Here’s how to wash your gym clothes:
- 1. Separate Your Gym Clothes from the Rest of Your Laundry
- 2. Turn Your Gym Clothes Inside Out
- 3. Use Cold Water
- 4. Use a Gentle Wash Cycle
- 5. Use an Enzyme-Based Laundry Pod
- 6. Add ½ Cup Baking Soda to Your Wash Cycle
- 7. Hang the Clothes to Air Dry
So, you just crushed your workout—congrats on the personal growth. But now your workout clothes smell like they've been through their own triathlon. Whether you're a cardio queen or you just like lounging in athleisure, the reality is the same: that sweat-soaked gear isn't going to wash itself.
Washing gym clothes might seem straightforward. But much like squats and deadlifts, using the right technique is essential when laundry day rolls around.
Often made from sweat-wicking materials like spandex, Lycra, and polyester, workout clothes are prone to nasty stenches. And the longer you let them sit in your hamper, the stronger the stench becomes.
Luckily, we’ve got 7 steps to wash your gym clothes like a pro.
1. Separate Your Gym Clothes from the Rest of Your Laundry
Separating your gym clothes from the rest of your laundry is crucial for a couple of reasons. First, your workout gear tends to harbor bacteria, sweat, and odors that can easily transfer to your other clothes. Second, many gym fabrics are designed for performance and require a gentler wash than your everyday cottons and towels can handle.
Designate a separate laundry basket or bag just for gym clothes. When it’s time to wash, gather your gym clothes and keep them separate from heavier items like towels or denim that can be harsher on delicate fabrics.
Pro Tip: don’t let your dirty gym clothes sit in the hamper—that’s a recipe for mildew.
2. Turn Your Gym Clothes Inside Out
Think about it: the dirtiest part of your gym clothes is the inside. The sweat and grime are trapped in the fabric’s inner layer. Accordingly, turning them inside out before washing helps the water and detergent get to where the real mess is hiding. Plus, it keeps the outer part of your clothes looking fresh, because the last thing you want is faded leggings when you're trying to stunt at the gym.
3. Use Cold Water
A lot of gym rats assume hot water is helpful to burn off all that stinky bacteria. But the truth is most gym clothes can’t handle the heat. Hot water is notorious for damaging the synthetic fabrics that most activewear is made of, like spandex, lycra, and polyester. This can make your workout clothes less stretchy and interfere with their ability to wick away sweat.
Stick to cold water when you wash your gym clothes. It’s gentler on the fabric and just as effective at getting the stink out. Not to mention it uses less energy.
4. Use a Gentle Wash Cycle
Activewear is designed to be lightweight, flexible, and moisture-wicking—not built to withstand the same intensity as your old jeans or towels. A gentle wash cycle gives your gear a break while still getting rid of all the sweat, bacteria, and whatever else you picked up on that gym mat.
Plus, aggressive cycles can damage the fabric’s elasticity. Before you know it, those perfectly snug leggings will turn into saggy, sad leggings. You didn’t buy high-performance gear just to ruin it in the laundry, so give them the TLC they deserve. A gentle cycle lets the detergent do its job without wrecking your clothes.
Save the aggressive spin for your next spin class.
5. Use an Enzyme-Based Laundry Pod
Sweat stains, body oils, and whatever else makes its way onto your clothes during your workout need more firepower than basic detergent. That’s why we recommend using enzyme-based laundry pods, which break down the proteins in sweat and oils to eliminate stink at the source.
Speaking of eliminating odors, don’t settle for basic laundry detergent that smells like “spring breeze.” Laundry Sauce infuses your workout clothes with luxurious fragrances like Australian Sandalwood, French Saffron, and Italian Bergamot so you can be the best-smelling person in the gym.
6. Add ½ Cup Baking Soda to the Wash Cycle
Adding ½ cup of baking soda to your wash cycle helps neutralize the funky smells that your workout gear tends to hold onto. Baking soda is a natural deodorizer that breaks down the acids in sweat and enhances the power of your detergent to ensure your clothes come out fresh and clean.
Plus, baking soda is gentle enough that it won’t damage your clothes’ stretchy, moisture-wicking fabrics. Think of it as giving your laundry pods a boost without throwing in any extra harsh chemicals. Just sprinkle it in with your gym gear and let it work its magic.
7. Hang the Gym Clothes to Air Dry
Gym clothes don’t belong in the dryer. High heat kills the stretch and durability of activewear faster than skipping leg day kills your quads. Instead, hang them up to air dry. Sure, it takes a bit longer, but you'll avoid the shrinkage and keep that performance gear in top condition. Plus, your clothes will smell fresher since you aren’t burning off the fragrance from your Laundry Sauce in the dryer.
Common Questions About Washing Gym Clothes
Our laundry experts answered your most common questions about washing workout clothes:
Should You Wash Gym Clothes in Hot or Cold Water?
Cold water is the way to go. Hot water can damage the synthetic fabrics in gym clothes, making them lose their stretch and performance features over time. Plus, cold water is just as effective at removing sweat and bacteria without the wear and tear.
Can You Put Gym Clothes in the Dryer?
Technically, you can, but we recommend you don’t. The high heat from the dryer can shrink, warp, and weaken the elasticity of your activewear. Air drying is a better option to keep your gym clothes in top shape.
How Do You Get Sweat Smell Out of Gym Clothes?
Use an enzyme-based laundry pod designed to break down sweat and body oils. Washing your gym clothes inside out and promptly after a workout also helps prevent sweat from setting in and causing that lingering stink.
If you’re dealing with a particularly stubborn stench, consider soaking your gym clothes in vinegar for 20-30 minutes before running a wash cycle.
How Can You Prevent Gym Clothes from Getting Stinky?
As soon as you get home from a workout, air out your gym clothes instead of letting them sit in a gym bag and wash them as soon as possible.
Can You Use Fabric Softener on Gym Clothes?
Nope, fabric softener is the enemy of gym clothes. It leaves a coating that clogs the moisture-wicking properties and traps odors. If you want to release wrinkles and stop static cling, spraying your gym clothes with Fabric Refresher Spray is the ultimate hack.
Don’t Sweat Laundry Day
Washing your gym clothes shouldn’t feel like another workout—that’s where Laundry Sauce comes in. Our laundry pods don’t just erase the evidence of your sweat session, they leave your clothes smelling like pure luxury instead of the inside of a locker.
That last set of squats won’t be so painful when you smell irresistible doing them.
