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Exercise is great way to take care of your mind and body. It will get you in shape and improve your mood every time. But, when you get back home and jump in the shower, do you even think about your workout clothes?
Just as your body needs exercise to stay healthy, your workout clothes need special care if you want them to last longer and keep their original colour and shape. Not all clothes are the same, and you should learn a few tips and tricks so that you can wear them even after you have washed them many, many times.
Swimsuits
It doesn’t matter if you wear a bikini to the beach or a professional swimming costume to the pool, the perfect one is hard to find and they aren’t cheap. If you want your swimsuit to last longer, you should always wash it thoroughly the moment you get back home. Sun’s heat, hot water in the hot tub, your body’s natural oils and sunscreen, salt from the ocean and chlorine from the swimming pool can all damage the spandex your swimsuit is made of.
Wash them with hand soap since detergents can damage the fabric, and whenever possible, leave it to air dry because the colour will fade in the sun. Choose swimsuits which are chlorine resistant like Arena Waternity and Diana Durable.
Sports Bras
Leaving your sports bras to ‘air out’ before you wear them again is not a good idea. Your body is sweating a lot and just like your panties and tights, your bra should be washed after every workout. The best thing is to hand wash them and let them air dry, since having them rub against other clothes can cause microscopic abrasions. If you want to machine wash your bra, put it in a pillowcase or a lingerie bag first so it would be well protected. Just like swimsuits, you should leave it to air dry and not use the dryer.
When it comes to the most durable sports bras, Ryderwear ones are made of high quality materials and will keep their shape and elasticity even after you wash them hundreds of times.
Sneakers
Regardless of whether you enjoy a nice long run in the countryside or you wear them just in the gym, your sneakers are more delicate than you might think and you will need a lot of patience to clean them up later. Avoid putting them in the washing machine, since spinning cycle can break down cushioning, resulting in injury when you least expect it or pain and discomfort the next time you wear them. Use an old toothbrush and a bar of soap to scrub them, and to get rid of the smell, use lemon, baking soda, or rubbing alcohol.
Inspect your shoes every couple of months and get a new pair when you notice your old ones are worn out (shoes should be replaced every 300 or 400 miles). Among the best running shoes brands, Nike Pegasus stands out the most.
Shirts and Tights
The number one thing you need to do: get your sweaty clothes out of your gym bag as soon as you get home, otherwise you are allowing bacteria to develop and the smell can linger in your bag long after you have washed the clothes. When choosing to machine wash them, use detergent for delicate laundry and avoid fabric softener. After you take them out, leave them to air dry and don’t try to squeeze out every last drop of water.
As you can see, all these wonderful, durable clothes are pretty high-maintenance, but if you want them to last, you should be prepared to do some hand washing. If you don’t do that, your expensive clothes will be worn out soon and you will be mad and think that you overpaid for low-quality items.
