keep your gym clothes in great shape after every wash.

1- Air Dry When Possible

Patience pays off when it comes to drying gym clothes. High heat from dryers can weaken the fabric and destroy elastic fibers, making your activewear lose its stretch and fit. Hang your clothes to air dry whenever you can. It’s gentler on the material and keeps them feeling like new.

2- Avoid Direct Sunlight

Sunlight might seem like a quick fix, but it’s not the best for your gym clothes. If your gym clothes are out in the sun for too long, the colors will fade, and the material will degrade as well. So keep them in the shade even when you feel tempted to leave them out in the sun.

3- Low Heat Tumble Dry

If you need your gym clothes quickly, and leaving them out in the shade won’t work, then go for low heat tumble dry. More heat is more damage, so let’s do low-heat drying for quick use.

Additional Care Tips

Whatever you have learned so far about caring for your gym clothes perfectly is awesome. Still, there are some tips that I won’t let you miss. Here they are:

Wash sooner than later: As long as you end your exhausting and sweaty session, try to wash them according to the instructions that are given above. If you let your sweaty clothes sit for too long, you will only be inviting bacterial growth and odor.
Use a mesh laundry bag: Always use mesh bags for anything delicate if you don’t want it ruined by snagging. Laundry bags keep your delicate clothes from receiving the brunt of the washer, and they stay fresh and in perfect shape.
Rotate Your Gear: Buy at least 2 or 3 sets of gym clothes and use them in rotation. If you have just one set, it will be ruined too soon because it will be used repeatedly, and then it’ll be washed repeatedly.
Store Properly: once you have washed them in the right way, you should lay them out in the shade. This will keep mildew away from your precious and lovely gym clothes.

Extending the Life of Your Gym Clothes

If you have been following our care tips, you’ve learned plenty of great tips to care for your gym clothes, but there’s always more you can do to keep them looking and feeling awesome for longer. Let’s explore a few additional ways to extend the life of your workout gear:

1- Spot Clean Minor Stains

Not every stain needs a full wash cycle. Spot cleaning minor stains with a gentle detergent can save your gym clothes from unnecessary wear and tear caused by frequent washing. It’s a quick fix that keeps your activewear fresh while protecting the fabric.

2- Invest in Quality Gear

It is true that lower prices attract you but try to shrug off this feeling. Go for quality gym clothes instead. They will be pricey, but they will last long, and they will support you in your workouts better. It is an investment that will pay off in the long run.

3- Replace When Necessary

You can take care of your gym clothes in the best possible way but it will still degrade after long usage. So keep checking if you need new ones. Don’t worry if you need new ones because it’s not your fault, it is unavoidable and you did take care of your gym clothes.

Conclusion

You love your gym clothes and that is perfect. But love them the right way and you will keep enjoying them for a long time. If you love them too harshly, they’ll lose their elasticity and their fabric quality as well as their awesome colors. Yes! We were talking about washing, drying and storing your gym clothes. Follow our advice and the tips and you will not have to go back to buy more too soon. Enjoy your fitness workouts!