DIY Cleaning Methods for Workout clothes

Baking Soda and Warm Water for Workout Clothes: A Straightforward Guide

Why Use Baking Soda and Warm Water?

• Baking soda (also called sodium bicarbonate) is a common household powder that helps with cleaning and odor control. It’s not a magic bullet, but it can help with the funk that clings to workout gear.
• Warm water helps dissolve the baking soda and can loosen up grime and sweat residue in fabrics.

How to Use This Method

• Fill a sink, tub, or large basin with warm water—not hot, just comfortably warm to the touch. Too hot can mess with stretchy fabrics like spandex or elastane.
 
• Add about ½ cup of baking soda for a standard sink full of water. Stir it around until it’s mostly dissolved. You don’t need to be exact; a little more or less won’t hurt.
 
• Drop your workout clothes in and make sure they’re fully submerged. Give them a quick swish to help the solution get into all the nooks and crannies (think: armpits, waistbands, and anywhere sweat likes to hide).
 
• Let the clothes soak for 30 minutes to an hour. This gives the baking soda time to work on odors and loosen up grime. If you’re dealing with especially stubborn smells, you can let them soak a bit longer, but don’t forget about them overnight—prolonged soaking can sometimes affect fabric elasticity.
 
• After soaking, rinse the clothes thoroughly with clean water. You want to get all the baking soda out, or you might end up with a powdery residue.
 
• Wash as usual in your washing machine, using your regular detergent. The pre-soak helps, but it’s not a replacement for a full wash.

Extra Tips for Best Results

• Turn clothes inside out before soaking. This helps the solution reach the areas that get the sweatiest.
 
• If you’re dealing with a particularly stubborn spot (like a smelly armpit), you can make a paste of baking soda and water and gently rub it into the area before soaking.
 
• Don’t use this method on delicate fabrics like silk or wool—baking soda is best for synthetic workout gear (think polyester, nylon, spandex blends).
 
• Always check the care label on your clothes before trying any new cleaning method.

How to Clean Workout Clothes with Hydrogen Peroxide and Cold Water

• Start with a quick rinse. As soon as you peel off your workout clothes, give them a rinse in cold water. This helps loosen up sweat and any lingering funk before it sets in. Cold water is key—hot water can actually make odors and stains dig in deeper.

 

• Mix your solution. In a clean sink or basin, combine one part 3% hydrogen peroxide (the kind you find at the drugstore) with four parts cold water. For example, use 1 cup of hydrogen peroxide to 4 cups of water. Hydrogen peroxide is a common household liquid that acts as an oxidizer, which means it helps break down some of the stuff that causes odors and stains.

 

• Soak the clothes. Submerge your workout gear in the solution, making sure everything is fully covered. Let it soak for about 30 minutes. This gives the hydrogen peroxide time to do its thing on tough smells and visible stains.

 

• Gently agitate. Swish the clothes around a bit with your hands while they soak. This helps the solution reach all the nooks and crannies—especially important for seams and underarms where sweat likes to hide.

 

• Rinse thoroughly. After soaking, rinse the clothes well with cold water. You want to make sure all the hydrogen peroxide is washed out, since any leftover can cause fabric to stiffen or fade over time.

 

• Launder as usual. Toss your workout clothes in the washing machine with your regular detergent. Stick to cold water here, too. Skip the fabric softener—it can leave a coating that traps odors and makes technical fabrics less effective.

 

• Air dry. Hang your clothes to dry instead of using the dryer. High heat can break down stretchy fabrics and set in any lingering smells. Plus, air drying helps keep your gear in good shape for longer.

• What is hydrogen peroxide? It’s a pale blue liquid (though it looks clear in the bottle) that’s often used as a mild antiseptic or cleaning agent. In this context, it helps break down some of the stuff that causes odors and stains in workout clothes.

 

• Why cold water? Cold water helps prevent stains and odors from setting in, and it’s gentler on the synthetic fabrics most workout clothes are made from.