Skip to Content

How to Wash Workout Clothes: Keep Your Activewear Fresh and Odor-Free

How to wash activewear, synthetics and sports clothes

Workout clothes, athletic wear, and exercise gear go through a lot—absorbing sweat, trapping odors, and stretching with every move. No matter the activity, sports gear is no stranger to being subject to frequent wash cycles. Sports clothing can be expensive, too, so the last thing you want is to ruin your new gear! Whether you’re washing your leggings or workout tops, using the right detergent and method is key to keeping them fresh, odor-free, and long-lasting. Learn the best way to clean your sportswear while protecting moisture-wicking and performance-enhancing fabrics.

Follow these steps for how to wash exercise clothes:

Step 1. Turn Clothes Inside Out Before Washing

Turn everything inside-out to keep colors looking fresh. Your workout tops, athletic pants, and exercise clothes collect most of their sweat, bacteria, and grime on the inside. Turning them inside out before washing allows the detergent to target the dirtiest areas while also protecting the exterior from fading or damage. This way there’s more chance of it being loosened and removed.

Step 2. Pre-Soak Workout Clothes with Tough Odors

If your workout clothes have a lingering smell, pre-soak them in cold water with Persil® Activewear Detergent for 15-30 minutes before washing. The odor-eliminating technology gets rid of smells while at the same time removing tough stains. This helps break down sweat, body oils, and odor-causing bacteria trapped in moisture-wicking fabrics like polyester, spandex, and nylon.

Step 3. Use Cold Water & Gentle Detergent

What temperature to wash sports clothes? Cold water is best since hot water can break down the fabric and cause it to shrink. Choose a high-performance detergent like Persil® Activewear Clean, specially formulated for synthetic materials such as spandex, Lycra, and polyester found in athletic wear. Avoid using too much detergent, as excess residue can trap bacteria and sweat, making odors worse over time.

Step 4. Wash Separately & Skip Liquid Fabric Softener

Wash your workout clothes separately from everyday laundry to prevent odor transfer. Liquid fabric softeners can coat moisture-wicking fibers, reducing their ability to wick away sweat and leaving a buildup that can trap odors.

Step 5. Air Dry or Use Low Heat

When it comes to drying your athletic clothes, it’s best to avoid using the tumble dryer. As previously mentioned, high heat from dryers can weaken elastic fibers in workout shorts, athletic pants, and performance tops, causing them to lose their stretch. Instead, air dry on a drying rack or hanger to maintain fabric integrity. If you’re in a rush and don’t have any choice but to use the dryer, make sure you use the lowest heat setting possible or a no-heat tumble cycle.

Is more laundry detergent better for dirty workout clothes?

When preparing the washing machine, you might be tempted to use more detergent for a more thorough clean, but this is actually counterproductive since the washing machine is programmed to handle a specific amount. Any extra will just build up on your workout clothing and not let the fabric – and therefore your skin – breathe.

How to prevent your sports clothes from stinking in the first place

Prevention is better than cure, as the saying goes. Now that you’ve learned how to wash smelly sports clothes, take a look at what you can do to minimize or thwart the smell in the first place.

  • Let your exercise clothes dry before your throw them into the laundry basket. When sweaty clothes are bundled up together, it creates the perfect breeding ground for bacteria. Not ideal. Hang them up for a while first before banishing them to the hamper.
  • Wash garments after every use because if you continue to wear those cycling shorts the whole week, odors will have the chance to accumulate and make themselves at home in the fibers, resulting in a more difficult removal later on.
  • Follow the care instructions as they vary from garment to garment and the last thing you want is to ruin your new swimsuit. The manufacturers know best.
  • Avoid liquid fabric softeners on most gym clothes because they can build up on performance fabrics and mess with the clothing’s moisture wicking properties, rendering them less effective when you sweat.

Laundry Detergent for Activewear

Keep your clothes in shape with the detergent that is designed for activewear and synthetics, yet works on all fabrics. Persil® Activewear Detergent actively fights body oil and sweat, while helping maintain fabric shape and stretch.

Discover Persil® Fabric Care

For more laundry tips that help keep you looking and feeling good, explore our library of fabric care guides. For more on washing synthetic fabrics, check out our articles on how to wash a sports jersey or how to wash a bathing suit.

  • How to clean bras, underwear & delicates

    Clothing & Fabric Care Tips 

    HOW TO CLEAN BRAS, UNDERWEAR & DELICATES
  • How to clean school uniforms

    Clothing & Fabric Care Tips 

    HOW TO CLEAN SCHOOL UNIFORMS
  • Sports jerseys hanging out to dry

    Clothing & Fabric Care Tips 

    HOW TO WASH A JERSEY
  • Three ties hanging on a washing line with wooden pegs.

    Clothing & Fabric Care Tips 

    HOW TO WASH A TIE
  • How to wash colored clothes

    Clothing & Fabric Care Tips 

    HOW TO WASH COLORED CLOTHES
  • How to wash cotton clothes

    Clothing & Fabric Care Tips 

    HOW TO WASH COTTON CLOTHES

Related products

  • Activewear Liquid Laundry Detergent

    Persil® Activewear Clean Liquid Detergent

  • Ultra Pacs™ Activewear Laundry Detergent  Single-Dose Pacs

    Persil® Ultra Pacs™ Activewear Clean Detergent

  • Intense Fresh Scented Liquid Laundry Detergent

    Persil® Intense Fresh® Liquid Detergent

  • Everday Clean Original Liquid Laundry Detergent

    Persil® Original Liquid Detergent