Learning to wash sportswear is essential so your garments last longer and do not lose their special characteristics. That is why at Deportes Canada, we have prepared a guide that you can follow to give the most appropriate care to your clothes. Keep bad smells and stains away from your sportswear.
Guide to washing sports clothes
Technical sportswear is different from the rest of your clothing. You buy it for its unique features and ability to improve your athletic performance. Presumably, they also deserve special care.
The materials with which this type of clothing is made are primarily synthetic, such as polyester, polyamide and elastane. We also find clothes made with synthetic and natural fibres such as cotton.
Sportswear is increasingly specialized and is manufactured according to the specific characteristics of each discipline. However, one point they have in common is that they are for long-term use. They withstand continuous washing, but they will last even longer if you consider their particularities when cleaning them.
And in addition to extending their useful life, you also guarantee that they do not lose the particular treatments that the fibres have. In such a way that the correct washing will ensure that they maintain their characteristics for longer while providing you with the comfort you need.
When you buy your sportswear in our stores, check the washing instructions on the labels. Do the same with footwear, accessories such as hats and backpacks, and everything you use in your exercise routines.
Also, apply these recommendations, so your clothes are always clean, without stains or unpleasant odours.
Choose a suitable detergent.
To protect your sportswear, start by buying the right products. The characteristics that distinguish it from the rest of your wardrobe also need special care. Rather than deep cleaning, common detergents can damage the fibres or reduce their effectiveness.
It is essential to buy a detergent for sports clothes. In the market, there are different options, such as Kiriko, Norit or Nuncas. You can try them and decide on the one that works best for you.
What you should look for in the detergent is that it keeps the clothes clean and gives them back the freshness they had before you used them. It must remove stains and foul odours and eliminate bacteria without damaging the fabrics.
Technical clothing has characteristics and a unique structure that allows it to be waterproof, insulating, to filter UV rays or whatever its properties. The detergent must protect these particularities.
If you use regular soap, it should be neutral, without odours. Do not use fabric softener to wash sports clothes. What this product will do is wear down the fabrics and can create a layer that affects the ability to absorb sweat. And leaving them with a pleasant fragrance will make them less resistant to foul odours.
Hand wash or machine wash?
It is preferable to wash clothes by hand; you save energy and extend their lifetime. But you won’t always have time to do this, so you can also do it on a machine.
In the latter case, take the necessary precautions. Always use the delicate cycle; if you have a specific one for sportswear, you already know that this is the one you should choose. The washing time must be short, and the water must be at a low temperature. Choose a high-rev spin to dry as quickly as possible.
It is also preferable to hang the clothes before placing them in the dryer. Specific garments should be kept away from these machines—for example, cycling clothing, wetsuits or swimming caps. Let the clothes dry naturally, without the sun’s rays hitting the fabrics directly.
Shoes or accessories such as gloves and armbands should also not be put in the washer or dryer.