How to Wash PrettyLittleThing Activewear

Pretty Little Thing is a fashion retailer that’s aimed at women between the ages of 14 and 24. Based in Manchester, London, the company operates in the UK, US, France, Australia, and Ireland, and is owned by the Boohoo Group. Aside from clothing, they also sell accessories such as hats, sunglasses, jewellery, headbands, and more.

About Pretty Little Thing

Pretty Little Thing was founded in 2012 by brothers Adam and Umar Kamani. In the beginning, they only sold accessories—it wasn’t until later on that they decided to sell apparel. From there, their popularity quickly rose as many celebrities such as Nicki Minaj, Miley Cyrus, and Michelle Kegan were seen wearing their products. They’ve also collaborated with reality stars Kylie Jenner and Lucy Mecklenburgh in the past.

More About Pretty Little Thing Activewear

The brand has their own line of activewear, which covers all the essentials that you need for the gym. To be more specific, the collection includes sports bras, workout leggings, workout t-shirts, joggers, bodysuits, and gym shorts. They also have other items such as headbands and duffle bags.

Unlike some of the other brands out there, their products are relatively cheap. If anything, that’s one of the main reasons why they’re so popular among teens and young adults. For instance, you can get a top for under $20. Catch them while they’re doing a sale and you’ll be able to snag their items for even cheaper! For instance, their bike shorts are on sale for $10 at the time of this writing.

Taking Care of Pretty Little Thing Activewear

Clothing will be clothing. If you want their products to last, you’ll have to make sure to care for them properly. Ultimately, what this means is that you want to wash them after every wear (assuming that you worked out in them). There are several reasons why you want to do this—for one thing, it will get rid of any sweat that’s on the fabric. Not only is there the issue of smell, but left alone, it can create a moist environment for bacteria to grow. The last thing that you want is to spread germs via your dirty clothes!

On top of that, your body oils can actually cause the fabric to break down—as can dirt. Given all that, it’s highly advised that you wash them regularly. Avoid leaving them in a pile in your room!

Fabrics Used by Pretty Little Thing

What’s the best way to launder their clothes? To answer this question, we’ll have to take a look at some of the fabrics and materials that they use for their products.

Polyester

Polyester is a strong, synthetic fiber that’s made from a polymer material. Essentially, what this means is that it’s a type of plastic. Resistant to shrinking and stretching, it is commonly used to create clothing and furnishings. Due to the fact that it’s quick-drying, it’s also popular for activewear (i.e. it prevents you from getting clammy). The fiber does have a downfall, though—it is prone to static buildup.

Pretty Little Thing uses polyester for their leggings, bike shorts, crop tops, sports bras, and more.

Elastane

Elastane is known by two other names—Lycra and Spandex. Invented in the late 50s, the fabric is known for being strong, durable, and elastic. Made from long chains of polyurethane, it can be stretched up to seven times its length. Because of this, it’s often incorporated in athletic clothing (it offers a full range of motion). Unlike other fibers, however, it is typically blended with other materials—that is, pure elastane is rarely used for a single garment.

Pretty Little Thing uses elastane for their leggings, sports bras, crop tops, gym tees, sweat tops, and more.

Polyamide

Polyamide, aka Nylon, can be compared to polyester in that it’s also made from plastic. Highly versatile, the fiber exhibits certain characteristics that make it ideal for activewear. For one thing, it’s highly resistant to wear. In addition to that, it’s lightweight and flexible. Not to mention that it’s also water-resistant! In other words, you probably won’t get too soaked if you’re wearing a nylon jacket.

Pretty Little Thing uses polyamide for their bike shorts, seamless shorts, and more.

Washing Instructions for PrettyLittleThing Leggings/Yoga Pants

Remember what we said earlier? You want to wash their leggings after every wear. It might seem like a chore, but it’s really not too difficult at all. Here’s how to do it!

Putting Pretty Little Thing Leggings in the Washing Machine

Their leggings are relatively easy to wash. The first thing that you want to do is to separate them based on color (you can mix them with other clothes). Once you’ve done that, you want to go ahead and turn them inside out. This does two things—it prevents the dyes from fading (less friction against the rest of your items) and it exposes the dirt and sweat to the outside. If you want to be extra careful, consider placing each of the leggings in a mesh bag (pillowcases are a suitable alternative).

Put the leggings in the washer. Next, add the soap—one scoop of ACTIVE detergent will do unless you’re washing a large load. From there, set the settings. Generally speaking, you always want to choose a gentle cycle with cold water. Avoid using hot water as it can cause the fibers to warp and deform.

Note: Never use fabric softener. As it is, their leggings come with a moisture-wicking finish that can be damaged by these products. In other words, they’ll prevent the material from pulling sweat to the surface.

Press the start button and let the cycle run. Carefully remove the leggings once it’s finished. Hang them up and allow them to air dry (you can leave them inside out). You can also drape them on a drying rack. Whatever you do, do not use the tumble dryer—the heat setting will likely destroy the fabric.

Washing Pretty Little Thing Leggings by Hand

Just because the washing machine is convenient doesn’t mean that you have to use it every time. Consider washing your leggings by hand every once in a while—if anything, it will extend their lifespan. After all, it’s much gentler than the agitation of the machine.

The first step is to fill a container (a sink or basin will do as well) with water. Mix in a scoop’s worth of ACTIVE detergent and combine until the powder is dissolved. Place the pants in—make sure that they are fully submerged. One way to do this is to swirl them around in the liquid; you can also press down on them. Once they’re immersed, let them sit for up to 30 minutes.

Note: You can soak multiple pairs at once as long as you’ve separated them based on color. Just make sure not to overload the sink, otherwise, they’ll be difficult to work with later.

Massage the leggings with your hands in the soapy water—pay extra attention to the groin areas. When you’re finished, rinse the film of detergent off with water. For instance, you can put them under running water. There’s also the option of re-filling the sink with clean water. Either way, you want to be sure that there is no soap left on the fabric. Not only would that be bad for your skin, but it’ll also affect the fabric’s integrity.

Transfer the leggings to a clean surface once you’re sure that all of the detergent is gone. There are two different ways that you can get rid of the excess water—you can either roll it up or blot it with a towel. From there, you can line it dry on a clothesline. As mentioned earlier, you never want to tumble dry Pretty Little Thing leggings.

Note: Pretty Little Thing shorts and tops can be washed the same way.

How to Wash Pretty Little Thing Sports Bras

Their sports bras are similar to their leggings in that they’re also made from synthetic fabrics. There’s one key difference, though—they’re much more delicate.

Are Pretty Little Thing Sports Bras Machine Washable?

Yes, the garments are machine washable. There are certain things that you want to do, though, when it comes to washing them. First and foremost, it’s important that you place them in a lingerie bag. Without it, your sports bra would be tossed against your other items, which can lead to damage. Not to mention that the elastic can get ruined. Ideally, you want to place each of the sports bras in their own bag if you’re washing multiple at a time.

Note: If possible, wash your sports bras with other delicates (e.g. underwear, etc.). Do not put them in the same load as jackets or jeans as the coarser fabric can cause damage to the items.

Put the lingerie bags in the washing machine and choose the settings. As a general rule of thumb, you want to wash your sports bras with cold water on a delicate or gentle cycle. Never use a normal cycle as the agitation will be too much for the bras. The next step is to add the soap—just water won’t do your garments any good, after all. While it depends on the size of your load, a scoop of ACTIVE detergent will generally suffice. Do not pour in any fabric softener.

Remove the sports bras from the machine once the cycle is finished (don’t forget to take them out of their lingerie bags). Let them dry naturally on a hanger. Under no circumstances should you put them in the dryer—that will ruin the elastic and fabric.

Washing Pretty Little Thing Sports Bras by Hand

Hand washing is always preferred to machine washing. After all, it’s much gentler on your sports bras. To get started, fill a basin with water and add in a scoop of ACTIVE detergent. Mix it so that there are bubbles and place your sports bras in. Submerge them fully in the mixture with your hands. Let them sit in the solution for at least 20 minutes.

Gently rub the material with your hands to loosen any particles that might be embedded in the bra. From there, swirl it a few times in the detergent water. When you’re finished, place the item under running water—that will rinse off the soap film. Make sure that it’s all gone, otherwise, it might cause skin irritation!

As far as drying goes, you want to first blot the sports bra with a clean towel. Once you’ve done that, put it on a hanger and let it air dry. Once again, the dryer is a no-no.

How to Safely Clean PrettyLittleThing Swimwear

The brand offers various styles of swimsuits for women. Here’s the easiest way to wash them.

Washing Your Pretty Little Thing Swimsuit By Hand

Swimsuits are surprisingly easy to wash—that is, the process is quick and simple. First things first, fill the sink with water. Add a small amount of ACTIVE detergent; dissolve the powder by swishing the water with your hands. Once it’s sudsy, place the swimsuit in. Let it soak for at least 30 minutes. Consider agitating the water every now and then.

From there, gently rub the neckline and shoulder areas (sunscreen tends to accumulate in those spots). When you’re done, rinse the swimsuit thoroughly with clean water. The goal is to remove the detergent as well as any sunscreen, chlorine, or dirt that might be on the fibers.

Continue to rinse the swimsuit until there are no obvious suds left on the fabric. Gently squeeze out the extra water (never wring it like a dish cloth) and let it drip dry in the shower or laundry room.