Here’s how to machine wash (most) leggings:
- 1. Check the care tag
- 2. Turn the leggings inside out
- 3. Use a high-performance laundry pod
- 4. Use a gentle, cold water cycle
- 5. Hang to air dry
Leggings might just be the hardest-working piece in your entire wardrobe. You wear them to the gym, on errands, to brunch, to bed, and maybe even to work. They’re stretchy, comfortable, and somehow go with everything.
But the downside? Leggings are made from technical fabrics like spandex, elastane, nylon, and polyester blends that are incredible for performance but pretty unforgiving on laundry day. Too much heat and they lose their stretch. Too much friction and they pill. The wrong detergent and they trap odors like a sponge.
The good news: Taking care of leggings isn’t complicated. You just need to know what helps them last (and what quietly sabotages them). Below, we’ll walk you through the right way to wash leggings so they stay smooth, stretchy, and ready for whatever you have planned—Pilates, errands, or pajamas.
1. Check the Care Tag
Before you do anything, flip your leggings over and read the care label. Leggings come in a million fabrics—performance blends, seamless knits, cotton-spandex mixes—and each one has slightly different rules.
If the tag says “cold water only” or “lay flat to dry,” it’s not a suggestion. It’s a warning. Treat it like gospel and your leggings will thank you.
2. Turn the Leggings Inside Out
This single step does more than people realize. Turning leggings inside out:
- Protects the outer fabric from friction and fading
- Helps prevent pilling on softer materials
- Allows detergent to hit the inside—where sweat, oil, and bacteria actually live
To make their life easier, wash them with other lightweight items like sports bras, tees, and activewear—not jeans, hoodies, or towels. And if you want maximum protection, put them in a mesh laundry bag to prevent stretching and tangling.
3. Use a High-Performance Laundry Detergent Pod
Liquid detergent is a risky move for leggings. It can pool, stick to fabric, or leave behind a film that traps odors (which is why some leggings never smell clean, even after washing).
Laundry pods, however, dissolve completely and disperse evenly, preventing residue buildup.
Laundry Sauce pods are the perfect match for leggings because they’re:
- Gentle enough for elastane and technical fabrics
- Powerful enough to remove sweat, odor, and body oils
- Crafted with elevated fragrances like Italian Bergamot and Egyptian Rose
Whatever you do, skip the fabric conditioner. They coat stretchy fibers and make leggings lose their bounce—not to mention reducing breathability.
No matter what your care tag says, these must-haves keep your clothes looking and smelling their best—minus the guesswork.
4. Use a Gentle, Cold Water Cycle
Heat + leggings = heartbreak.
Cold water protects elasticity, prevents shrinking, and helps keep colors from fading. Pair it with a gentle or delicate cycle to minimize agitation, especially with seamless or lightweight performance fabrics.
If your leggings are extra sweaty, run a pre-rinse or add a little white vinegar to the rinse cycle to help cut through odor.
5. Hang to Air Dry
Dryers are the number one cause of stretched-out, saggy leggings. High heat breaks down elastane and ruins the snap-back fit that makes leggings feel so good.
Always hang or lay flat to air dry.
If you absolutely must use a dryer, choose the lowest heat and shortest time possible. Better yet, use the air-fluff setting.
Common Questions About Washing Leggings
A few quick answers to the things everyone wonders but no one asks out loud.
How Many Times Should You Wear Leggings Before Washing Them?
If you wore them to work out: after every wear. If you wore them casually: every 2–3 wears, depending on sweat level and odor.
Can All Leggings Be Machine-Washed?
Most can, especially performance blends, cotton-spandex mixes, and nylon leggings. But delicate or seamless leggings sometimes need extra care—always check the tag.
Can You Put Leggings in the Dryer?
You can, but you shouldn’t. Dryers destroy elasticity faster than anything else. Air dry whenever possible.
Do Leggings Shrink?
Yes—if washed or dried with heat. Cold water + air drying = no shrinkage and better long-term fit.
How Can You Refresh Leggings Between Washes?
Use a fabric refresher spray to eliminate odors and bring the scent back between gym sessions or errands. Laundry Sauce Fabric Refresher Spray keeps them smelling as good as they would on laundry day, while also taming static and preventing lint buildup.
Make Your Leggings Last with Laundry Sauce
Leggings aren’t complicated. They just need the right conditions to stay stretchy, smooth, and odor-free. Cold water, gentle detergent, and air drying do most of the work.
And if you want them to smell less “I just worked out” and more “I wash my clothes like an adult,” our laundry pods, scent boosters, and fabric refresher sprays are the upgrade they’ve been waiting for.
Treat your leggings right, and they’ll go the distance, whether that’s a 6 a.m. workout or a 9 p.m. DoorDash run in last night’s hoodie.
