How to Clean and Care for High-Performance Activewear

Wearing high-performance activewear allows us to push ourselves during workouts and outdoor activities. But to keep these technical fabrics performing at their best, we need to properly care for them. Learning how to clean activewear correctly helps extend its lifespan and retain its beneficial properties.

Why Proper Care is Crucial

High-performance activewear utilizes advanced fabrics like spandex, nylon, and polyester blends. These synthetic technical fabrics offer stretch, breathability, moisture wicking, and odor resistance. However, they require more delicate care than natural fibers like cotton. Using the wrong cleaning methods can damage the fabrics, shortening their lifespan.

Caring for activewear properly helps:

Preserve the shape and stretch
Avoid pilling, shrinking, and color fading
Retain moisture wicking abilities
Prevent buildup of odors and bacteria

Washing too aggressively breaks down the performance fabrics over time. Following the right techniques keeps high-tech gear performing at its best for longer.

Hand Washing for Delicate Fabrics

While machine washing works for most activewear, hand washing provides the gentlest clean for delicate performance fabrics. It helps extend the lifespan of high-end gear.

When to hand wash:

Bras, swimwear, or anything with spandex or elastic bands
Compression gear
Lightweight running shirts or tops
Anything labeled hand wash only

Tips for hand washing:

Fill sink or tub with cool water and a mild detergent or activewear cleaner. Avoid hot water as this can damage fabrics.
Gently swish garments to release dirt and sweat. Don’t wring, twist, or scrub vigorously as this stresses the fibers.
Rinse thoroughly with cool clean water to remove all soap residue which can cause irritation.
Roll item in a towel to gently squeeze out excess moisture. Don’t wring out.
Lay flat or hang to air dry out of direct sunlight. Do not place in the dryer.

Hand washing takes more time but is worth it for expensive activewear or delicate materials prone to damage in machines.

Machine Washing Methods

While hand washing provides the most gentle care, machine washing works well for most high-performance activewear. Follow these best practices:

1. Pretreat Stains

Spray problem areas like underarms with prewash spray or rub with stain remover stick before washing. This helps lift odors and sweat marks.
Avoid soaking items as this can set in stains. Pretreat spots then wash shortly after wearing.

2. Use a Garment Bag

Place bras, swimwear, or anything with hooks, zippers, or delicates in a mesh garment bag. This protects from snags and friction damage during the wash cycle.

3. Wash in Cold Water

Use the cold or cool water setting. Hot water can fade colors, break down fabrics, and damage elasticity.

4. Limit Detergent

Don’t overdo the detergent. Activewear releases dirt and odors easily with minimal soap. Excess detergent causes buildup and irritation.
Use an activewear specific wash or wool wash for best results. Or just a teaspoon of mild detergent in cold water.

5. Select Gentle Cycle

Choose a delicate or gentle cycle with slower agitation to avoid friction damage and pilling.
Or select a short cycle of 10-15 minutes. Quick cycles provide sufficient cleaning without over-agitating.

6. Air Dry

Line dry or hang activewear instead of machine drying. This preserves elasticity and avoids shrinking.
Lay flat and smooth to retain shape.

7. Wash After Every Wear

Unlike jeans, activewear should be washed after every wear to remove sweat and bacteria which can degrade fabrics.
For sweaty workouts, consider doing an express rinse in the shower or sink before machine washing.

Removing Odors and Stains

Despite proper washing, odors and stains can still occur over time. Here are some tips for tackling these common issues:

Beating Bacteria and Odor

Soak gear in cool water with white vinegar or baking soda. This helps kill bacteria and lift embedded BO.
For serious odors, make a paste of diluted vinegar and baking soda. Rub into problem spots and let sit before washing. The chemical reaction helps lift odors.
Adding vinegar to the wash cycle or wool wash detergent also helps combat odors.

Brightening Whites

Boost brightening with some white vinegar or lemon juice during washing.
For dinginess, occasionally soak whites in diluted vinegar water before washing.
Avoid using chlorine bleach as this weakens performance fabrics over time.

Loosening Set-In Stains

Rub stains with laundry detergent or spot cleaner before washing. Let sit for 5-10 minutes before rinsing to allow penetration.
For tough sweat marks, massage in diluted vinegar before washing. The acetic acid helps cut through alkaline sweat salts.
For greasy food stains, try blotting with baking soda followed by diluted dish soap prior to washing.

Avoiding Heat Setting of Stains

Wash stained items immediately before heat from drying can set in stains permanently.
Check clothing tags as some stains like blood or oil can be set in by hot water washing or drying. Use cool water and air drying for these.

With some targeted spot treatment and the right washing methods, you can keep activewear looking like new for longer!

Bleaching Activewear

While chlorine bleach is too harsh for performance fabrics, oxygen bleach can occasionally be used to brighten whites and combat stains.

When Oxygen Bleach May Help

Whitening dingy white athletic socks or sweat-stained workout shirts.
Helping remove stubborn odors that other methods cannot eliminate.
Assisting with mold or mildew stains.

Using Oxygen Bleach Carefully

Test for colorfastness on a hidden area first.
Use only on white fabrics or lightfast colors that won’t fade.
Add to soak or wash cycle in small amounts based on label directions.
Never use in conjunction with chlorine bleach – can create toxic chlorine gas.
Rinse thoroughly after soaking to remove all residue.

Limit oxygen bleaching to only occasional use as it can degrade performance fabrics over time when used frequently.

Drying High-Performance Activewear

Proper drying helps maintain the shape, elasticity, and feel of synthetic performance fabrics. Follow these guidelines:

Line or Rack Drying

Hang drying prevents shrinkage, preserves stretch, and avoids pilling.
Lay garments flat or smooth to retain shape. Hang items using several clothespins for even drying.
Dry indoors or in shade as sunlight can fade colors over time.

Folding and Storing

Unless fully dried, don’t leave items crumpled up long term. This can cause fabric distortion.
Fold smoothly along seams and store in properly sized bins or drawers to avoid stretching out.

No Machine Drying

Avoid putting high performance activewear in the dryer even on low heat settings. This weakens elasticity causing garments to stretch out.
The heat and tumbling motion can damage clothing over time, causing pilling, shrinking, and faster wear.
If machine drying is unavoidable, use air fluff with no heat. Remove immediately after drying to avoid over-drying.

Line drying helps activewear maintain its technical properties and last longer.

Storing Activewear Properly

In addition to cleaning and drying methods, storage plays a key role in caring for performance fabrics.

Allow Breathability

Synthetic fabrics need airflow to reduce moisture and odors during storage. Don’t seal them in airtight containers or bags.
Use mesh laundry bags or bins. Or store loose in breathable hampers or shelves.

Avoid Compression

Don’t tightly pack clothing into cramped spaces. This can deform the shape over time.
Fold smoothly without over-stacking to avoid compression damage.

Control Moisture and Humidity

Damp clothing breeds mildew and bacteria. Make sure items are fully dry before putting away in drawers or bins.
Store athletic apparel in places with good airflow and avoid humidity which can lead to mold.
Consider using moisture absorbing products like silica packets if drawer space tends to be damp.

Wash Before Long-Term Storage

Don’t pack away dirty activewear for extended periods. Trapped sweat and oils damage fabric.
Wash clothing before seasonal storage to avoid odors and staining over time.

Proper storage helps fabrics avoid damage between wears and retain long-lasting performance.

Restoring Elasticity

Constant stretching during exercise followed by washing eventually leads to loss of elasticity in activewear fabrics like spandex. Here are some tricks to help revive stretch.

Heat Treatment

Apply localized heat on saggy bands using a hairdryer or clothing steamer to temporarily tighten fibers.
Or soak the entire garment in warm water with fabric softener for 10 minutes then air dry to relax fibers.

Vinegar Rinse

Soak in a vinegar and water solution for 30 minutes. The acetic acid helps bind stretchy fibers.
Or add vinegar during rinse cycle to coat fabric and restore some elasticity.

Avoid Over-Drying

Machine drying too long causes permanent shrinkage of elastic fibers. Air dry only.
If machine drying, immediately remove and hang items after cycle ends while still slightly damp.

Replace Old Elastic

For loose waistbands or saggy leggings, simply replace the worn elastic with new bands. Use zigzag stitching for optimal hold.
Or apply elastic grip tape to inner bands to revive grip and support.

With some TLC, you can extend the usable lifespan of favorite activewear.

When It’s Time to Replace Activewear

While you can care for performance fabrics to make them last, even with proper maintenance apparel does eventually wear out. Some signs it’s time to retire activewear:

Fabric pilling that cannot be removed by depilling tools or shaving
Permanent stretching out of shape that cannot be fixed
Thinning fabric with holes that keep worsening despite mending
Loss of moisture wicking function leaving you soggy
Retention of stink even after washing
Sagging elastic that keeps stretching out again after repairs
Broken zippers or snapped fasteners that cannot be replaced
Damage like tears, rips, or abraded spots beyond repair
Faded fabric where colors are severely muted

Prioritize the replacement of critical support or moisture-wicking gear whose functionality is suffering over older shorts or tops which are usable just less attractive. budgeting annually for new activewear ensures you don’t end up making do with gear past its prime.

Maintaining Different Activewear Fabrics

While many performance fabrics have blended compositions, some specialized materials require particular care:

Nylon and Polyester

Sturdy and quick drying but prone to static and pilling
Wash in mild detergent and air dry
Use fabric shaver to remove pills

Coolmax and Polypropylene

Very breathable but retain odors
Wash frequently in gentle cycles; air dry
Spray white vinegar to help remove smells

Spandex and Lycra

Offer stretch but fragile to heat and harsh detergents
Hand wash or delicate cycle in cold; line dry only
Avoid bleach and fabric softener which degrades elasticity

Merino Wool

Naturally moisture wicking but can shrink if agitated
Hand wash or gentle cycle in cold; flat dry
Use wool wash soap or mild detergent

Understanding fiber characteristics allows you to tailor care to optimize performance.

Caring for Waterproof and Wind-Resistant Fabrics

Technical fabrics treated with durable water repellent (DWR) coatings or bonded membranes require special care. Mistakes can compromise their waterproofing and breathability.

Washing Methods

Turn garments inside out before washing to avoid abrading surface.
Use a technical wash formulated for waterproof fabrics, like Nikwax or Granger’s. Or mild powder detergent.
Wash in gentle cycle in cool water. No fabric softener.

Drying Techniques

Always air dry away from direct heat which damages coatings.
For softshells, hang fully open. Do not leave folded or stacked.
For hardshells, dry exterior layer down to avoid liquid pooling in membrane.

Restoring DWR

As jackets get older, re-apply a DWR treatment spray 1-2 times per year. This recharges water beading.
For soaked-through fabrics, use a wash-in DWR restorer like Nikwax TX-Direct.

With proper care, waterproof breathable fabrics can maintain high performance for seasons before needing replacement.

Common Myths and Mistakes

Despite best intentions, many of us fall into poor habits caring for activewear. Be aware of these misconceptions:

Myth: Garment bags protect in the washer. The thin mesh does not prevent damage from friction and agitation. Use for delicates only. For other activewear, skip the bag.

Myth: Stains won’t set if you rinse right after wearing. Many stains like oils or blood are set permanently by residual heat from your body, before washing. Pretreat first.

Myth: Dryer heat on low is fine. Even low heat degrades elastic and fabrics over time. Always opt for line drying.

Myth: Vinegar helps brighten colors. It’s useful for odor removal but vinegar doesn’t brighten, and may fade some colors over time. Avoid.

Myth: Fabric softener makes clothes feel nice. Softener coats fabrics, trapping odors and reducing wicking. Don’t use on performance wear.

Mistake: Leaving damp clothes in hampers. This causes mildew and smells. Always fully dry items first.

Mistake: Tossing dirty workout clothes with regular laundry. The odor and sweat will transfer. Wash activewear separately.

Avoiding common mistakes helps you become a better caretaker for activewear. Small tweaks make a big difference in lifespan and performance.

Maintaining Water Bottles and Accessories

In addition to apparel, sports gear and accessories need periodic cleaning:

Water Bottles

Use bottle brushes and mild detergent to scrub away grime
Clean reservoir of filters and shakers
Freshen smells with baking soda and lemon
Sanitize monthly with vinegar or tea tree oil
Avoid dish soap which leaves residue

Hats and Helmets

Handwash in mild soap; air dry
Use disinfecting wipes on interior pads
Remove salt deposits on straps with vinegar
Freshen smells by spraying lightly with vinegar or vodka

Gloves

Machine wash leather gloves turned inside out
Hand wash technical gloves; air dry
Use antimicrobial sprays to prevent odor

Shoes and Cleats

Remove insoles and wash with mild detergent
Spray insides with antibacterial spray after use
Put damp shoes near fan or stuff with newspaper to dry fully
Sprinkle baking soda to deodorize

Socks

Turn socks inside out before washing
Use an antibacterial detergent
Air dry instead of machine drying
Replace frequently as the elastic breaks down

Keeping gear clean optimizes comfort and performance during wear.

Storing Activewear in Gym Bags

After working up a sweat, it’s tempting just to toss damp smelly workout clothes in a gym bag. But this introduces even more bacteria and odors into the confined space. Here are some better practices for gym bag storage:

Separate soiled clothes in a mesh compartment or bag before placing in gym bag. This avoids cross-contamination of the bag interior.
Keep a small towel in the bag to wipe sweat off skin and equipment before packing up.
Hang up or air out the bag after each use – don’t leave damp items sitting inside.
Spray the empty interior lightly with antibacterial spray or rubbing alcohol before repacking.
Periodically hand wash the bag itself with mild detergent to kill bacteria. Air dry.
Sprinkle baking soda in bag compartments to help absorb odors between uses. Replenish monthly.
Set damp shoes or towels on top, outside the bag – not sealed in the bottom of the bag!
Stow deodorant, body spray or cologne in a zip bag in case you need a quick freshen up after the gym.

A few minutes of bag maintenance makes for a much more pleasant post-workout experience.

Caring for Activewear Used in Salt Water

Swimming or surfing in salt water can leave behind abrasive crystal deposits on performance swimwear and rashguards. The sodium and chloride degrade fabric over time. Proper care after ocean use helps prolong lifespan.

Rinsing After Each Use

After saltwater activity, always do an immediate rinse in the shower or with fresh water. This prevents salt and minerals from drying on fabric.
Don’t rub fabric together as the salt particles act like sandpaper against the fibers.

Washing Routines

Wash in cool water using a mild, salt-removing detergent. Avoid detergent with brighteners.
Or soak in diluted white vinegar which helps dissolve mineral deposits.
Use extra rinse cycles to remove all soap residue which can cause skin irritation.

Proper Drying

Avoid hot dryers which can permanently set salt stains and stiffness into fabric. Line dry only.
If hanging swimwear, clip