How to wash sportswear properly: one step before the procedure will change everything

Washing sportswear is a difficult task. It is quite hard to remove yellow sweat stains, unpleasant odors, and stubborn dirt, such as grass, from the fibers.

Don't despair. A few simple and eco-friendly life hacks will help you get rid of dirt. Experts said that it is important to pay attention to the pre-cleaning stage.

How to deal with sweat stains and unpleasant odors

Cleaning experts Karlie Suttie and Rachael Hallett advise that you first read the washing instructions on the tag of your sportswear to avoid trouble and damage to the fabric.

If you've already tried a lot of life hacks and washing some clothes is still a problem, the experts say there's one step that can be the key to removing dirt and odor from the fibers. Suttie and Hallett advise that you always turn your clothes inside out before washing them so that the water and detergents effectively eliminate the source of the odor.

In addition to turning your sportswear inside out before washing, you should also pretreat it to remove yellowing and odors.

The most effective life hack is to use baking soda.

"You can also soak your clothes before washing them using baking soda and vinegar, but you need to be careful and never leave them in the solution for more than 15-30 minutes. Cold water is also a must," the experts said.

Step-by-step instructions

1. After putting the clothes in the machine, check that the drum is not overcrowded so that the clothes have enough space to move around.
2. Use less laundry detergent than when washing regular clothes.
3. Do not add fabric softeners or conditioners. The accumulation of detergents in the fibers does not contribute to high-quality cleaning.

You can often find advice online that hot water is better at killing germs and removing dirt. In fact, this is a myth.

"Since most sportswear has extra elasticity, you need to protect the fibers, so a temperature of 30 degrees will be quite enough," the experts said.

To dry elastic fabrics, it is better to use balconies and places with sufficient air circulation. Do not hang sportswear on radiators or in direct sunlight.

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