How to Wash Pact Activewear

Pact offers sustainable fashion that’s made from organic fabrics in fair trade certified factories. Aside from apparel, they also offer home goods as well such as bedding and towels.

More About Pact

Pact was founded by Jeff Denby and Jason Kibbey in 2009. Later that same year, they released their first product line, a collection of organic cotton underwear for men and women. Since then, they’ve expanded their product line to include many other items such as leggings, dresses, jumpsuits, socks, sleepwear, and more.

Aside from their official website, which serves as their main store, they also sell some of their items on Amazon.

What Kind of Eco-Friendly Activewear Do They Offer?

Pact offers various types of activewear for women including leggings, shorts, joggers, sports bras, tank tops, and more. They also have a kids’ collection, which consists of t-shirts, sweatshirts, sweatpants, and tights.

And their prices are very reasonable. You’re looking at around $50 for a pair of leggings and $30 for a sports bra. Shipping is also free if you order more than $100USD (including international orders).

Tip: You can get 20% off your first order by signing up for their online newsletter.

Caring For Your Pact Apparel

Their products are of good quality for the price. Like all clothing, however, they can wear out if you’re rough on them—so make sure to care for them properly if you want them to last. In other words, don’t be lazy when it comes to doing the laundry. Wash them after each wear. Don’t let them soak in your sweat; that can wear out the garment prematurely.

You also want to be careful with how you wash the items. For instance, you never want to use the dryer for any of their products. If anything, that’s the easiest way to wear them down.

What Materials Are Their Clothes Made Of?

Most, if not all of their products are made of organic cotton, which is sometimes mixed with technical fibers. Here’s what you need to know about these materials.

Organic Cotton

Organic cotton is grown without the use of pesticides and synthetic fertilizers. In other words, it’s much more environmentally friendly. For one thing, it consumes very little water compared to traditional cotton.

Not only is it soft, but it’s also much less likely to trigger allergies. Plus, it’s breathable, which makes it ideal for certain types of clothes. The only thing is that it’s prone to shrinking and wrinkling.

Elastane

Elastane, also known as ‘Lycra’, is a synthetic fiber that’s often used to make stretchable clothing (e.g. stockings, swimsuits, activewear). This has to do with the fact that it’s extremely elastic (it can stretch up to seven times its original length). It’s also soft, lightweight, and great for layering. However, it’s seldom used alone; it’s almost always blended with other fabrics.

Pact Leggings: What Are the Best Ways to Wash Them?

Their leggings are machine washable. Another option is to wash them by hand—that’ll save even more energy. We’ll be going over both methods step-by-step below!

Using a Cold Water Wash 

Put your leggings inside a mesh laundry bag. Make sure that it’s turned inside out so that the outer layer won’t be exposed to any agitation. If you don’t have a laundry bag, use a clean pillow case. Place your leggings inside and tie off the end with an elastic.

Close the bag and throw it into the washing machine. Put in the rest of your laundry (separate the items using mesh bags if you have to) and add your detergent. We recommend one scoop of ACTIVE detergent—simply pour it into the dispenser (or to the drum). Avoid fabric softeners. Not only will they trap in oil and dirt, but they can also trigger skin allergies. White vinegar is a much safer alternative. Add ½ to 1 cup during the final rinse cycle; it’ll soften your clothes and get rid of any odors.

Once you’ve put everything in, choose your wash settings. For leggings and sportswear in general, it’s best to use a delicate cycle—it’s the shortest and gentlest setting and will keep your bottoms looking new. And always use cold water. This is super important as their leggings are made of organic cotton. The last thing that you want is to expose them to heat, which can cause them to shrink!

Let your leggings air dry on a clothesline, drying rack, or hanger. While you can technically use the dryer on a low setting, it’s best to let it dry naturally. Avoid direct sunlight as that can damage the materials.

Washing Them By Hand

Fill a large sink or washtub with tepid water. Measure ½ a scoop of ACTIVE detergent and add it in to create a soapy solution. Wait for it to dissolve completely before putting your leggings in (you can speed up the process by swishing the water a few times with your hand). You want them to be completely submerged so that they’re in contact with the detergent.

Swirl the leggings a couple of times through the water to loosen any dirt. Let them sit in the sink for about 15-20 minutes afterward. Don’t leave them in for too long, though, otherwise, the dyes can start to bleed.

Rinse the leggings thoroughly after soaking. Hold them under the faucet until all of the soap residues has been washed off. Another option is to rinse them in the sink/washtub (you’ll have to refill it with water after getting rid of the dirty water). Press up and down on the item until all of the soap suds are gone.

Once they’re clean, take them out of the water. Press the excess water out of the fabric gently with your hands. Never twist or wring the leggings like a dish towel—that’ll stretch them out of shape. You don’t want to rub them either as that can cause pilling.

Place them on a hanger and let them dry naturally in a well-ventilated area, away from direct sunlight. A clothesline or drying rack works as well. We don’t recommend using the dryer as the heat can compromise the cotton material over time.

Pact Sports Bras: How Do You Wash These Delicate Items?

Their sports bras are also made of organic cotton and elastane. In other words, you can wash them pretty much the same way as their leggings. If you want, you can even wash them together (assuming that you’re not mixing colors)!

Using the Washing Machine

Place the sports bra in a mesh bag (remember to turn it inside out to facilitate the washing process). It’s not recommended that you put it in the washer without a bag as the agitator can stretch out the material. Not to mention that it can snag on the other items in the machine. 

Tip: You can wash Pact sports bras with other delicate items or activewear. For example, you can put them in the same load as tank tops, undergarments, shorts, or leggings. Avoid washing them with coarse items such as jeans as they can rub against and damage the fabric.

Close the mesh bag and toss it in the washer. Put in the rest of your clothes, separating them with mesh bags, if necessary. Next, add one scoopful of ACTIVE detergent powder (one scoop will be enough unless you’re washing a L or XL load). Skip the fabric softener and bleach. White vinegar is a safe alternative if you want to soften the items (½ to 1 cup during the final rinse cycle will suffice).

Run a cold-water cycle on a delicate setting; the lower spin speed and agitation will prevent your sports bra and other clothes from wearing out.

Take out the clean laundry once the cycle is finished. Drape them across a drying rack and allow them to air dry. You can also use a clothesline or hanger. Never put your sports bra in the dryer—the heat will permanently stretch out and damage the material. Similarly, you don’t want to expose it to sunlight so make sure to keep it indoors.

Washing By Hand

Fill a clean sink with tepid water so that it’s ¾ full. Add half a scoop’s worth of ACTIVE detergent and pour it in—you should end up with a soapy solution once it’s dissolved. 

Next, prepare your bra. Turn the garment inside out and place it in the sink so that it’s covered by the water. Swirl it around to loosen any debris and let it soak in the detergent solution for up to 20 minutes (that’ll let it penetrate the fibers).

Remove the bra from the sink and rinse thoroughly with cool water after soaking. You can hold the item directly under the faucet or rinse it in the sink (after refilling it with clean water). Either way, you want to rinse the item until it’s free of detergent. There shouldn’t be any soap film left when you’re done.

Press the excess water out of the bra and place it on a clothesline or drying rack where it can air dry. You can also lay it flat to dry on a clean surface such as a towel. Once again, make sure not to use the dryer—the heat will permanently damage the cotton and elastane blend.