Do You Really Need to Wash Your Activewear After Every Workout?

When you peel off your workout clothes after a sweaty session, what do you do with them? Do you toss them straight into the washing machine, hang them out to dry, throw them into your gym bag or laundry basket, or fold them away for another wear? While there's no strict rule on washing exercise clothes or re-wearing them, knowing how sweat, humidity, and fabric types impact your gear can help you decide how urgently they need a wash. Believe it or not, repeatedly wearing sweaty gear can be a health risk.

Keep Bacteria at Bay

Washing your activewear isn't just about visible sweat marks and funky odors. Consider how much you sweat, how tight your outfit is, the humidity where you live, the fabric type, and where your clothes have been since your workout. Even if your clothes don't smell or show sweat marks, sweat creates the perfect moist environment for bacteria to grow, and wearing sweaty clothes more than once can lead to bacterial imbalances, rashes, skin inflammation, or infections if you have grazes or wounds.

Bacteria itself isn't necessarily bad, but an imbalance can be an issue. When you exercise and sweat, your body’s moisture creates an ideal environment for bacteria to multiply. If your clothes are damp, smelly, or have been tight on your skin for a while, it's best to wash them. If you can't wash them right away, hang them outside to dry in the sun until your next laundry day, as UV light kills bacteria and slows their growth.

Know Your Fabrics

Moisture-wicking activewear is often made from synthetic fabrics designed to draw sweat away from your body. This is great during your workout but not so great when it comes to bacteria. Bacteria clings to synthetic fibers more than natural ones like cotton, which are more breathable. If you wear your exercise clothes more than once before washing, opt for cotton or other natural fibers. If you prefer synthetic fibers to stay dry while exercising, you'll need to wash your clothes more frequently. Avoid fabric softener as it can damage the fabric and reduce sweat-wicking properties.

Helpful Tips for Different Items

• Singlets and Shirts: If your workout top isn’t damp from sweat, odorous, or worn for a short session, you're probably safe to hang it out to dry before a second wear. Hang it outside in the sun if possible, as the heat will dry it quickly and UV light will kill bacteria. Keep in mind that your workout tops cover areas with a higher concentration of sweat and bacteria, so when in doubt, wash it out.

• Sports Bras, Socks, and Bottoms: These are the pieces of workout clothing you want to wash the most! They come into contact with areas that have a high concentration of bacteria like your groin, feet, and under or between your breasts. Washing these items after each wear is the best way to avoid bacteria and infections, even if they don’t seem damp or smelly.

• Shoes: Bacteria can easily build up on your socks and transfer to your shoes. Washing your socks after each wear helps reduce the risk of fungal foot infections. If your workout shoes have removable liners, wash them every week or two. Leave your shoes to dry in the sun after workouts. For extra cleanliness, use disinfectant shoe sprays or natural remedies like baking soda.

If You Are Going to Rewear Your Activewear

Not everyone has a wardrobe full of activewear or does laundry daily. Here are some tips for health and hygiene if you rewear your workout gear:

• Take it off as soon as you finish exercising and hang it out to dry, preferably somewhere sunny.

• If your clothes are still damp, either from sweat or high humidity, it’s time for a wash.

• Opt for natural fabrics like cotton.

• Choose looser-fitting clothes to allow more airflow and reduce bacteria.

• If your clothes smell after exercise, wash them.

• Avoid re-wearing exercise clothes more than once.

Health History

Be mindful of your health, skin, and history of infections. If you’ve had Staph infections or have immune system conditions, it's best to wash your gym clothes after each wear. If you suffer from acne, dermatitis, or other inflammatory skin conditions, avoid re-wearing sweaty gear as it can aggravate your skin.

Sharing Clothes

While it’s okay to lend your workout buddy some clean clothes, don’t borrow or lend workout clothes that haven’t been washed. Reexposing yourself to your own bacteria isn’t so bad, but exposing yourself or someone else to new and potentially harmful bacteria isn’t nice.

Washing Tips

Quality workout gear can be pricey, so taking care of it will keep it in good shape longer.

• Check the clothing’s care label for washing and drying instructions.

• Avoid fabric softener, especially on synthetic fabrics.

• A hotter wash can help with particularly sweaty or smelly clothes.

• Opt for a gentle washing cycle.

• Dry your clothes in a sunny spot where possible.

• Avoid using a tumble dryer to prevent the breakdown of elastane.

• Use a fiber filter bag for synthetic fabrics to protect the seas and prevent microfibers from entering the ocean.

Use ecoswash for Better Results

For the best care of your activewear, use ecoswash laundry sheets. Designed specifically for sportswear, ecoswash uses a deep-cleaning enzyme complex to eliminate the bacteria that cause persistent odors. Our eco-friendly, biodegradable sheets work effectively at low temperatures, preserving your clothing's fabric and elasticity. With ecoswash, you get clean, fresh-smelling activewear every time, extending the life of your workout gear while being kind to the environment. Try ecoswash today and feel the difference!