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How Often You Should Clean Your Workout clothes
Reviewed by Zac Kieffer
Updated: September 10, 2025
Discover the ideal frequency to clean your workout clothes for freshness, hygiene, and lasting performance.
How Often You Should Clean Your Workout clothes
How Often to Clean Your Workout Clothes
After Every Workout: Your workout clothes absorb sweat, oils, and bacteria, which can lead to unpleasant odors and potential skin irritations. Even if you don't notice any smell, microscopic bacteria are thriving, making it best to wash your gear after each use.
Avoid the “Double-Dip” Myth: Even if your session was light, moisture lingers in the fibers. Rewearing these garments without a proper cleaning cycle gives bacteria an opportunity to multiply and can negatively affect the longevity of the fabric.
Hygiene Matters: Regular washing not only keeps smells at bay but also prevents the buildup of fungi and bacteria that can lead to conditions like athlete’s foot or skin irritations, especially in high-moisture areas.
Fabric & Performance Preservation: The residue from sweat, body oils, and even lotions can degrade the fabric over time. Fresh washing helps maintain the elasticity and performance of your workout gear, preserving its "shiny" quality longer.
Individual Considerations: If you’re in a particularly cool environment or your workout involves minimal perspiration, you might technically get away with wearing them twice. However, for the vast majority in typical workout scenarios, a wash after each session is the most practical and hygienic approach.
Consequences of Skipping Workout clothes Cleaning
Consequences of Skipping Workout Clothes Cleaning
Odor That Won’t Quit: Sweat-soaked fabrics are a five-star hotel for odor-causing bacteria. If you skip cleaning, those smells don’t just “air out”—they settle in and get stronger with every wear. Even if you can’t smell it, trust me, someone else can.
Fabric Breakdown: Sweat contains salt and oils that, when left on your workout gear, can break down fibers over time. This means your favorite leggings or sports bra might lose their stretch, fade, or even develop holes much faster than you’d like.
Skin Irritation and Breakouts: Dirty workout clothes can trap sweat, oil, and dead skin cells against your body. This creates a perfect storm for clogged pores, leading to breakouts, rashes, or even fungal infections like athlete’s foot. If you’ve ever wondered why you’re getting “mystery” pimples on your back or chest, your unwashed gear could be the culprit.
Lingering Moisture = Mold and Mildew: Tossing sweaty clothes in a gym bag or laundry basket and letting them sit is an open invitation for mold and mildew. These fungi love damp, dark places and can leave your clothes with a musty smell that’s tough to remove. Plus, mold spores can trigger allergies and other respiratory issues.
Reduced Performance: High-performance fabrics are designed to wick away moisture and keep you comfortable. When they’re clogged with sweat and grime, they can’t do their job. You’ll feel hotter, stickier, and less comfortable during your next workout.
Unwanted Stains: Sweat, deodorant, and body oils can leave behind yellow or white stains, especially in the armpit and collar areas. The longer these sit, the harder they are to remove—sometimes, they’re permanent.
Unpleasant Surprises for Others: If you’re working out in a group or sharing equipment, wearing unwashed clothes can transfer odors and bacteria to benches, mats, and even your workout buddies. Not exactly the legacy you want to leave behind.
Mix equal parts white vinegar and cold water in a basin. Soak workout clothes for 30 minutes, then wash as usual. This method helps eliminate odors and break down sweat residue naturally.
Odor Removal Inefficiency
White vinegar and cold water may not fully eliminate strong odors from workout clothes because cold water doesn’t break down sweat and bacteria as effectively, and vinegar alone may not penetrate deep enough to neutralize persistent smells.
Baking Soda and Warm Water
Mix 2 tablespoons of baking soda with 1 cup of warm water. Soak your workout clothes in the solution for 30 minutes, then wash as usual. This method helps neutralize odors and remove sweat stains naturally.
Residue Build-Up Risk
Using baking soda and warm water can leave residue on workout clothes if not rinsed thoroughly, leading to fabric stiffness, reduced breathability, and potential odor retention over time. Proper rinsing is essential to avoid build-up.
Lemon Juice and Warm Water
Mix equal parts lemon juice and warm water in a spray bottle. Spray onto workout clothes, let sit for 10–15 minutes, then wash as usual. This natural solution helps eliminate odors and freshen fabrics.
Bacteria Survival Concern
Lemon juice and warm water may not effectively kill all bacteria on workout clothes, leading to lingering odors and potential skin irritation due to bacterial survival after washing.
Mix one part hydrogen peroxide with two parts cold water in a spray bottle. Spray directly onto workout clothes, focusing on sweaty or stained areas. Let sit for 10–15 minutes, then wash as usual. This method helps eliminate odors and break down tough stains naturally.
Stain Penetration Limitations
Hydrogen peroxide and cold water may not fully remove deep or set-in stains from workout clothes, as the solution can struggle to penetrate fabric fibers, leaving visible marks or odors behind.
Our high-performance microfiber products simplify cleaning, making it quick, easy, and effective, so you can enjoy visible results without the fuss. No streaks, just results.
