How to Properly Wash & Care for Technical Sportswear

Keep Your Gear Performing Its Best

Technical sportswear is engineered for performance. It wicks sweat, resists odors, and allows for full movement. These properties come from specialized synthetic fabrics and delicate coatings that everyday detergents and high heat can destroy. Proper care is not about being fussy; it is about protecting your investment and ensuring your gear continues to work for you, run after run, hike after hike.

Why Your Workout Clothes Need Special Care

The fabrics in your running tights, hiking shirts, and athletic jackets are made from polymers like polyester, nylon, and spandex. They have a permanent molecular structure designed to pull moisture away from your skin. Using harsh chemicals or excessive heat can:

• Clog the fibers: Residue from fabric softeners and standard detergents coats the technical fibers, blocking their ability to wick sweat. This makes you feel hot, wet, and uncomfortable.
• Break down elastane: High heat from dryers degrades spandex (also known as Lycra or elastane), causing your compression wear to lose its shape and become baggy.
• Set in odors: Harsh detergents can actually seal odor-causing bacteria into the fabric instead of removing them, leading to permanent stink.

The Golden Rules of Washing Technical Fabric

Follow these simple steps every time to extend the life of your clothing dramatically.

1. Turn Garments Inside Out: This protects the outer surface of the fabric from abrasion against other clothes in the wash, reducing pilling and wear. It also helps focus the cleaning on the inner layer, where most sweat and body oils are deposited.

2. Use the Right Detergent: This is the most critical step. You must avoid several common laundry products.

• DO USE: A technical sportswear detergent or a mild, liquid detergent that is free of dyes and perfumes.
• DO NOT USE:
  • Fabric softener: It leaves a coating that ruins moisture-wicking.
  • Bleach: It breaks down the synthetic fibers and can discolour them.
  • Detergents with optical brighteners or heavy fragrances: These can leave residue on the fabric.

3. Wash in Cold Water on a Gentle Cycle: Heat is the enemy of synthetic performance fabrics. Cold water is effective at cleaning without causing damage or setting stains. The gentle cycle (or "delicates" cycle) minimizes the stress and friction on the fibers.

4. Skip the Softener, Embrace the Vinegar: If you notice a lingering odor in your gear, don't use more detergent. Instead, add ½ cup of white distilled vinegar to the rinse cycle. Vinegar is a natural deodorizer that breaks down bacteria and detergent residue without harming the technical fabrics. Don't worry; the vinegar smell will completely rinse away.

How to Dry Your Gear Without Ruining It

The wrong drying method can undo all your careful washing.

• The Best Method: Air Dry. Lay your gear flat on a drying rack or hang it on a line. This uses no heat and places zero stress on the elastic components. It is the single best way to preserve your clothing.
• The Acceptable Method: Tumble Dry Low. If you must use a dryer, select the lowest heat setting or the air fluff (no heat) setting. Remove items promptly once dry to minimize exposure to any residual heat.
• The Worst Method: High Heat. Never use a high-heat dryer setting. It will melt, shrink, or weaken the synthetic fibers, destroying their performance qualities and fit.

A Quick-Reference Care Table

Tackling the Dreaded Permanent Stink

Sometimes, odors persist. This is caused by bacteria trapped deep in the fibers.

1. Soak it: Before washing, soak the affected garment in a mixture of cool water and ½ cup of white vinegar for 30-60 minutes.
2. Use a dedicated product: For a powerful clean, use a detergent designed specifically for technical fabric, like Nikwax BaseFresh or Grangers Performance Wash. They are formulated to remove embedded odors without damaging the garment.
3. Sunlight: After washing, hang the garment outside in the fresh air and sunlight. UV rays are a natural disinfectant and deodorizer.

Treat Your Gear Like the Equipment It Is

Your technical sportswear is not just casual clothing; it is performance equipment. Caring for it properly requires a small shift in habit, but the payoff is huge. Your clothes will perform better, feel more comfortable, and last for seasons longer.

Your next workout deserves gear that works as hard as you do.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I just wash my sportswear with my regular laundry? You can wash it in the same machine, but you should separate it and wash it on its own cycle (cold, gentle) without regular detergent and softener. Mixing it with cotton towels can increase pilling.

How often should I wash my technical gear? After every wear. Sweat, oils, and bacteria degrade the fabric over time if left sitting. Always rinse and hang to dry, even if you can't wash it immediately.

Is it okay to iron my technical clothing? No. The high heat of an iron will melt or scorch the synthetic fibers. If something is wrinkled, toss it in the dryer on air fluff for a few minutes or hang it in the bathroom during a hot shower to steam out.

What about waterproof jackets? They require extra care. Use a technical wash-in reproofer like Nikwax Tech Wash or Grangers Clothing Repel after cleaning to restore the water-repellent (DWR) coating. Follow the product instructions carefully.