Show your workout clothes a little TLC after all the sweat sessions you put them through. Workout attire requires special attention as they are created differently from your regular, everyday clothes. How you wash and dry your attire can make a significant difference on the next time you wear them and the many times after that because they are meant to last long! According to Joanne Whiteside-Mayor, senior apparel developer at Reebok, “Throwing that high-performance (ahem, and pricey) apparel in with the rest of your laundry can break down its fabric, wreck antimicrobial properties and clog up the fibers so they’re anything but wicking.” For those of us who do not have the cash to spend on active wear every week, below are some tips to ensure what you own will last a few more sweat sessions.
- Keep your workout clothes fresh by:
- Remove clothes from your gym bag ASAP! According to Reebok trainer Whiteside-Mayor; if you leave sweaty clothes in a gym bag, the garments could begin to deteriorate quicker than if it they are laundered shortly after use.
- After removing from your gym bag, opt for cold machine wash or hand wash over other heated options.
- Lastly, air dry or set dryer on lowest heat to ensure attire does not get ruined.
- Spruce up your kicks:
- DO NOT MACHINE WASH YOUR KICKS. This will damage kicks and your sneakers will lose their effectiveness for running, cross training, etc.
- Instead use a scrubbing brush or tooth brush with soap and water and starting scrubbing the gunk away. (P.s. you can get a good arm workout from this). This method is also more precise to help remove those grimy marks.
- Maintain well fitted and supportive sports bras:
- Similar to the “special cloth” used to make athletic wear, sports bras need special attention too. Hand washing is the better way to go, but for those of us who don’t have the time (or are too lazy), place these in a lingerie bag before gentle machine washing.
To read more tips to make your active wear last a couple more sweat sessions, head over to Daily Burn!
