Washing your workout clothes isn’t the same as cleaning your everyday clothing. The former has unique properties that make traditional detergent a less-than-ideal choice.
In fact, using regular laundry soap can do more harm than good to your favorite yoga pants or running shirt. For one thing, these detergents often leave behind residue, which traps sweat and oils and causes those persistent unpleasant smells.
Sport laundry detergent, on the other hand, is specifically formulated to deal with these types of clothes.
The Unique Nature of Activewear Clothing
Activewear is made of performance fabrics, which play a pivotal role in activities such as running or yoga.
Take polyester and spandex, for example, they’re known for their durability. The latter also provides remarkable elasticity that allows it to retain its shape even after rigorous stretching, making them ideal for workout clothes.
Cleaning these synthetic fibers, however, can be challenging compared to natural ones such as cotton.
The Challenge with Synthetic Fibers
Unlike cotton, synthetic fibers don’t release dirt easily. This is largely due to their structure, which traps oil-based substances, including skin oils (sebum) or sweat, and that can lead to body odor.
It also affects the efficacy of traditional laundry detergents in that they’re unable to penetrate deeply into the tightly woven structures.
The Limitations of Regular Detergents
While traditional liquid laundry detergent works well for regular fabrics like cotton, they face challenges when it comes to activewear.
How Regular Detergents Leave Residue Behind
Synthetic fibers in athletic wear repel water while attracting oil-based substances like sweat.
As a result, conventional detergents are not fully rinsed out during the wash cycle. This leaves behind a layer of soap molecules, which traps dirt, skin cells, and sweat over time. The is especially true if you add fabric softener.
This buildup will not only lead to persistent smells but can also cause skin irritation. What’s worse, is that the problem exacerbates each time you do laundry using these regular soaps.
Degrading Fabric Integrity Over Time
Regular laundry detergent can also cause the fabrics to degrade over time.
By exposing them to harsh cleaning agents that are present in standard detergent, the fibers will be weakened prematurely.
Faded colors, loss of elasticity, and reduced moisture-wicking capabilities are just a few examples of how traditional detergents can degrade sports clothes.
So while traditional detergents might seem good enough at first glance, they simply aren’t up to the task of keeping our activewear in the best condition long term.
The Power of ACTIVE Laundry Detergent
Activewear laundry detergent such as the one by ACTIVE is a revolutionary product for cleaning performance fabrics.
Unlike its regular counterparts, it’s engineered to delve deep into synthetic fibers to effectively remove sweat and odor-causing agents that often escape regular detergents.
For one thing, it features enzymes that are capable of breaking down organic matter such as body oils and perspiration. This means it’ll have no problem eradicating stubborn stains from your smelly workout clothes.
The Importance of Enzymes
One thing that sets ACTIVE Laundry Detergent apart from the rest is the fact that it contains plant-based enzymes.
These natural substances accelerate chemical reactions – specifically those required to break down complex molecules found in sweat and oil. That is, they’re able to break them down into smaller compounds that can easily be washed away with water.
Different kinds of dirt are targeted by different enzymes: protease for protein-related stains like blood or sweat, lipase for fat- or oil-related grime, and amylase for starch-connected muck.
ACTIVE laundry Detergent uses a combination of these specialized agents, which means it provides unmatched cleaning capability compared to its regular counterparts, when it comes to washing synthetic materials.
Not only is ACTIVE a powerful cleaner, but it’s also free of harsh chemicals that could irritate the skin and damage fabric integrity over time.
Why Our Activewear Laundry Detergent Outperforms Regular Detergent
It’s Versatile
Our sports detergent’s unique formula allows it to work seamlessly with all washers, including high-efficiency models.
The granules dissolve completely during each wash cycle, ensuring optimal cleaning power while reducing residue.
No Residue Left Behind
ACTIVE Laundry Detergent will not leave behind any harmful residue on your clothes. This makes it a great choice for those with sensitive skin.
What Types of Workout Clothes Can You Clean With ACTIVE Detergent?
ACTIVE Laundry Detergent is specifically designed to clean manmade fibers, which are commonly used in athletic wear.
Here are some items that our activewear laundry detergent excels at cleaning.
Leggings and Yoga Pants
The stretchy fabric in leggings and yoga pants often traps sweat, leaving them smelling less than fresh after a workout session.
The plant-based enzymes in ACTIVE detergent work efficiently at removing odors trapped within these technical fabrics.
Workout Shirts & Shorts
Your workout clothes take quite a beating during intense workouts, and can accumulate tough stains from sweat and dirt.
Unlike traditional detergents, which often leave behind residue on performance fabrics, ACTIVE Laundry Detergent removes smells without harsh chemicals or artificial fragrances.
Sports Bras & Compression Gear
Athletic apparel such as sports bras and compression gear need special care due to their snug fit against the skin, which means they absorb more sweat.
ACTIVE Detergent is the best choice for these types of garments as it’s capable of removing the embedded filth effectively while maintaining the integrity of the fabric fibers.
Socks, Underwear & Jock Straps
Fabric softeners found in regular detergents can ruin sportswear materials like those used for socks, underwear, or jock straps by reducing their ability to wick away moisture; this can lead to bad odors over time.
With ACTIVE Laundry Detergent, however, your clothes will retain their moisture-wicking properties.
Towels & Bed Sheets
You may not consider towels and bed sheets as part of your activewear, but think again!
They come into contact with body oils just like workout clothes do, which makes ACTIVE Detergent a good option as it will remove all oil residues that could lead to unpleasant smells over time.
Finding the Best Laundry Detergent for Activewear
When it comes to washing clothes, you want to make sure to choose the right detergent. Remember, it’s not just about getting clothes clean; it’s also about maintaining fabric integrity and extending the lifespan of your athletic apparel.
ACTIVE Laundry Detergent is known for eradicating sweat and oils that are embedded deep in synthetic fibers and can also be used as a stain remover on technical fabrics such as polyester or spandex.
Our activewear laundry detergent is also cost-effective at just over 30 cents per small HE (high-efficiency) load. This makes it a budget-friendly choice if you’re using high-efficiency washing machines frequently to wash your sports garments.
Its eco-friendly formula also uses biodegradable ingredients sans harmful chemicals or artificial fragrances.
If you are sensitive towards strong scents then ACTIVE is a great choice due to its neutral, scentless smell profile. It will leave your clothes smelling fresh after every wash cycle without covering up odors with strong fragrances.
Common Questions About Activewear Laundry Detergent
How is sports detergent different from traditional laundry detergents?
Sports detergent is specially formulated to penetrate manmade fabrics, which means it’s highly effective at removing sweat and odor-causing oils – things that regular detergents struggle with.
Not only that but it can also be used to remove sweat stains.
Which type of detergents are more effective?
Powdered sports detergents such as the one by ACTIVE tend to be more effective as they have a longer shelf life and work well with high-efficiency washing machines.
Does active wear laundry detergent work?
ACTIVE Laundry Detergent uses plant-based enzymes to target organic filth like sweat and bad odors, leaving your gym clothes fresh.
Is there really a difference between laundry detergents?
Yes, regular detergents can leave residue on synthetic fabrics. Activewear detergents, on the other hand, don’t have this issue, which makes them better for workout gear.
Should I use warm or hot water with ACTIVE Detergent?
Activewear Laundry Detergent is formulated so that it will completely dissolve in all water temperatures.
Can I add fabric softener when I’m washing my active wear?
Fabric softener is not recommended. It will leave behind a waxy layer on the fabric, which will hinder its ability to wick away moisture.
ACTIVE’s Home Cleaning Solutions
If you’re dealing with odors and grime in other places in your home like your appliances, ACTIVE has you covered.
We have concentrated cleaning products for specific appliances like your washing machine, dishwasher, garbage disposal, and more. See what we have to offer!
Tiffany M Ludlow –
This detergent saved my $80 compression leggings from an early death. I had tried EVERYTHING to get the mildewy funk out and it just wasn’t working, but this WORKS. The package is smaller than I expected, but you use barely any per load, so I think it’s well worth the money. I did receive the notice to pre-soak after I had run my first load through the machine, which was a little annoying – but just know you need to soak your stuff in the detergent the first time to give it time to work. You’ll be disgusted by how much nasty was hanging out in your workout clothes – I promise. This soap has also worked to de-funk my towels and polyester blankets that just would not respond to regular washing. Or vinegar washing. Or baking soda washing. Or borax washing. Get it. You won’t regret it.- Oh and stop using fabric softener. It’s bad for you and your clothes.*Update* – I’m a huge fan of the Teva sponge flip flops – but they get stinky, and I’ve regretfully thrown out many pairs over the years. I soaked my remaining flips in this soap in a tub of hot water for a few hours and then just gave them a rinse. The amount of gross that this soap lifted out of them is disturbing, and my tub may never look clean to me for the rest of time, but the shoes smell brand new. It’s a flippin’ miracle!
Upvote if this was helpful (0) Downvote if this was not helpful (0) Watch Unwatch Flag for removal
Customer –
We wear UV protected Columbia shirts/shorts and have to wash them frequently (work outside everyday in the sun and get sweaty / use sunscreen). We used to have to pre treat with Shout to get the stains from the sunscreen and underarm odor out of the material. With this stuff, our clothing feels a lot cleaner (don’t have any left over underarm smell) and spots always come out. I have also noticed that some of our newer shirts have kept their color better!
Upvote if this was helpful (0) Downvote if this was not helpful (0) Watch Unwatch Flag for removal
LRH –
I have tried many laundry detergents to help remove the sour smell from my families dry-fit sport clothes as well as towels. Sports Suds Laundry detergent worked well on my sports clothes but was pricey & Rockin Green detergent worked well too and was less expensive. I recently have tried Active Wear and it seems to work just as well or better on my sports clothes and has really done well getting the sour smell out of my bath towels! It also has a great price! I’m impressed because I have to use dye-free/fragrant free laundry detergents so I don’t have any nice smells to help cover up the sour smells and so I need a booster to help remove them and Active Wear has done a great job! FYI: I do also add a little vinegar along with the detergents which I was told by friends helps remove odor. I use it all and it seems to work for our family!Thanks for your help!
Upvote if this was helpful (0) Downvote if this was not helpful (0) Watch Unwatch Flag for removal
Michelle J –
I was pretty skeptical about this stuff, but it actually works! Usually, my gym clothes would seem clean after the wash, but after I put them on, I could tell that they still smelled MUSTY within 10 minutes of sitting in class or into my workout. Regardless of the amount of detergent I poured into the wash, the smell came back. Drove me nuts. Within a week of using Active detergent that lingering “smell bomb” is gone!!!! I’M SO STOKED.Most of my active wear stopped smelling after a single wash even though the scoop is so small.I did have a couple stubborn leggings and a sports bra. Washing it once didn’t remove nearly enough of the crap to make it like new. It took a extra few washes.I’ve tried two different wash methods and honestly I think they had virtually the same results.For the first load I just washed the clothes on cold with a scoop of detergent and a double rinse. It took around 2-3 washes to work through all the built up gunk but since then they’ve been perfect with just regular washing (using the active detergent.)The other load I did a 20 minute soak with cold detergent & 2 scoops of detergent then I washed them regularly. This method didn’t really seem to add that much in terms of results so I would recommend just washing it a few times back to back if you really want to jump start your clothes “recovery.” I’m not a huge fan of soaks (if they aren’t necessary) because they’re a hassle and so far it seems like it’s not needed for results with Active Detergent.Overall this is the best sport detergent I’ve used and I’m ecstatic I don’t need to drop another few hundred dollars on new lulu leggings haha. My point: Totally worth it!!
Upvote if this was helpful (0) Downvote if this was not helpful (0) Watch Unwatch Flag for removal
Queenofthehouse –
I’m giving this product 3 stars first because the bag comes half full.I mean, it’s pretty smart I guess to not tell people how much is in the bag ANYWHERE on the bag and to just say it gives you 90 washes.Does it?I don’t know, but I’m a little irritated that the bag is half full of air.Since they don’t tell you how much product you get, I will.There are approximately 4 cups of product in this bag , so you get 32oz. Most of my laundry products are 46.5 oz and cheaper but I will say that this product works pretty well so far and hasn’t faded clothing and has gotten rid of that weird lingering workout smell so the product does work!I’m just not pleased about the weirdly deceptive packaging and wanted to leave a detailed review with product specs so you can decide if the price you are paying is fair compared to the amount of product received. 🙂
Upvote if this was helpful (0) Downvote if this was not helpful (0) Watch Unwatch Flag for removal
jamesblanc –
washed a load of stinky workout gear and after that all my workout shoes over thw weekendeverything came out as clean as any other detergent and also smelling really fresh, but not artificially fresh with some overpowering smell, just fresh. very pleased with that aspectonly annoyance is the little scoop was buried at the bottom of my bag, but with a little massaging of the bag it rose to the top easily. luckly the bag isnt huge (it’s a concentrate which is convenient for storage) so didn’t have to go digging. pretty standard issue when it comes to things with scoops. all in all no big deal!anyway, will update over time once i can judge whether it provides longer life span through the wash!
Upvote if this was helpful (0) Downvote if this was not helpful (0) Watch Unwatch Flag for removal