What is the sportswear cycle? How to wash gym clothes so they don't smell

Quick answer: the Sportswear cycle on many washing machines uses low temperatures, gentle tumbling and moderate spin, suited to stretchy synthetic activewear. To keep gym clothes odour-free: wash soon after training, turn them inside out, go easy on fabric softener, choose a detergent with odour control and dry them completely.

Why do gym clothes smell?

• Synthetic fabrics (polyester, spandex) hold sweat odour longer than cotton.
• Clothes left damp in a gym bag for hours before washing.
• Too much fabric softener: a coating on fibres can trap odours.
• Put away before fully dry.

How to wash sportswear

1. Take clothes out of your gym bag straight away; hang them to air if you can’t wash them yet.
2. Turn them inside out so the side against your skin gets cleaned better.
3. Pre-treat underarms, collar and back with detergent before putting them in the machine.
4. Choose the sportswear or a gentle cycle, with cool or moderately warm water. Very hot water can wear out stretch fabric faster.
5. Don’t overload the drum.
6. Hang immediately, somewhere airy, out of strong sun for coloured items.

Swimwear, yoga wear and compression tops

• Rinse in clean water straight after use.
• Hand-wash or use a mesh bag on the gentlest cycle.
• Don’t wring hard; press out water with a towel and hang to dry.

Trainers and socks

• Turn socks inside out and wash with your gym clothes.
• Trainers: remove the insoles, wash as the maker recommends and dry somewhere airy.

Choosing detergent for gym clothes

SPY Deep Clean Plus is a 2-in-1 laundry liquid for clothes worn all day, heavier items and sportswear:

• Tinosan HP100 helps remove odours from clothes.
• Noverite helps soften fibres, so no extra softener is needed.
• Dose: 50–70ml for each 5–7kg load, for hand and machine washing.
• Two scents, Golden Rose and Blossom, in a 3.6kg can and 2.6kg pouch.

Between sessions, refresh jackets and gym bags with SPY Fabric Spray on dry fabric.

Read more: Shirts that still smell of sweat: how to wash out underarm odour