How to wash your exercise clothes

We recently launched a series on Instagram reels called learn with #thelaundrysisters where we ask YOU which laundry items you've been struggling with so that our in-house experts can weigh in.

One of the first questions we received was about exercise clothes—in particular, which setting to wash on (an excellent question!).

What makes sportswear different

Unlike day-to-day clothing, sportswear is specifically designed to keep the wearer dry, cool and comfortable while active.

For this reason, your running shorts, tank tops and sports jerseys are made from synthetic fabrics that are lightweight and moisture-wicking. In some cases, your sportswear is also body-hugging to prevent snagging while in action (think: bike shorts, leotards and yoga leggings).

Wash with cold water

When washing your sportswear, use a mild detergent and select cold water. If possible, reduce the spin cycle.

Better yet, select a sportswear cycle if it's available. A sportswear cycle alternates between cold and warm water, which is great for preserving specialty fabric while getting sweat and odor out.

Occasionally, select warm water + add white vinegar

If you don't have a sportswear cycle, don't worry! Cold water will serve you just fine, but every so often, select warm water and add a vinegar rinse to prevent things from getting too funky.

How to do a vinegar rinse: pour half a cup of distilled white vinegar into your washing machine’s fabric softener dispenser. The vinegar will get released during the final rinse cycle and will fully wash out (your clothes won’t smell like vinegar).

Distilled white vinegar should be used on an as-needed basis to combat odor. It's best not to do this with every wash because over time it can cause elastic fibers to break down.

🚫 Some don'ts:

• Don’t use too much detergent. Detergent buildup creates an ideal environment for fungus and mildew growth.
• Don’t use fabric softener. It traps odor-causing bacteria and is not good for stretchy fabric.
• Don’t use hot water. It causes elastic fibers to break down, resulting in a less flattering fit.

Always air dry

Air dry your sportswear to preserve the specialty fabric, shape and any elastic bands. You can line dry outdoors in the shade or drape pieces over a collapsible drying rack and air dry indoors.

Your exercise clothes should dry fairly quickly given the nature of the fabric. Don't put your sportswear in the dryer unless the garment care tag specifies that you can.

🏆 Our go-to products when caring for sportswear:

• Clover sportswear detergent (Tangent GC)
• Laundry ball or bag to reduce microfiber shedding (Cora Ball and Guppyfriend)
• Indoor/outdoor clothesline (NONA)
• Clothespin set (NONA)

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Words by Mutia Adisoma
Photos by Gerald Riedler