As a former fitness coach, long-time wellness enthusiast, and current health editor, Lily Moe understands the importance of products that meet your individual requirements. As a marathon runner, she knows that workout clothes need more TLC than other aspects of your wardrobe, requiring a laundry detergent that does the tough job. The Active Family formula is designed to have all the odor removing power of their original Active Fresh formula, which is the best selling WIN detergent. Depending on the load size in your washer, add one to two scoops of detergent. Wash on delicate cycle, and always wash with cold water — hot water can be bad for some technical fibers.

Line-drying is better than a clothes dryer for both combating the funky smell and maintaining fabric life. The sun's UV rays can often do wonders for killing the last of bacteria that may be lingering in your workout clothes. Keeping your workout clothes in top condition isn't just a matter of tossing them in the wash - the right detergent makes all the difference. Trust us, the damage from harsh chemicals can really impact the performance and longevity of your activewear. Plus, sweaty workouts mean that those clothes accumulate bacteria and odors that regular detergents just can't handle. Thankfully, using a specialized detergent can keep your gear fresh, clean, and ready for action! What to look for in a detergent for workout clothesWash a bag in a delicate cycle and in cold water. Be wary of top-loading machines with agitators; a sleeping bag can get twisted up on an agitator and damaged. Durable clothing can be put in the dryer. But hot air inside a dryer can harm some technical or delicate clothing. Air drying is a better idea for most technical apparel. After the laundry cycle, take the clothing out immediately — don’t let the wet clothing sit inside the machine all day before you dry it. Leaving clothes in a machine can make them smell again. Make suds by agitating the water by hand. Active Detergent recommends putting your clothing in the water and letting it soak for at least 30 minutes.

Sweat creates a more acidic pH in your workout clothes, so washing it out is crucial for fresh laundry. Sports detergents are specifically formulated to clean technical fabrics rather than natural fiber fabrics. Most detergents add a variety of chemicals to your clothes, so if you use less, you don’t get the desired smell, brightness, feel etc. They depend on chemicals like non-redeposition agents and PVP that need to have a critical concentration relative to the water used, not to the amount of soil. With Sport-Wash® you can easily save money and minimize environmental impact by using only as much as you need. What sets sports detergents apart from regular detergents is that they’re specifically designed for technical fabrics and can dislodge the stubborn odors and stains that build up in those clothes. Its ingredients include sodium bicarbonate (aka baking soda), sodium carbonate, sodium chloride, a “proprietary enzyme blend,” and more.Its sodium bicarbonate-based formula contains only what’s needed to get wool clean. Fabric softeners or added scents can hurt wool’s effectiveness and lifespan — Active Wear does not have either in its formula. How to Wash Sleeping Bags Instead, Active Detergent claims its enzyme formula breaks down the sweat and bacteria that cause odor, dissolving trapped body oil and contaminants. No need for an odor-masking chemical. A 48-ounce pouch can handle up to 90 loads of laundry While using cold water is the most energy efficient, the warmer temperature water you use, the better results you will have as it aids in activating the detergent you’re using,” says Westervelt. “Therefore, I always suggest a hotter temperature at least to start for heavier soiled items to really pull out the buildup.” Active Detergent explained that because technical and performance fabrics are most often made with manmade fibers woven tightly together, contaminants can get trapped deeper within the material.