A routine for sportswear after training
Short answer: Hang training clothes to dry straight away and wash them within a day. Sweaty clothes in a closed bag smell after a few hours, and the smell is hard to get out again. The routine takes a few minutes and makes a clear difference.
What happens in the bag
Sweat is moisture and warmth. Bacteria grow fastest under those conditions, and after a night in a closed bag the smell has worked its way into the fibres. The longer the clothes lie packed and damp, the harder it is to get the smell out in the wash afterwards.
What to do instead
Take the clothes out of the bag as soon as you get home and hang them to dry. Shake them out so they do not hang squeezed together, and choose a place with air. It takes a minute, but it stops the problem before it starts. See bamboo jogging suit for men.
The wash
Wash within a day and without fabric softener. Follow the care label for temperature and programme, and avoid overfilling the machine, so the water can flush through the fabric. See bamboo clothing for women and bamboo socks for men for pieces that need to cope with many washes.
Why not fabric softener
Fabric softener leaves a film that binds odour in the fabric. That works against you with training clothes, where the aim is for the fabric to release the smell again in the wash. Without softener the fabric is easier to get clean, and you avoid building up a layer that keeps holding on to odour.
Smell that has set
If the smell has settled, put the garment in water with vinegar for an hour before washing. It is an old household tip that often helps with odour, and it costs almost nothing. Rinse the garment in clear water afterwards and wash as normal. Do not use it where the care label advises against it.
How to dry
Hang the clothes so air can reach both sides. Use a hanger or a drying rack and avoid draping them over a radiator, where they can dry unevenly. Damp clothes smell, so make sure they are completely dry before they go back in the wardrobe.
If you cannot wash straight away
If the clothes hang dry and airy, they can wait for the next wash. Put them in an open basket, not in a closed bag or a damp pile. The aim is that the clothes do not lie packed and damp while time passes. That makes it harder for the smell to settle.
Socks and underwear
Socks and underwear for training follow the same rule. They sit close to the skin and quickly become damp, so take them out of the bag straight away and hang them to dry. Wash them after every session, whether or not you think they smell.
Can you wear it twice
Only if you have not sweated in it. For calm walks or light exercises without sweat, the clothes can be aired and worn again. If you have sweated, they should be washed. Trust your nose, and do not take a chance with clothes that have been damp.
Frequently asked questions
Why not fabric softener?
It leaves a film that binds odour in the fabric. Then the clothes smell more, not less, the next time they get sweaty. Wash without it instead and let the fabric be rinsed clean in the wash.
What do you do about smell that has set?
Put the garment in water with vinegar for an hour before washing. Rinse afterwards and wash as normal. If the smell is still there, you can repeat it once before giving up on the garment.
Can you wear training clothes twice?
Only if you have not sweated in them. If the clothes are dry and without odour after a calm outing, they can be aired and worn again. If you have sweated, wash them before the next use.
You can find the full range at Bamboo-Clothing.com.
