Since training for a half marathon two years ago, I've become a regular runner, usually heading out after work and on weekends at least three times a week. But, now that summer's here, it doesn't only mean harder runs – it means hotter ones, too.
I always wash my gym kit after each run, but, after recently finding myself struggling to keep them smelling fresh, I decided to use a simple trick using a favorite Homes & Gardens hero: Vinegar. A simple pre-soak before popping them in my machine and odors were banished, and fabrics freshened.
Here, laundry experts share their laundry tips on my surprising, affordable and effective technique, including how to do it, and exactly why it works.
Why does soaking clothes in vinegar before washing help to banish odors?
To explain why my trick of using white vinegar in laundry works when washing gym clothes, I spoke to Matt O'Connor, CEO and co-founder at NoScrubs.
Assuredly, he says, 'I've been running NoScrubs for years, and dealt with some truly horrific workout gear. Vinegar is honestly one of the best tricks in the book for getting that stubborn sweat smell out.' I've certainly found it is when it comes to keeping laundry smelling nice for longer.
He explains, 'The acid in vinegar literally breaks apart the bond between stink-causing bacteria and your fabric fibers. It's not just masking the smell – it's actually killing the bacteria that creates it in the first place.'
Sammy Wang, P&G fabric care senior scientist, agrees, adding, 'Vinegar, or acetic acid, has a low pH so it can help remove the pH-sensitive buildup and residues that can lead to odors.'
However, she highlights, the vinegar you buy at the store is not always pH-buffered, so while it may already be in your pantry, it's not always the most effective low-pH cleaning routine. For example, you can't use malt vinegar, and will instead need white vinegar, such as the Great Value Distilled White Vinegar available at Walmart.
'If you do choose to use vinegar in your laundry routine, the most effective way to use it is as a vinegar soak pre-treatment rather than adding it directly to the washer,' she says, which is what I've been doing. Providing you know when to add vinegar to laundry and where to put vinegar in a washing machine, though, you can add it directly to save time, if you prefer.
If you'd like to try my pre-soak method, here's exactly how:
1. Pre-soak in water and vinegar
First things first, I filled a plastic bucket with cold water and a healthy splash of white vinegar, roughly half a cup. The good thing is vinegar won't damage your clothing, so it won't matter if you add too much or too little. That's why it's one of the secret laundry ingredients cleaning pros swear by.
I then dropped in my gym clothes and left them soaking for an hour, to allow the vinegar to work its magic. As Sammy adds, you can safely leave them to soak overnight if necessary.
Then, after soaking, I gave my garments a quick rinse under the cold tap to remove the majority of vinegar from the fabrics.
The emphasis on cold water is important, as gym clothes are items you should never wash in hot water, says Alicia Sokolowski, laundry and cleaning expert at AspenClean.
'Make sure to always opt for cold water when washing gym clothes, as hot water can set odors deep into synthetic fabrics,' she explains.
2. Wash as usual
Once rinsed, I just threw my gym clothes in the washing machine with some gentle, enzyme-based detergent, as per president of Heritage Park Laundry Essentials Tom Ceconi's suggestion.
'After presoaking, I recommend washing performance fabrics according to laundry symbols with an enzyme-based detergent,' such as the Nature’s Miracle Laundry Boost In-Wash Stain and Odor Remover available at Amazon.
Importantly, reminds Sammy, you should never mix vinegar or other low pH products with bleach, as this can create a dangerous gas.
Additionally, washing gym clothes is one of the times you should never use fabric softener in laundry, adds Alicia, as these coat fabrics and trap bacteria, effectively making odors worse. You should also wash them inside out, as this 'helps to target the odor zones better,' she advises.
3. Air-dry
Finally, says laundry expert Alicia, dry your gym clothes completely before storing. I hung mine outside for added freshness.
'To avoid baking odors,' advises Alicia, it's best to harness the benefits of air-drying laundry. Without a tumble dryer, this is something I always do, anyway.
My verdict
Once dry, my clothes genuinely smelled so much fresher, with no need to question why my clothes smell sour, even after washing. This is a trick I'll be using whenever I need to curb lingering odors in the future, and the best part is it's such an affordable way to avoid any laundry habits ruining your laundry.
'One heads up,' says Matt, 'Don't do this every single wash. The acid can break down elastic over time, so save it for when things are actually funky,' which is something to keep in mind.
But, if you're a fellow runner, or just need to freshen up fabrics this summer, I definitely recommend grabbing your vinegar and giving it a whirl.
What to shop
All prices were correct at the time of publication.
'Tide Plus Febreze Sport is solid for embedded odors,' recommends Matt. It's been reformulated to remove even week-old sweat odors, and effectively cleans, freshens, whitens, and brightens.
Matt also recommends this detergent, saying, 'WIN Sports Detergent handles all fabric types well.' It's made from plant-based enzymes, and is free from phosphates.
'For really stubborn cases, grab some Lysol Sport Sanitizer from Walmart,' says Matt. 'It really works.' With a bleach-free formula, it's gentle on fabrics, effective in cold water, and safe to use on both colors and whites.
Meet our experts
'Never leave gym clothes damp in a bag or hamper, as bacteria multiply fast in dark and moist conditions,' advises Alicia.
There are, however, some laundry rules you can break, from separating fabrics to mixing whites and colors.
