How to Wash Your Lululemon and Other Synthetic Workout Clothes
Do you notice lingering funky odors? Here's how to keep your athleisure wear looking and smelling great.
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You might look great wearing those comfy workout clothes that you love, but you might not smell so great. Thatās because clothing thatās stretchy and that wicks sweat away is typically made of synthetic fabrics that trap odors.
Synthetic fibers arenāt porous and therefore donāt actually soak in sweat, which is a mixture of water and other chemicals from your body that can cause odors to develop. Thatās part of the appeal of synthetic clothingāit keeps you dry as you work out by wicking moisture away.
But thereās a downside. āThe moisture evaporates, leaving behind the odor-causing chemicals on the surface,ā says Rico de Paz, the Consumer Reports chemist who tests laundry detergents. āThe synthetic fibers act like a strong magnet for these odor-causing chemicals, making them difficult to wash out, and they build up over time.ā
Of the chemicals in sweat, sebumāor body oilācan be especially difficult to remove because itās sticky and tends to attract other soils that increase odors.
A Detergent That Cleans Up in CR's Tests
Which detergents treat your athleisure wear right? Hereās one great liquid detergent that aces our tests for removing body oil. To see more optionsāand to compare how well the dozens of detergents get rid of all sorts of stains in CRās testsāsee our laundry detergent ratings.
What to Do
Wash them right away. If you can, wash sweaty synthetics straight after your workout to help prevent odors from setting in, says Brian Sansoni at the American Cleaning Institute, a trade group.
Separate stinky athletic gear from your athleisure wear. For example, keep your kidās soccer uniform separate from your athleisure wear in both the hamper and wash to prevent odors from easily transferring and causing odor buildup, Sansoni says.
Pretreat stains. Synthetics are more prone to trapping oils and grease, making stains tougher to tackle than in cottons or some other materials. So pretreat stains as soon as possible.
Follow the garmentās care label. Remember that these synthetics are often delicate. So first check the care label to see whether your clothes are machine-washable. And always sort your workout clothes by color, separating whites, brights, and darks. āIf the care label says āwash with like colors,ā this is an indication that the garment isnāt ādye fastā and that the dye will bleed into the water and can settle on other clothes,ā says Jennifer Ahoni, a communications director for Proctor & Gamble.
Turn your clothes inside out. This allows the water and detergent to focus on the soils that have accumulated on the inside of your clothes, Ahoni says. While youāre at it, close zippers and buttons on hoodies and jackets. That way, they wonāt get caught on other fabrics and damage them.
Choose cold water and the gentle cycle. Cold water helps to prevent fading and preserve the fit of synthetics. A gentle washing cycle is ideal for these fabrics.
Use the right detergentāand the right amount. Choose one that aced CRās tests for removing body oil. Youāll find them in our laundry detergent ratings. āBe sure to read the detergent label and measure out the recommended amount,ā de Paz says. āExcess detergent can cause residue that remains in your clothes, which can then trap odors.ā And if your washer has an extra rinse cycle, use it.
Rewash if needed. If your clothes still smell or have stains after washing, run them in the washer again. If theyāre not clean when you pop them in the dryer, the heat may set the odor or stains.
Dry as directed. Directions vary, but air-drying synthetics and laying them flat while they dry is usually the best way to protect the clothingās shape and fit. Tight on time? Double-check the care label. Lululemon, for example, says you can tumble dry its athleisure wear on low heat.
What Not to Do
Donāt leave damp clothes in your gym bag or hamper. If you canāt wash your athleisure wear right after you exercise, put it in a place where it can dry as quickly as possible to keep it from smelling even worse, Sansoni says. As with any fabric, keeping these synthetics bunched up and damp promotes bacterial growth, which can cause odors.
Donāt use hot water or chlorine bleach. Bleach can be tough on synthetics, and hot water can stretch synthetic clothes or damage the fibers that make them stretchy.
Donāt wash them with jeans. Heavy fabrics can be abrasive to these more delicate items, Ahoni says.
Donāt use fabric softener. Softening agents can clog the fabricās pores, inhibiting its wicking capabilities.
How to Keep Workout Clothes Smelling Fresh
Have you ever noticed a funky smell in your workout clothes, even after you wash them? Consumer Reportsā chief scientific officer, James Dickerson, PhD, explains how biomaterials can cling to your clothes and what you can do to keep synthetic fabrics smelling fresh and clean.