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NBC News
26-03-2025
- Health
- NBC News
Do your workout leggings stink even after washing them? Here's what to do.
We don't always have the answers, but we have some people on speed dial who do — which is why we present to you our series FYI where we have experts explain if lip balm is actually bad, how often you should wash your hair and more. C'mon, admit it: we've all pulled a pair of workout leggings out of a drawer and been smacked in the face with an, ahem, odor. Even though you've thrown them in the wash, they seem to hang on to that scent. Thankfully, a simple solution can eradicate odor and help your leggings last longer: You just have to tweak how you're washing them. While you probably know that special materials like leather and suede need to be cleaned specially, you may not realize that workout leggings also require special attention after a particular hardcore sweat session. To help you get your workout leggings as clean as possible, we turned to laundry experts for their best tips. Below, they shared the type of laundry detergent you should be using, plus other tips on how to wash your workout leggings. Why do workout leggings get so stinky? When you wear leggings to run errands or for a coffee date with a pal, chances are they don't stink afterward. But if you hit up your favorite spin class or go for a long run, they may smell a bit ripe — or a lot ripe, depending on how much you sweat. But if you wash them, that stink should go away, right? Not necessarily. According to our experts, the breathable, moisture-wicking fabric from which most workout leggings are made creates the perfect environment for bacteria growth. And if that bacteria isn't removed, it can start to smell. Unfortunately, throwing them in the wash with all your other clothes may not be enough to eliminate all those bacteria. You may need to wash them in a unique way (more on that soon). Another thing that can help is not letting your sweaty leggings hang out in your hamper for days after you sweat in them, says Frej Lewenhaupt, co-founder and chief product officer of textile care company Steamery. Letting them sit just fosters more bacteria growth. In contrast, if you immediately put them in the washing machine, you can get the sweat out before that bacteria embeds itself into the fibers. Do you need special laundry detergent for workout leggings? While your normal laundry detergent may suffice, it's smarter to use one specifically designed for activewear and odor-prone garments, says Lewenhaupt. These detergents will break down sweat, oils and bacteria, allowing the water to wash all that stuff away and leaving you with leggings that don't stink after you've cleaned them. You can simply look for a detergent that says it's for activewear, or you can make sure whatever detergent you are using contains the following: Enzymes: Think of this as the most important ingredient to look for in a detergent for your leggings. 'Enzymes like protease and amylase are key for breaking down proteins, body oils, and sweat stains that cling to performance fabrics,' says James Joun, co-founder and chief operating officer of Rinse, an on-demand laundry and dry cleaning pickup and delivery company. 'These are essential for removing odors at the molecular level.' Oxygen bleach (non-chlorine): Think you can only use bleach on whites? Think again. As long as you look for oxygen bleach, it's safe for colored clothes. 'Unlike traditional bleach, oxygen bleach is safe for colored and synthetic fabrics,' says Joun. 'It works by lifting stains and neutralizing odors without damaging the material.' Surfactants: Finally, surfactants will also help loosen and remove dirt, sweat, and oil from fabric. The most common surfactant in detergent is alkyl-benzene sulfonate — so look for that one, says Joun. How to wash your workout leggings Beyond the detergent you use, a few additional tips can help ensure your workout leggings get clean when you wash them. One of the biggest things to remember is that you must wash them anytime you sweat. 'Synthetic fabrics like nylon and polyester that are commonly used for activewear tend to trap odors more than natural fibers, so they need to be washed more frequently,' says Lewenhaupt. 'So, they really should be washed after every intense workout session, especially if they're damp with sweat.' However, if you've only done a light activity or didn't sweat much, you can air them out and skip a wash, adds Lewenhaupt. When you are ready to wash your workout leggings, follow these simple steps to ensure they get as clean and stink-free as possible: Turn them inside out: 'This will expose the most soiled areas — like the waistband and inner thighs — to the detergent, says Lewenhaupt. Get selective: 'It's best to wash your workout leggings with similar fabrics and colors to prevent abrasion and color transfer,' says Lewenhaupt. 'Avoid washing them with items that have zippers or rough textures, as these can snag the fabric.' If you are washing your leggings with other items, Lewenhaupt suggests putting them in a mesh laundry bag to help keep them protected. Be gentle: Pair your laundry detergent made for activewear with the gentle cycle on your washing machine to avoid damaging your leggings. You should also avoid fabric softeners entirely, as they clog the fibers and reduce breathability and sweat-wicking, says Lewenhaupt. Go the extra mile: 'To ensure all detergent, sweat, and odors are rinsed out, add an extra rinse cycle to your wash routine,' says Joun. 'This step is especially helpful if you're dealing with heavy sweat or stubborn odors.' You can also use an odor-eliminating booster — like OxiClean Odor Blasters or a half cup of white vinegar — alongside your detergent if you've had a super sweaty workout, says Joun. These things will help neutralize smells during the rinse cycle. Air dry: Skip the dryer and air dry your leggings. This will help maintain your leggings' elasticity and shape, says Lewenhaupt. Meet our experts At NBC Select, we work with experts with specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and experience. We also ensure all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest. Why trust NBC Select? Bethany Heitman is a contributor at NBC Select and a journalist who regularly covers beauty, home and lifestyle. For this story, she interviewed experts on washing workout leggings.
NBC News
18-02-2025
- General
- NBC News
Experts explain what dry cleaning is and how it really works
We don't always have the answers, but we have some people on speed dial who do — which is why we present to you our series FYI where we have experts explain if lip balm is actually bad, how often should you wash your hair and more. Chances are, you have at least a few items in your closet that require dry cleaning. From a customer standpoint, dry cleaning is fairly simple — you just drop off dirty garments and then go back and pick them up when they're freshly cleaned and wrapped in those plastic garment bags. But what exactly is dry cleaning? Unlike throwing your clothes in a washing machine with some laundry detergent, dry cleaning is a bit more involved and is often used to clean more delicate pieces and fabrics that might get damaged if washed more traditionally. For a better understanding of the entire process, we turned to dry cleaning and textile experts to explain exactly what goes on when you drop your clothes off — plus, they shared the items that should be dry cleaned and tips on how to ensure your garments get cleaned properly. What is dry cleaning? A washing machine uses water, detergent and motion to get clothes clean. 'But dry cleaning is a cleaning process that uses a liquid solvent instead of water to remove dirt, stains, and oils from fabric,' says James Joun, co-founder and chief operating officer of Rinse, an on-demand laundry and dry cleaning pickup and delivery company. 'It is a process that is gentler on delicate materials and helps maintain a garment's original shape, texture, and longevity.' The solvents used in dry cleaning are made of fabric-safe chemicals. 'When applied, they clean the surface of the garment by dissolving and lifting dirt, oils, and stains without soaking into the fibers like water,' says Frej Lewenhaupt, co-founder and chief product officer of textile care company Steamery. How does dry cleaning work? Dry cleaning is a multi-step process that gently cleans a garment and removes any stains. According to Joun, when you drop off your items to be dry-cleaned, here is what happens: Garment inspection and tagging: Your item is carefully inspected for stains, loose buttons, missing embellishments, or damage. Then, a tracking tag is attached to ensure the garment is processed correctly and can be reassembled after cleaning. Pre-treatment spotting (stain removal): Any visible stains are pre-treated using specialized stain-removal techniques based on the type of fabric and stain composition. For example, dry cleaners will use tannin removers for wine stains or will use enzymes for certain food stains. Dry cleaning: Garments are placed in a large dry-cleaning machine, which uses a solvent that removes dirt and oils. While normal washing uses water to flush out dirt, the dry cleaning solvent cleans without saturating the fabric with water. The solvent is continuously filtered and purified to ensure the best cleaning results. The same machine can remove the solvent through heating, and the garments emerge from the machine completely dry. Post-treatment and pressing: Any remaining stains are treated again using spotting methods and potentially dry cleaned. Most garments, however, emerge completely clean and are then pressed, steamed, or reshaped to restore its original look and remove wrinkles. Final inspection, assembly and bagging: The garment undergoes a final quality check before assembly. Once the garment is cleaned, it is placed in protective packaging that shields it from debris during handling and delivery. What types of items should be dry cleaned? The easiest way to determine if clothing should be dry cleaned is to look at its care tag. If it says 'dry clean only,' you should follow those instructions. 'Garments that say this tend to feature fabrics that have difficulty maintaining their texture when they absorb water and then are exposed to high heat (i.e. machine dried),' says Joun. 'Items that say 'dry clean recommended,' can be washed at home. However, we recommend professional cleaning to help maintain their look for much longer.' Have items that don't have tags? Or perhaps you just want a basic understanding of the types of items that dry cleaning is best for. Garments made from wool, velvet, silk, leather suede or fur should be dry cleaned, as well as suits or items made with intricate beading or embellishments should all be taken to the dry cleaners, says Lewenhaupt. What happens if you wash a 'dry clean only' item? 'Washing a garment that should be dry cleaned can lead to shrinkage, a distorted shape, and changes to the fabric's texture,' says Lewenhaupt. 'For example, a wool sweater might lose its shape and size due to the fibers tightening.' Skipping the proper cleaning technique can also alter the color of your items. 'Some dyes used in professional garments are not water soluble and can lead to color loss,' Joun says. 'Washing them incorrectly can cause colors to fade unevenly or bleed onto other fabrics.' Trying to clean an item at home that should be dry-cleaned can also lock in stains. 'If a stain isn't treated properly, washing in hot water or drying can cause it to permanently set into the fabric, making removal nearly impossible,' says Joun. 'Oil-based stains — like salad dressing or makeup — are non water-soluble and instead require oil-based solvents which dry cleaning provides.' And if you accidentally wash a 'dry clean only' item at home, avoid putting it in the dryer. 'Instead, bring it to a professional dry cleaner as soon as possible to see if they can reverse some of the damage,' Joun adds. How to maximize your dry cleaning experience A few tricks can help you get the most out of your dry cleaning experience and ensure your garments are cared for as well as possible. Both of our experts agreed that communicating with your dry cleaner is key. Here are the things they suggest you chat about when dropping off an item: Point out stains: 'Let your cleaner know if there are specific stains on the garment and what caused them,' says Joun. 'Different stains require different treatments, and some stains can become invisible over time but darken later.' By giving them more details, your dry cleaner can customize stain treatment to remove the spot best. Mention delicate fabrics or special features: Though it may seem like they can just look at whatever you bring in, it's helpful to let them know if your garment is made of silk, cashmere, or has beading, lace, or embroidery. This will flag to the cleaner that they may need to take extra precautions, says Joun. Note any loose buttons, tears or repairs needed: 'Dry cleaners often offer minor repairs, so letting them know about a loose hem, missing button, or small tear allows them to fix it during the cleaning process,' says Joun. Even if they don't provide repairs, it lets them know to be extra careful around those areas. Fess up to at-home attempts: Don't feel bashful if you tried to clean an item at home or treat a stain. Be honest and mention what products you used, says Joun. 'Some DIY stain removers can react with dry cleaning solvents, leading to unexpected discoloration.' Meet our experts At NBC Select, we work with experts with specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and experience. We also ensure all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest. Why trust NBC Select? Bethany Heitman is a contributor at NBC Select and a journalist who regularly covers beauty, home and lifestyle. For this story, she interviewed experts on the process of dry cleaning.
