How to wash sportswear: washing machine, gel, other products

Sportswear care labels

Tracksuits are made from different fabrics: velvet, diving, polyester, raincoat, etc. Each material requires an individual approach. Manufacturers indicate care recommendations on the label:

washing water temperature;
washing machine mode;
permissibility of bleaching;
spin intensity;
drying method;
ironing temperature;
dry cleaning options.

If there is not enough information, you can use general tips for caring for tracksuits.

Explanation of the main icons

The following visual instructions will help you decipher the symbols on the tag:

Additional programs

In addition to the basic programs, the equipment includes various technologies that help extend its service life and avoid numerous breakdowns. For example, some models provide an automatic decrease in water temperature before draining, which slows down the wear of the sewer pipeline. Many models are protected from leaks using sensors that, if a leak is detected, block the water supply.

Let's take a closer look at additional programs and modes that will ensure careful care of your things and preserve their appearance.

Rinsing

The additional rinsing program from different manufacturers is called Hygiene, Hypoallergenic wash.

Some models perform a cycle at 60 degrees in half an hour, thereby destroying allergens. Before choosing a program, check the item's label. Some models have a mode that performs a long rinse with a large volume of water to thoroughly rinse detergents and powders.

Partial loading

The program assumes an incomplete download. Select this mode to reduce water use.

No spin

The mode allows you to preserve the appearance of delicate items; the spin cycle does not turn on.

If your washing machine vibrates a lot during spinning, we recommend that you read this article.

Ironing

After rinsing the laundry, the washing machine spins at low speeds, ensuring delicateness. This way, things don’t wrinkle; you’ll get slightly damp laundry out of the washing machine, which will make ironing more comfortable.

Cold wash

The program is used for things that can fade, shrink, deform and lose their appearance at high temperatures. Wash and rinse items completely in cold water.

Night mode

The washing machine runs the cycle quietly and does not spin. After the cycle is completed, it turns off without sound indication.

Delayed wash

The program assumes that you load laundry and pour powder into the container. You can set the start of washing at the desired time. As a result, when you come to work or events, you will receive clean, slightly damp underwear.

Water level control

The mode saves water. Based on the amount of laundry, the unit automatically calculates how much water needs to be drawn into the drum.

Balancing control

The uniform distribution of laundry is controlled. If there is unevenness, reverse speed is activated to restore balance and prevent breakdowns. The option allows you to reduce vibration and noise levels.

Foam control

For effective rinsing and disposal of washing powder, the spin cycle is activated between rinses. The controller monitors the volume of foam, and if the optimal amount of foam is exceeded, it is pumped out by a pump.

If your washing machine has problems with the pump, we recommend that you read the article: Step-by-step instructions for replacing the drain pump at home.

Water clarity control

The washing cycle time can be significantly extended, while the effectiveness of rinsing laundry from washing powder increases. The sensor scans the water, and if the value is incorrect, a second rinse is performed. This option allows you to ensure complete cleanliness of things.

How often should you wash your gym clothes?

You need to wash your sports suit after every workout. After physical activity, clothes become soaked with sweat - this is an ideal environment for bacteria. The unpleasant odor is absorbed into the fabric fibers and will be difficult to remove over time.

The suit must be washed within 24 hours after returning from the gym. If you can’t start washing right away, you need to dry the item.

Drying will stop the growth of bacteria, but will not get rid of the smell of sweat.

Mode icons on washing machines

The symbols on the washing machine allow the user to quickly understand which mode to select. Once you use it once or twice, you will visually remember the icon and its meaning.

In washing machines of different brands, the following designations are most often found:

Drawing of a basin with a downward arrow – drainage mode.
Basin with hands - Hand wash.
Basin with wavy lines - Quick and Intensive wash.
The iron pattern is the Easy Ironing function.
A lock with a smile or a child's face – child locking the panel.
The key is to lock the hatch door.
Snail – Spin.
Dial – Delayed start.

The explanation of the remaining symbols is shown in the photo below.

Icons that appear on Ardo panels:

On Indesit and Ariston washing machines:

By cars Burning, Beko:

What is the best way to wash - in a machine or by hand?

Unless the label says otherwise, you can wash your sportswear in the washing machine. General recommendations:

choose the fastest mode with two or more rinses;
fasten zippers and buttons before placing them in the drum;
turn suits and T-shirts inside out;
if there are special recommendations from the manufacturer, then manually set the number of spin speeds and temperature conditions;
Do not use bleaches, conditioners or other aggressive products.

Use mesh bags in which clothes are placed before being put into the drum. This way you will avoid puffs, abrasions, and deformation of the sleeves and legs.

Bags are a must when washing thin running shirts and thermal underwear.

Sneakers: washable, do not wash

Most manufacturing companies recommend washing sports shoes exclusively by hand. However, as the experience of runners shows, your favorite sneakers can easily survive machine washing if you follow some rules.

You definitely shouldn’t experiment with shoes made of natural or artificial leather, or if they have glued elements - after washing they will be separated from the sneakers. But pairs made from synthetic materials are usually strong enough to withstand more than one machine wash. However, it is still better to remove the laces and insoles and wash them separately. If we are talking about individual orthopedic insoles, they should be washed by hand - thoroughly and with soap.

Photo: istockphoto.com

Before you put your shoes in the drum, you need to rinse the soles to remove any dirt, leaves, or other debris that may have become lodged in the treads during outdoor activities. To do this, you can use toothpicks or, for example, matches. Then place the sneakers in a special laundry bag. An alternative can be an old pillowcase or towel - they will fill the empty space and soften the impact of shoes on the walls of the drum.

You need to wash your sneakers on the most delicate program and at the lowest temperature - hot water or prolonged washing can deform the shoes. It is convenient to use paper towels for drying. First, gently blot the boots to remove excess moisture, then tamp down new dry towels inside to maintain their shape. Dry your sneakers away from radiators and other heat sources. If you doubt that your shoes will survive machine washing, you can wash them by hand. Use soap and special brushes. A brush with hard bristles is suitable for the sole, and a brush with soft bristles for the textile part.

Instructions for use: how to keep sneakers fresh in the summer

Gel instead of powder

Most tracksuits must be washed at low temperatures, and laundry detergent does not dissolve well in cold water. Grains of the product remain in the seams, clog the pores of the membranes, causing skin irritation and allergies. An alternative to powdered products is gels.

Gels do not affect the color of clothing and do not damage reflective elements. Standard dose – 2 tsp. for 1 wash. If there are clear traces of sweat or dirt on things, then you need to go over them with a toothbrush dipped in the gel.

Cotico

For tracksuits, T-shirts and sneakers, the Cotico line of concentrated gels produced by B&B Company is suitable.

Peculiarities:

lack of phosphates;
based on natural surfactants and potassium soap;
effective when washing in cold water;
soft effect on matter;
low consumption;
weak foam formation.

The product does not damage neoprene, microfiber, membrane, polyester materials.

Burti

Burti Sport&Outdoor gel from the German manufacturer Burnus is created specifically for washing sportswear and shoes. The product removes stains from sweat and dirt at low water temperatures.

Characteristics:

composition based on keratin and silk proteins;
Suitable for delicate items made of silk or wool;
replaces air conditioner;
restores tissue structure from the inside, maintains elasticity;
protects the washing machine from scale;
washes off easily.

Burti Sport&Outdoor has a neutral scent. The product effectively cleans membranes.

Do not add fabric softeners

Do not use fabric softener when washing sportswear. They cover the fabric, thereby trapping odor and bacteria. To remove the conditioner from things, you will have to wash them several more times. In addition, it destroys the elastic properties of sportswear.

To soften your items, use a home remedy. Simply add ½ cup of white distilled vinegar to the conditioner compartment before the final rinse cycle. Vinegar will not only soften clothes, but also rid them of detergent residue.

How to dry it properly?

Dry your sneakers naturally. Most products do not tolerate contact with direct sunlight.

Shoes should not be heated by placing them on a heating radiator or near a gas stove.

You can speed up drying by taking the sports pair out into the fresh air or into a room with low humidity.

To give the sneakers the correct shape, they can be stuffed with paper. Read more about drying shoes after washing here.

Manual cleaning at home

You can wash your sneakers by hand. This is especially true for shoes made of suede, nubuck, and genuine leather.

Hand washing can be done with or without pre-soaking . To carry out the procedure, you can use liquid detergents, washing powder or ordinary laundry soap.

The most important thing is to thoroughly dissolve the detergent composition in water. The water should remain cool. Heavily contaminated areas are additionally rubbed with a brush.

Read more about hand washing sneakers here.

Problems you may encounter after

The main problems that a person may encounter after washing sneakers:

The shoes turned yellow. You can get rid of stains by washing again using a gentle bleach.
There were stains on the sneakers. To deal with them, you need to thoroughly rinse your shoes.
The sneakers have lost their shape. To give them their previous appearance, you need to wet the shoes, stuff them with paper and leave them until completely dry.
They creak. To get rid of unpleasant sounds, you can lubricate the accessible elements with soap, and pour colorless silicone into the existing cavities.

Washing Gore-tex, Windstopper, Texapore and other membranes

All the tips from our article are also suitable for membrane items. There are only 2 additions:

do not dry-clean membrane items
after washing, restore the water-repellent coating with a special impregnation
activate the water repellent component in the membrane

To “activate” the membranes, manufacturers recommend ironing the item through a towel or placing it in a machine dryer on a gentle setting.
Attention! The instructions written by the manufacturer are always more important than all advice. If the instructions recommend washing at 30 degrees and not ironing, then do so. The manufacturer knows his item best and how to care for it.

How to wash shoes of different brands?

Depending on the brand under which the sneakers are produced, the rules for caring for them will differ. We are talking about original brands, and not about Chinese analogues .

Sneakers from New Balance and Reebok cannot be machine washed. The manufacturer does not recommend the use of bleaches. Dirt should be removed from them with a special brush.

These rules apply to suede, textiles, synthetics and nubuck.

Shoe manufacturers Adidas, Nike and Puma allow hand washing in a cool soapy solution using a soft brush . However, not all models may be subject to such processing.

"Grandma's" remedies

If you decide to go for a run through the countryside and won’t get home soon, you can wash your sportswear using the means at hand.

Regular baking soda. To use it to clean clothes, you need to prepare a solution: 1 teaspoon per glass of warm water. Apply it to the item and leave for 20-30 minutes. Then stretch.
Table vinegar. As practice shows, it perfectly neutralizes the smell of sweat. You can replace it with lemon juice or citric acid. The soaking solution is prepared in the following proportions: 1 teaspoon per half glass of water. Things should be allowed to lie in such water for 15-30 minutes. And after that, stretch.
If the smell has already ingrained itself into your clothes, a solution of vinegar and soda will help get rid of it. Add half a glass of vinegar and a tablespoon of soda to a bowl of water for soaking. And also pre-soak briefly. Then wash. This solution effectively destroys bacteria that have settled in the tissue.
Laundry soap does an excellent job with both sweat and stains from it. You can use it in the following way: wet, for example, a T-shirt, rub it with laundry soap and leave to lie for half an hour. Then soak for the same amount of time and wash.

“Grandma’s” products are best used on summer equipment. But clothes made from membrane fabrics should still be washed with specialized products.

Important Tips

Top 5 tips for washing sneakers:

carry out proper preparation of shoes for the upcoming cleaning (removal of laces, insoles, dirt, stones, etc.);
use a special mesh when automatically washing shoes;
minimize the contact time of sneakers with water;
do not wash shoes made of suede, nubuck and leather in automatic mode;
Dry the pair thoroughly after wet cleaning.

If the shoes are not stitched, but are fixed with glue, they can only be washed by hand and without pre-soaking.

Selecting a washing mode

Which mode to choose depends on your preferences, the degree of soiling of the laundry and the type of fabric. Modern SMAs offer optimal modes for each type of clothing. How to enable this or that program is indicated in the instructions. There are also general values on the panel for each brand.

Manufacturers SM Siemens, Samsung, Beko indicated the names of each mode, so you won’t have to doubt it for long. Icons are rarely used.
Zanussi washing machines have a rotary selector that will help you select the main programs. The selection of additional functions (steam washing, tulle washing mode, first wash mode) occurs by pressing the buttons.
On the Electrolux panel, icons are combined with program names.

Selection by time

The duration of the programs depends on the type of fabric. For example, cotton products take the longest to wash – about 2 hours. The fastest mode in terms of time is “Quick Wash”, lasting from 15 to 30 minutes.

Where does the bad smell come from?

According to scientists, sweat itself has no odor. Toxins and bacteria give it a unique “aroma”. The latter feel quite comfortable not only on the body, but also inside the synthetic fibers from which the fabric of sportswear is made. The sweat removal system helps absorb it into things, creating a favorable living environment for them. Therefore, if you do not wash your equipment in a timely manner and leave it to “sour” in your bag after training, bacteria will begin to live and multiply in it. Even antibacterial impregnation cannot neutralize the process. In addition to the terrible smell, an unwashed T-shirt or leggings will cause pimples and pustules to appear on the body.

Toxins released through sweat also give the smell a killer “uniqueness.” Proper nutrition with a minimum of flour, fatty, sweet and fast food and visiting a bathhouse or sauna will help you cope with this component.