It continues to work by leaving behind active agents in the weave of the clothing, which means it keeps your sportswear fresh for longer than other detergents. Sport Suds is a favorite of the Inventory, PopSugar, and Verywell Fit, which all mention that it is the best “natural” option for sportswear. It’s also a favorite of Treeline Review editor Naomi Hudetz who has been using for years on her post-thru-hiking clothing. It’s available in several sizes including 40 loads and the more cost-effective 140 load tub. Wash a bag in a delicate cycle and in cold water. Be wary of top-loading machines with agitators; a sleeping bag can get twisted up on an agitator and damaged. Sweat, dirt, and bacteria can accumulate in your workout clothes and leave an unpleasant odor, even after clothes have been removed or washed. Even if your exercise routine does not involve wind sprints or similarly sweaty activities, your workout clothes will likely soak up much more sweat than the rest of your wardrobe. This often requires a tougher laundry detergent than what you would use with your regular clothes.

Both Hex and Sport Suds detergents are on the upper end of the price spectrum, but sports detergents seem to be a category where paying more really does get you a more effective product. Halo Proactive Sports Wash is safe on most common fabrics (cotton, polyester,denim) and widely used sportswear clothing such as. Lycra, Gore-Tex, Nylon, Elastane, Spandex, Viscose and many more. As a former fitness coach, long-time wellness enthusiast, and current health editor, Lily Moe understands the importance of products that meet your individual requirements. As a marathon runner, she knows that workout clothes need more TLC than other aspects of your wardrobe, requiring a laundry detergent that does the tough job. Look for detergents that are formulated specifically to launder your activewear and sports uniforms and can handle tough smells and stains.

When washing them in your machine, use the recommended amount of detergent, based on your type of machine and load size. Turn your clothes inside out so that the detergent and water can get right to where most of the stains and smells are concentrated. Be sure to remove your wet clothes immediately from the washing machine. If they hang out in there overnight, it can cause mold or other foul odors to form-requiring washing yet again. LINE DRY

Sweat creates a more acidic pH in your workout clothes, so washing it out is crucial for fresh laundry. Sports detergents are specifically formulated to clean technical fabrics rather than natural fiber fabrics. Indeed, it may have a lot to do with the commodity laundry soap found on my basement washing machine that we buy at the grocery store. I never gave the detergent I use much thought before. We also recommend Sweat X Sport Laundry Detergent, which is organic and budget-friendly without compromising on cleaning power. How We Selected the Best Sport Laundry DetergentsThe fight against the mound of laundry piling up in the hamper is an ongoing battle in my household. I do CrossFit most weekdays and my partner bike commutes to work daily. We live in Portland, Oregon, where moisture in the air and falling from the sky adds to the potential our clothing will stink. For more delicate clothing, including some yoga pants, workout tights, and leggings, you can consider washing the items by hand. It’s the gentlest method. By trade, I’m an engineer who designs and builds machines to test the fitness equipment. I’ve put this engineer’s mindset to work when refining my workout detergents over the years, honing in on details, learning about the nuances of material and design choices. While it leaves your technical wear feeling like new, it’s also safe and gentle for all other fabrics, including cotton and wool. The hypoallergenic, biodegradable formula works with all temperature cycles and in regular or high-efficiency washing machines. Plus, HEX is completely free of dyes, fillers, perfumes, optical brighteners, or phosphates. While it costs more than some other sports detergents, it’s well worth the investment, especially if you've already spent money on specialty undergarments like sports bras for large breasts and want to maintain them through repeated washes and wears.