Sheldon’s Corner: Do you smell that? We all do! Tips to rid your gear of smell
If you exercise on a regular basis, then you already know how high-maintenance workout clothes can be. Go through one or two grueling sweat sessions, and you’re left with leggings, shorts, tanks, shirts, socks, and sports bras that smell like a pack of wet dogs just went traipsing through your room. Often, it seems like figuring out how to get smell out of gym clothes is the biggest workout of all…To aid in that enigma, here are 10 tips:
1. Avoid fabric softener at all costs.
Fabric softener is actually your gym clothes’ worst enemy. Instead of making the clothes cleaner, it actually creates a sort of barrier that locks stinky smells in. Fabric softener also breaks down stretchy materials that workout clothes are often made of. So, not only does it make your clothes smell, it also ruins the way they fit.
2. Limit your use of laundry detergent.
It sounds weird to get rid of laundry detergent when trying to make clothes smell better, but in this case it’s true. Similar to fabric softener, laundry detergent and stretchy materials like Lycra and Spandex don’t go well together. It builds up on clothing, leading to more smells and a lot of gross bacteria. Use only half the usual amount, skip it altogether, or opt for a detergent made especially for workout clothes like Hex, for example.
3. Never leave your gym clothes in a pile on the floor.
Our schedules are busy, and it can be easy to rush home after your workout, peel off your disgusting clothes, throw them into a pile on the floor, climb into the shower, and forget all about them. But doing this isn’t helping you at all. If your sweaty clothes stay in a pile or sit in a hamper, the bacteria grows and the smell lingers and gets worse. If you have no time to wash them, at least hang them up or lay them on a drying rack.
4. Wash them immediately when they’re really sweaty.
If you just had a serious sweat sesh and your clothes are soaked, try to wash them immediately. When they’re that sweaty, they need to be taken care of quickly.
5. Stick them in the freezer.
Looking for a relatively quick fix that doesn’t involve you doing laundry? Put your workout clothes in a plastic bag in the freezer. The icy cold air will destroy odors. This should never take the place of laundry, but it can be a nice little hack you use once in a while.
6. Soak in a white vinegar solution before washing.
White vinegar is a miracle ingredient when it comes to getting rid of icky odors. Before you wash your gym clothes, soak them in the sink or a clean tub with one cup of white vinegar and some cold water. Leave them there for about 15 to 30 minutes, then clean in the washing machine. You can add a little white vinegar to the wash too, if you think they need it.
7. Add baking soda to the wash.
Baking soda is another ingredient you probably already have in your kitchen that can get rid of unpleasant odors. Put one cup of baking soda into the washing machine with your gross clothes and let the magic happen.
8. Or try adding lemon juice.
Lemons are another kitchen essential you can use to make your gym clothes smell better. Squeeze the juice out of one large lemon into the washing machine. The citric acid breaks down the oils in the materials, leaving them bacteria and funky scent free.
9. Hang them outside to dry.
Sun and fresh air is the best natural way to get rid of odors. After you wash your clothes, hang them to dry outside and let the sun do it’s work of getting rid of smells. Just make sure you turn them inside out first so they don’t fade. You can also hang your sweaty clothes outside when you don’t have time to wash them.
10. Stop sitting around in your workout clothes after you’re done working out.
I know your gym clothes are really cute, and I know how comfy it can be to go from the gym to running errands to grabbing coffee with a friend (look how athletic you are!). But it’s a really bad idea. Wearing your sweaty gym clothes harbors bacteria, making them more sweaty, and leaving you at risk for infections. Take ’em off…Put on some clean ones. Who will know the difference?