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11 Tips To Make Your Workout Clothes Smell Better & Last Longer

By Sportitude
8 min read

Do your workout clothes trap in sweat smells that never come out, no matter how many times you wash them? Are your running tops, running shorts or compression tights stretched out, discoloured or torn?

It's important to know the difference between when you should replace and recycle your running clothes and when they simply need extra care to revitalise them into a like-new condition.

If it's time for your workout clothes to retire, you can send your pre-loved clothing to UPPAREL to give them a new life, and freshen up your running wardrobe with feel-good gear.

When your new running clothes from top sportswear brands like Adidas and Ronhill arrive, try Sportitude's top 11 tips to keep them stain-free and spring-fresh for longer. 

Alongside the sense of accomplishment you feel, sweat-drenched running clothes are a sign of a successful run. It's the process of bacteria breaking down protein molecules in perspiration that is responsible for lingering body odour, not sweat itself. This bacteria lives on your skin, and thrives in warm and moist conditions - like on your clothing after a run.

Discover how to properly clean your gym clothes and how to keep your workout clothes from smelling, with our essential fabric care guide to extend their lifespan.  

1. Read the fabric care instructions

It may sound obvious, but many of us forget to read the fabric care instructions on the tags of our running clothes in our fast-paced lifestyles. High-performance, synthetic fabrics like polyester can be sensitive to high temperatures and require a little extra TLC to keep them in top shape – like washing on a cold, delicate cycle.

Washing in cold water also has the added benefit of being more eco-friendly compared to warm water cycles. Higher temperatures can be harmful to hard-working technical fabrics, resulting in shrinking.

2. Hand wash your sportswear for the gentlest clean

Performance fabrics such as those made of fine, breathable mesh will last longer by handwashing. Handwashing is the gentlest and also the most eco-friendly and cost-effective clothes cleaning method, and can help your sports bras and running tights retain their elasticity.

It protects your activewear as you gently agitate your clothing submerged in cold, sudsy water with detergent, soak for 30 - 60 minutes and rinse in a sink of clean water. Washing machines alternatively expose them to mechanical agitation which can make them wear out earlier. However, washing machines typically provide a more thorough, convenient and time-saving clean than handwashing.

Handwashing bonus tip:

If you're handwashing, gently press your activewear against the sides of the clean sink after rinsing to remove excess water before hanging to air dry. Avoid wringing them out which can damage and stretch the delicate technical fabrics.

3. Repair loose and fraying thread

Your running clothing is certainly put through its paces - from regular runs to regular washing. Loose and fraying thread is a warning sign of more serious damage to come. To avoid them turning into full-blown tears during your marathon or when you're chasing a 5K PB at your next parkrun, repair them as soon as possible.

Learning how to mend your clothing with online tutorials is a valuable skill - allowing you to save money while supporting the environment by keeping your sportswear in your rotation for longer, extending the lifespan of your gear. Alternatively, you can reach out to a clothing alterations and repair service to assist you.

4. Wash your running clothing as soon as possible after a workout

We've all been guilty of heaping sweaty running shirts or running shorts in a laundry basket, or leaving workout clothes in a gym bag where bacteria can thrive and odours can sink in.

It's best to keep your running clothing clear of these moist environments. Consider rinsing your running clothing out immediately after your run then hang them to dry if you don't have the time to put them through your washing machine straight away.

At the very least, air out your workout clothes before adding them to the washing basket to allow the sweat to dry until you can run a load of washing. For health and hygiene purposes, reusing your running clothing before washing is not recommended due to the potential for bacterial growth.

5. Separate your sportswear from bulkier clothing

Everyday clothing like jeans or jackets with metal zips and buttons can be abrasive on the lightweight, technical fabrics of your running gear. It's gutting when the rip in your favourite sportswear could have been easily prevented - so save yourself some grief. To avoid any snags, wash your running clothing with 'like materials' in a load of their own.

For female runners, the hooks and clasps on your sports bra can also be a snag risk. Give your sports bras some love and protect your other running gear by fastening the clasps and separating them in a mesh laundry bag when in the washing machine. It's also recommended that you hand wash any removable padded inserts of your sports bras.

For ultimate comfort, check out the seamless, irritation-free Ronhill sports bras that eliminate the problem of clasps. The smooth fit is free of hooks and clasps that can dig into your skin and distract from your runs.

6. Turn your workout clothes inside-out before throwing it in the wash

This will expose areas that are the most prone to bacteria (the interior of the fabric that’s directly in contact with your skin) for a more effective clean. 

Turning your sportswear inside-out can also keep any pilling on the unseen, inside surface of your running gear, keeping the outside looking Instagram-ready. Pilling can occur due to fabric-on-fabric friction and agitation while tumbling in the washing machine, particularly when combined with cotton fabrics. Our previous tip of washing like materials together can help keep pilling to a minimum.

7. Your sportswear isn’t a fan of fabric softener

Fabric softener can impair the sweat-wicking characteristics of workout clothes, clogging the technical fibres and covering the synthetic fabric in a residue that traps odours in. It can also dull and be damaging to any reflective elements of your running clothing, hindering its ability to help you stay safe running at night.

Keep the sweat-wicking technology of your favourite sportswear, like AeroReady in Adidas running clothing, performing at its best by giving fabric softener a miss.

8. Don’t go overkill on laundry detergent

Using too much laundry detergent for the size of the load can result in soap build-up on fabric and in your washing machine, which acts like a magnet for odour-causing bacteria. Instead, you can treat your activewear to sport-specific laundry detergent to combat stubborn sweat.

Still struggling to get the odours out? Try our essential tip below.

9. Wondering how to get the smell out of workout clothes? Pre-soak with these pantry staples

If your warm-up primes your body to run, then a pre-soak (in cold water) primes your clothes to get the most effective wash possible. Distilled white vinegar and bicarb soda (also called bicarbonate of soda or sodium bicarbonate) are naturally antibacterial and odour-neutralising, with the latter often a key ingredient in natural roll-on deodorants.

To fight odours and remove sweat stains from sports clothing post-run, prepare a cleaning solution that includes 1/2 cup - 1 cup of bicarb soda in a sink or equivalent sized container of cold water. Alternatively, soak your running clothes in a solution of 1 part distilled white vinegar to 4 parts cold water, helping lift bacteria and grime from between the synthetic fibres.

You need just enough cleaning solution to allow your running clothing to be submerged fully. Allow your running clothes to soak for a minimum of 30 minutes. You can then rinse them with clean water and run them through a gentle wash cycle without the need to dry in between.

You can have peace of mind knowing your workout clothes won't smell vinegary after they've been run through the wash. Distilled white vinegar can also make your clothing feel softer for a like-new feel, without the adverse effects of commercial fabric softeners.

Machine washing bonus tip:

Short on time? In your next wash cycle of running clothing, consider including 1/4 to 1/2 cup of bicarb soda for odour reduction if you're skipping the pre-soak stage. However, be aware that this addition can change the pH level of the water, potentially impacting the cleaning action of your laundry detergent.

Also, don't put bicarb soda and distilled white vinegar in the same washing cycle as together their effectiveness can be neutralised due to the base-acid reaction between them. In fact, it's best to avoid putting white vinegar directly into your washing machine, as prolonged use may cause degradation to some devices, particularly to rubber seals or hoses due to its acid properties.

10. How do you get tough stains out of white clothes? Pre-treat them with a bicarb soda paste

Your light-coloured running clothing can be saved! It's no secret that sweat stains and deodorant stains show up more easily on your white running shirts. You can keep white colours looking fresh, bright and free of stains by creating a paste of bicarb soda to water at a ratio of 3:1.

This thick, spreadable paste can then be applied to stubborn stains, like at the underarm of your workout top, in a more concentrated amount compared to the pre-soaking method above. Gently rub it into the fabric with a spare toothbrush.

While the baking soda settles into the fabric over the next 10 minutes or more, its absorbent characteristics will help lift the stain. You can then put your running clothing in a wash cycle as per the clothing's fabric care guidelines.

Shoe cleaning bonus tip:

Sprinkling about 1 - 2 tablespoons of bicarb soda into your running shoes, distributing it evenly by gently shaking the shoe and leaving it for 24 hours can be an effective treatment against odours. Be careful to avoid getting it in the mesh fabric of the upper as like sand, it may be challenging to remove from mesh layers. For additional convenience, check out these shoe care odour neutralisers.

11. Air dry your running clothing

After your workout clothes have been through a gentle wash cycle, it's best to attend to them quickly and hang synthetic fabrics like polyester and nylon to dry. This will prevent them from being heaped in a damp environment for extended periods, which can make them smell mildewy or musty.

Air drying your running clothing will avoid the potential of damage in the tumble dryer like worn-out elasticity and fabric shrinkage. The heat of tumble drying can also create a bacteria-friendly environment which is best avoided. On sunny days, taking a little extra time to hang your gear outside is all you need.

Plus, nothing beats the fresh feel of sun-dried sportswear. Exposing your gear to natural UV light also can have an antibacterial effect to double up on the benefits.

Air drying bonus tip:

Some running clothing contains Merino wool or a wool performance blend. Merino wool is naturally thermoregulating, moisture-wicking and odour resistant, but requires special care. Wool running clothing should be dried flat on a drying rack as opposed to hanging to prevent the fabric from stretching.

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