They're here and they're beautiful, if I do say so myself!! To maximize the life of your new kit, here are some tips on proper athletic gear care.
-Don't let your clothes sit in a pile covered in sweat. At the very least hang them up to dry out. Sitting in a pile allows the bacteria to grow, embedding themselves deeper into the material. Spreading them out to dry also helps the odor to dissipate.
-Don't re-wear your gear. Even if it was a quick ride where you barely broke a sweat, the odor settles in, making it harder to remove. The bacteria in the chamois have time to grow, leading to increased rashes and chafing.
-Wash your jerseys, shorts and gloves on gentle cycle
-Turn your shorts inside out and apply pre-wash to the chamois.
-If you're using bibs, after you turn them inside out, put them in a mesh bag to keep the straps from getting stretched around other items.
-Zip zippers and secure Velcro before washing so they don't catch on other garments.
-Don't put your cycling clothes in the dryer. Not only will it shorten the life of the fabric, it can ruin the elastic in the legs.
-If you can't get rid of the smell, try using isopropyl alcohol directly on the stinky spot (test in an inconspicuous spot first) or add vinegar to the fabric softener distributor in your machine.
-Never use detergents with fabric softeners or perfumes, or products with additives.*
-*If you're anything like me, and you love a clean, fresh smelling kit, try using Purex Crystals. I'm not being paid to endorse these babies, but I love them. Unlike traditional fabric softeners, they don't contain oil. Oil hinders your fabric's ability to wick. You've paid good money to have your fabric wick away your sweat. According to their website they are completely safe to use on athletic apparel.
-Don't re-wear your gear. Even if it was a quick ride where you barely broke a sweat, the odor settles in, making it harder to remove. The bacteria in the chamois have time to grow, leading to increased rashes and chafing.
-Wash your jerseys, shorts and gloves on gentle cycle
-Turn your shorts inside out and apply pre-wash to the chamois.
-If you're using bibs, after you turn them inside out, put them in a mesh bag to keep the straps from getting stretched around other items.
-Zip zippers and secure Velcro before washing so they don't catch on other garments.
-Don't put your cycling clothes in the dryer. Not only will it shorten the life of the fabric, it can ruin the elastic in the legs.
-If you can't get rid of the smell, try using isopropyl alcohol directly on the stinky spot (test in an inconspicuous spot first) or add vinegar to the fabric softener distributor in your machine.
-Never use detergents with fabric softeners or perfumes, or products with additives.*
-*If you're anything like me, and you love a clean, fresh smelling kit, try using Purex Crystals. I'm not being paid to endorse these babies, but I love them. Unlike traditional fabric softeners, they don't contain oil. Oil hinders your fabric's ability to wick. You've paid good money to have your fabric wick away your sweat. According to their website they are completely safe to use on athletic apparel.