Apparently There's A 'Right' Way to Wash Gym Clothes and You're Not Doing It

You'll always feel better after sweating it up at the gym or a run outside but the not-so-fun part is all the laundry that comes after it. 

Can you re-wear your sweaty clothes? How should you be washing them to keep them looking best? 

For the dos and don'ts, Eonline.com consulted Yoon Chung, chief merchant at Carbon38 for the what's what on washing your workout wear.

Be Diligent About Washing: You wear your jeans multiple times before you wash them, so shouldn't the same go for your leggings? According to Chung, that's not the case. "I recommend washing after each workout as the odor-causing bacteria can clog pores, cause skin breakouts and yeast infections," explained the pro. Same washing rules apply for your undies!

Follow the Instructions: Each item is made differently with different fabrics so, first and foremost, be sure that you are following the wash instructions on the garments themselves. Some require a hand wash and some can be tossed in the washer, no problem. You're just going to want to keep the water cold. "Hot water can break down textiles and can lead to shrinkage," warned the expert. Same goes for dryer heat, so be sure to hang dry.

Detergents, Softeners and More: "Using fabric softeners, optical brighteners or fragrances are a big no-no," she shared. If you ever wonder why your leggings come out of the washer with a white residue it's likely because you're using one of the above. Those can get in between and clog the fibers of the fabrics, which can limit their ability to wick sweat and fight odors. As for regular laundry detergent? That's an absolute must—it eliminates sweat and bacteria buildup.

If Your Clothes Still Have a Stench: Sometimes, for whatever reason (no matter how many times you throw them in the wash) your clothes still hold tight to a weird odor. If that's the case, the pro has a trick: Pre-soak your workout clothes in a mixture of cold water and half a cup of white vinegar for 15 to 30 minutes.

There you have it!

Read the full list at eonline.com