Washing these sweaty clothes

Dave Barr

OK, whatr does everyone else use to wash their exercise gear?  I've used Penguin Sport Wash with pretty good results.  I've tried Winn but am losing faith in that product pretty qucikly.  Looking for any other ideas of what people use.

Dave

Kitboo

For really stinky clothes, I either sit in an ice bath or take a shower with my clothes on. For the shower, I'll wash my hair and let the shampoo wash over the clothes then remove them to dry or put them right in the clothes washer.
I hate spending 9$ for a small thing of detergent. I use Tide with Febreze and the above shower method---my clothes are stink-free.
My DH, OTOH, will leave his workout clothes to ferment in the hamper. To de-stink them, I have to wash them 2-3 times. I NEVER put technical clothes in the dryer---that just permanently seals the smell into them.

penlynwilson

I've started using the Method's super concentrated product. It seems to work really well. I'm with Kitma: always hang. And, don't use fabric softener.. . it breaks down the sport-stuff in them.

Here's a link to the method project: http://www.methodhome.com/products-laundry.aspx

This brings up the question: how do you get *that* smell out of your bike shoes. Ya, know. . . *that* smell. . . . This product seems to have done the trick: http://www.febreze.com/en-us/pages/collection.aspx?category=sport&gclid=CKODrorw7aICFQ6bnAod3jbxbQ It might work on stinky clothes, too.

Michele Cellai

I agree with Kitima as I am growing disenchanted with Winn these days. Also, if it had to sit, I use the same stuff that I have to destink my scuba diving gear- Mirazyme.

Coach Patrick

I've heard that white vinegar can work as well...

Steven Ford

Your suppose to wash your clothes?

Christy Beal

I sometimes put a few drops of tea tree oil in really funky clothes, just a drop or two for the whole load will work.

Keith Wick

I had bad luck with Penguin and find Winn much better. It's actually brought some clothes back to life. I do find it better to line dry them than to put them in the dryer. The dryer seems to scorch the material leading to a different funky smell.

John Stark

I am a Win fan.  Never had any issues and it has always worked well for me. 

aarondavidson1

Posted By Penny Wilson on 15 Jul 2010 10:46 AM

I've started using the Method's super concentrated product. It seems to work really well. I'm with Kitma: always hang. And, don't use fabric softener.. . it breaks down the sport-stuff in them.



Here's a link to the method project: http://www.methodhome.com/products-laundry.aspx



This brings up the question: how do you get *that* smell out of your bike shoes. Ya, know. . . *that* smell. . . . This product seems to have done the trick: http://www.febreze.com/en-us/pages/collection.aspx?category=sport&gclid=CKODrorw7aICFQ6bnAod3jbxbQ It might work on stinky clothes, too.

 

Afer my daughter takes a bubble bath I throw my cycling shoes in the bathwater for an hour or so and let them sit outside. They do permanently reside out there, but at least when they go into the car they no longer have to remain in seal zip-loc bags.

k8trigirl

I like the new Tide Sport with Fabreeze. I also hang my tech gear to dry.

krisf

On the shoes- Michele clued me in to soaking them with Oxyclean. Works wonders! I just throw them in bucket with some warm water a scoop of Oxy for abt 30 mins to hour, rinse them set them outside to dry.

I use regular Cheer free on clothes- no bleach, no softener, hang dry. I lay or hang wet stuff after workout or yes the mildew smell creeps in!

Tom Glynn

I use the Penquin Sport Wash. Wife likes results.

providince

First post so take with a grain of salt. When I played hockey, the skates and clothes would get pretty bad. We solved it all by putting a sheet of softener in each skate. Seems to work well for running and cycling shoes for me so far.

Dave Barr

Thanks for all of the input.  I tried the vinegar option for a few that had gotten forgotten, worked pretty darn well.  I think I'm going to try some of the Tide with febreeze since it should be easier to find than the Penguin, etc.  I do know that my bottle of Winn is empty and I won't be purchasing another one.

Dave

Dave Barr

I just wanted to check back in on this topic. I picked up some of the Tide Sport stuff and it seems to be doing a pretty darn good job. It sure is a lot cheaper than any of the sport specific ones. The funniest part was my wife saying the Tide stuff must work, that tennis player uses it. My response was she gets new clothes everytime she thinks about sweating so I don't think she has to worry, more than likely.
Thansk for all of the good discussion.

k8trigirl

Glad you like the Tide Sport with Fabreeze. I love the stuff, it's cheap, easy to find at the local grocery store.

John Stark

OK, so I am always looking for new, cheaper ways of doing things.  After reading this thread I decided to buy Tide with Fabreeze.  But I wanted to "test" it cuz I like to do that kinda stuff.  So I ran one day and did my normal sweat thing.  Got home and washed my favorite running shirt ONLY in cold water with a 2nd rinse cycle and with Tide with Fabreeze.  Then hung it out to dry.  My shirt smelled very good.  The next day I went and ran and once the sweat started I could smell almost immediately my B.O. under the floral scent.  I know my B.O. intimately as I think we all do. 

Then I went home and washed that same shirt ONLY in Penguin (I use Win also), a 2nd rinse cycle and then hung it out to dry.  Went and ran yesterday and when the sweat started there was no floral scent or underlying B.O.  No smell at all.

I really like the Tide with Fabreeze and we will use it on my wife's work clothes, but for me it didn't get rid of my B.O.  It just seemed to try and mask it.  I guess my B.O. is more pungent than most. 

Thanks for reading.

 

 

Mike Hedman

Hmmm, maybe I was just born smelling like a rose, or I'm just so used to my own stench that I don't notice it, or maybe I'm doing something right.  I just about NEVER leave sweaty clothes wadded up.  After every workout I take whatever was hung yesterday and throw it in a mesh hamper, and then hang up today's soaked clothes.  I think that if you don't let the funk get sunk in, you don't have to work so hard to get it out. 

As for soap, I just checked, and we're using Tide Free & Gentle.  I just do a normal cold load with the suggested amount of soap - and then hang all my tech clothes to dry.

Mike

Al Truscott

Posted By Mike Hedman on 14 Aug 2010 02:36 PM

... I just about NEVER leave sweaty clothes wadded up.  After every workout I take whatever was hung yesterday and throw it in a mesh hamper, and then hang up today's soaked clothes. ...

+1. I have a wicker hamper, and hang things around the edge after workworks session (the socks go in the carrying slits). End of the day or before next workout, whenever dry, they go into the (covered) hamper. Wash on Sunday, with whatever detergent DW has bought this week, and I get no stares at home or on rides/runs.

No one will go into my room, though, while the things are hanging outside the hamper!

John Stark

@Mike - Ultrarunners don't sweat . . . they perspire.  :-)  And their perspiration smells like roses.  :-)

I went through all this a few years ago and asked the same question in another tri group cuz my clothes were nasty.  Ended up with Win/Penguin and had good luck ever since.  Guess we are all different. 

Barbara Spitler

Glad I'm not the only one with stinky bike shoes issues!! Whew!! I made the mistake of leaving them in my car one day...Whoa!! I will try the Febreze thing! And my running shoes...oy!!!

John Stark

For my bike shoes I use Stuffits.  Had for over a year now and they are still working great.  Run shoes I just wash.